Top o’ the week to ya, honeybunch! Hard to believe we’re already in the midst o’ July. But we knew that cuz the Fourth o’ July not only passed, but Cobina’s neighborhood sounded like a re-enactment of the third Battle of the Marne. For two weeks leading up to, and every night since, the boom, boom of fireworks has lit up the skies and scared the cat. So, except for the nonsense about masks, etc., it is a usual mid-summer. But, the “night’s dreams” are being interrupted.
That was especially true on July 3. Whilst the city didn’t have its annual gala fireworks that usually bring in up to 100,000, there were enough private fireworks going off to gladden the heart of any and all pyromaniacs. It was quite something.
As is the custom, the Mystick Maidens of the Marsh cobbled together something of an Independence Day celebration, but had to move it. We had planned on converging on Sandy Point for this year’s event, but the reconstruction of the sewer or water lines over there – which have been going on for some time – forced us to move. This year we decided by the flats by Oyster River, and had a wonderful time.
The Asylum by the Sea, meanwhile, people have got their tax bills and their beach stickers. And this year the beach stickers are impawtant cuz only residents are allowed to use the beach parking lots. Until the guys up in Hartford say so, I guess, the beach ain’t limited to residents, but the parking lots are.
Sammy Bluejay happened to flutter around the shoreline jest to see what’s going on, and sez that it was fun watching people who obviously weren’t residents angling to get parking. The put their cars in some interesting places, and he wondered effen they got tagged. The city charges for parking, so that revenue seems to be gone at least for the time being, but there is some sport in watching out-of-town cars jockeying for places to park for the day.
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This was the year the Savin Rock Festival was supposed to reappear. One wonders now with Wuhan Flu worries effen the city is gonna can it for this year. Usually, it happens at the end o’ July. And, we hafta be honest, we ain’t seen anything concerning its cancelation. So, we wonder effen it’s still being discussed.
The festival is one of the highlights o’ the summer, and we ain’t seen in three years. The city’s financial difficulties made it a casualty, what with overtime expenses and the like. Herroner said last year that p[ans were for it to be brought back. That was before the state locked itself down and is now just beginning to open. We’re in what the politicos are calling Phase II of the state’s reopening, which is something of a numbers game. It’ll be interesting to see jest how this plays out. We would think a final announcement would be forthcoming. Like we said, we ain’t seen anything on it.
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Of course, Nelly Nuthatch sez many parents’ eyes were on His Excellency, the governor last week to see what is gonna happen with the opening of schools. Nelly sez that whilst Gov. Lamont talked in general terms about the opening of schools, the meat and potatoes of the plan have not exactly been thrashed out, yet.
I guess the school systems are supposed to report some details to the powers that be and then a more detailed plan will emerge. I know there are a lotta parents who are really hoping that schools will re-open cuz the kiddies are badly in need of getting back with their peers. Still, other parents are kind o’ liking the home-schooling, and might just opt into that. Lawd knows that some o’ what they’re teaching – particularly history as present circumstances show – is a bit off the mark. Plus, kids are allowed to advance at their own rate, and not be held back or pushed forward by the group. It’ll be interesting to see how that side of the question pans out.
Nelly, meanwhile, has heard some rumblings. It seems that depending on how things go this summer, schools may not open before Sept. 1, which is not the way some systems were hoping. Like a lotta colleges they were hoping for an earlier, rather than later opening.
Tennyrate, after the opening of schools, don’t be surprised effen there is a two- or three-week period where nothing happens extra-curricular-wise. The period will be used to assess effen there is a spike in the number of infections. That will determine the next step, one way or t’other.
The scenario then sez that extra-curriculars will begin in late September. That’s the way we’re hearing things from around the state, but who knows effen that is the way it’s going to work out. The variables in this are all over the place.
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Here we are some six weeks after the city shut down Water Street, and the only action seen over there is training from the various fire brigades. There is plenty o’ construction going on around the city as far as home reconstruction and even some new domiciles. One wonders what the hold-up is over at the Haven. Whilst the summer bakes and we get the torrential rains like we’ve had, Mother Nature is doing what she does and starting to rot the buildings and over grow everywhere.
The people over in that neighborhood have had to endure a lot over the last few years. Don’tchan think it would be nice effen the developers lets everyone know what in Hades it has planned? Trying to get some word from them is like trying to find out state secrets, and no one seems to want to be good neighbors. It’s not right that the taxpayers over there have to put up with the blight that, though fenced in, still looks like a battlefield.
By the way, I guess the new fencing had to be amplified a bit for drivers. Now orange reflectors are attached to the fencing so they won’t ram into them.
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Iva Lootey stopped by, and sez that the case of the Allingtown Library seems to have calmed down now that any and all have had their say. It’s been a hot topic of late what with the city taking a lower bid from developer David Beckerman’s Acorn Group, but as Iva sez, you can’t beat the logic.
Whilst the Library’s Village Improvement Association gave a bigger bid, the smaller bid actually would put the building on the tax rolls so the trade-off was worth it. And, in the process, the library will be given three years to find other digs.
Those digs will probably be the old Blake Building, which we hear is being sold to a developer as well. That’s where the Board of Education was housed until it moved into City Hall about five years ago, taking over the old police headquarters. Of course, old timers over in that part of Allingtown still call the Blake Building Lincoln School – which it was originally.
We will see what happens, but there are some people who are angry over the move. While that might be true, one cannot deny the fack that Allingtown is becoming about as vibrant a place as it ever was. The new constructions over there are really dressing up the area, which had a lotta old, dilapidated buildings. And we see that the site of the old Forest Theater is next. That can’t be bad. Once the Green is rebuilt , the entire area will be one of the best looking places in the city.
With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,