Howdy do, kiddo. Here we are after the foist week o’ fall, and after a cold spell jest before the equinox, it’s been, Indian Summer…are we still allowed to say that? It seems people are always trying to edit our language. I was told that there are people on so-called “social media” who don’t like it when we call the current pandemic malady the “Wuhan Flu.”
They seem in their quaint way to think it’s racist. It ain’t. That’s where the danged thing came from. Full. Stop. Effen yew think that’s racist, the problem lies more with the accuser, than with the use of the term. In fack, our esteemed editor has been using that line with people who just use the word “racist” to stop any conversation. He just says, “That’s really your problem, not mine,” and he moves on. Don’t let the hotheads win, and don’t let them stifle your language. Use it all the more and watch their heads explode. It is nearest thing to the July 3 fireworks.
Here in the Asylum by the Sea, the Charter Revision Commish has morphed into some type of education panel to explain the question that is to go before the voters on Nov. 3. There is an interestin’ subtext to all this, according to Sammy Bluejay.
Y’see, though the commission came up with its report, and made same very substantial changes in the charter, the politicos don’t really want it to pass…at least some don’t. That is very clear with the whispering campaign that is going on. Sammy is convinced that there isn’t anything above board that is happening, it’s all below deck.
We’ve seen this movie before. A charter commission makes changes, the political class really don’t want things to change, and the revisions re either voted down, or changes are made to them before they go the voters so that there is really no reason to vote.
Ed Granfield and John Carrano spearheaded the commission, and worked hard with the members to git them to understand Civics 101 before they went into making alterations. Cobina ain’t sure how this is gonna pan out. If it passes, she’ll be pleasantly surprised, but effen it fails, she’ll know the politicos won yet again.
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The City Council invited the Haven developers to its meeting this week, and we can’t wait to find out what was discussed. Now, remember, Iyam scribing this missive before the meeting, and we come out three days after the meeting. We’re sure the council will get some inkling of what was said in the regular part of the papyrus.
We see that some demolition has taken place, both on the corners of Water Street and Elm. Both were gas stations at one time or t’other. But that’s all that has happened in two weeks. Still, we know that Chairman Ron Quagliani has requested a timetable concerning the demolitions, as well as an update on any rentals that might have taken place. It’s important that the council — and the public – get info on this matter, cuz some people are convinced the plan ain’t gonna be as advertised.
Nelly Nuthatch was by t’other afternoon and sez that there is a certain segment of the community that things in the long run housing is gonna be put there. Now, that ain’t in the proposal, but part of the problem is the developer. The company just won’t give any info as to what it’s doing unless forced. They want to play things close to the vest, but there is setch a thing as playing it too close. People’s imaginations run wild, and the rumor mill works overtime. Let’s hope the meeting this week clarified a few things.
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Iva Lootey came by and he didn’t misstate it when he said everything, yes everything, is tainted by the pandemic. Not a single operation, organization, municipality can do anything without the elephant in the room being addressed. The school system, for example, has been sorely tested. It’s been three or four weeks since the new year began, Sept. 8, and there have been some hurdles that have had to be cleared, but, thankfully, not as bad – yet – as some school districks.
This week we asked our superintendent about the negotiations with the teachers’ union. Yew remember the union posted a memo just before school started regarding working conditions and protocols. It was part of a larger statewide effort to git thing in writing we are told.
Tennyrate, Iva is convinced that by the time this thing is negotiated, the pandemic might be declared over. Setch is the way these things seem to operate. You could never accuse negotiators of excess speed. This thing will probably take a while to hash out, and so far, people are keeping a smile on the face and saying nice things. We’ll see how long that continues.
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I got a query. When did red lights become suggestions? In the past two weeks Cobina has been out in her gassamobuggy and seen drivers blow through red lights as if they weren’t there. Luckily, there wasn’t much traffic on the intersections. But she can’t understand the disregard for traffic signals. Rolling stops at stop signs are becoming the norm. It’s all so silly. Are people in that much of a hurry, or is it they think things don’t apply to them?
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The Wag came by and sez that the Piantino Library is being vacated out of the former Allingtown Community Center, nee Forest School after more than four decades. As yew may have read, David Beckerman, the developer doing most of the restructuring of the Allingtown Green has purchased the building, and the Village Improvement Association could not afford the rent that was being requested.
Where that facility is gonna be relocated is anyone’s guess. There are a few options, but it seems that the present administration is somewhat ambivalent to the library. As I am scribing this note, the books and shelves are being taken outta the building and moved to the main library for storage. It is not know when or if the Piantino branch will be relocated.
We hope this changes, honey bunch. The people in Allingtown were served well by the library and should have one close by. The people in this berg pay a boatload in taxes and should at least git a library. It always amazes me how budget-makers of both parties seem setch things are expendable. But, there it is. They think it’s spreading the misery. It’s just playing politics.
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Finally, the people over at WHEAT gave an update about how things are going. With the pandemic and people being laid off because of it, there has been an uptick in requests for aid. And we’re getting into the holiday season pretty soon, and collections around town usually go up. With many organizations not meeting or even having business years, one wonders how the slack is gonna be picked up.
Churches play a big part as do schools, but every event around this time o’ year has a collection for WHEAT as part o’ the price of admission. It will be interesting to see how this pans out for the agency, and whether families will git the help they need, particularly around the holidsy. We shall see.
With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,