Howdy do, dearie, another fine week in what is becomin’ the winter of our discontent. Actually, the “discontent” comes in the form of precipitation that seems to be barrelin/ outta the west at a somewhat record rate. Here in the Asylum by the Sea, we’ve had and are expecting at this writin’ three more visits from Ole Man Winter before the week is out. By the time yew git this missive, we might be in the midst of the thoid visit.
I ain’t quite sure whether the groundhog saw his shadow or not, but I can tell yew from being an old-timer winters like this seem to carry well into March and sometimes into April. Cobina ain’t sure what is gonna happen, but more snow and ice seems to be in the mix.
Meanwhile, jest as I told yew a couple weeks ago, the era of the “snow day” is officially over. With each storm the school system hereabouts has not canceled anything, just had the kiddies go on line for their lessons. The good news is the kids around here are going to school every day, the bad news is we’re ain’t quite sure what they’re learnin’. That jury is still out.
There’s been some rumbling of gettin’ back to normal as we head toward the spring; in other words, havin’ full-day classes and normal rotations. I know some systems in the area are gonna attempt it, so it’ll probably been done here. Yew know how school officials have a wolf-pack mentality when it comes to those types o’ things. Safety in numbers, I guess.
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Speakin’ of schools, I guess our superintendent can’t keep anybody happy. Effen yew saw the local papyrus – the daily that nobody reads – his nibs determined that parents of the players can attend local sporting events, in this particular case hockey. Two parents were allowed to attend whilst keeping the required social distance, yadda-yadda. Yew can fill in the blanks.
Don’tcha think that some people are upset with this decision. “It’s dangerous, people can get sick.” Yew know, honey bunch, the people who’re making these complaints are the some people who want somebody to take care o’ them. When one guy called up complainin’ our esteemed editor told him,”So far, it’s still a free country. People can decide for themselves.”
Heck effen there is one thing that is missin’ from this entire year is politicos allowing people to make decisions for themselves. Effen they get sick it’s on them. We still have rights in this country – until the Democrats find ways to take them away, that is. They’re workin’ on it, and so are their buddies in the tech field.
Our editor has already left Facebook, sayin’ he won’t have the Communist Chinese determine what he can read – or a yahoo like Mark Zuckerberg, and he’s lookin to git off o’ Google as well. These people are jest evil. He ain’t ever been a tweeter or anything else, and certainly won’t give ‘em business now.
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Sammy Bluejay came in with a thought or two over the past few days, especially after perusing the last issue. Jest to let yew know, over the past few days commints have come in from our webmaster and online guru as well as a letter to the editor that will be published, extolling the virtues of Barry Cohen, the Republican councilman from the tenth districk.
Now, yew and I have been in this bizz for a long stretch, and we’ve seen coordinated efforts over the years. One wonders effen the recent spate of comments and the letter – which discuss his minority party view of the city we ran a few weeks ago – are part of an effort by some in the GOP to put Cohen’s name out in the public a bit more.
Sammy sez that there have been a few mentions of Cohen as a possible mayoral candidate, even though he’s in his foist term as a member of the council. That could be. Cohen is a bit of a firebrand, however, and there are people in the minority party who don’t like his outspoken nature.
Being a businessman who has had some experience in the world outside our own lit’le corner of the universe, he does let his opinions be known. In a party that hasn’t had too many opinions over the last couple o’ decades, it could be a big jarring.
Of course, we’ve also hoid that we could see a repeat of 2019 with Michele Gregorio looking to make a second run at the thoid floor. Then there is always Stephen Mullins, who, himself, might be eyeing the mayor’s office. A three-way race for the GOP slot on the ballot would be an interesting turn of events. It’ll be an interesting thing to watch. Gregorios is like Cohen in that she usually sez what is on her mind. Mullins is a bit more diplomatic, but still gets his pernts across.
It might be a pipe dream, but a three-way race for the GOP nomination might be something that could spur some interest in the city’s other political party.
On the Democratic side, we’ re hearin’ that one faction or t’other might be considering a run, but it’s still jest talk. Once we hear about individuals lookin’ for financial backin’ that’s when we start lookin’ at the possibilities as real. Not so much for the GOP, there’s no money there.
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We are headin’ into the home stretch in God’s Li’l Acre (haven’t used that moniker in a while). The mayor will present her budget to the City Council in a couple o’ weeks, probably in an online confab. It’s been eerily quiet over at the Actors Colony. Usually, we hear something or t’other about what’s gonna be announced. Not this year, things are very hush-hush.
Still, like I told yew in my last missive, the only thing certain is that there will be a mill increase cuz that’s what the Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB) wants until it hits 40. Sooooo, that’s a given. Everything else, not so much.
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One thing Iva Lootey sez one thing he’ll be lookin’ at is the possibility of a branch library in Allingtown in the new budget. The Piantino Branch is in hiatus, closed when the Acorn Group took over the former Forest School building. I hear there’s a new name, too.
I told yew last time that it was offered that the branch take over the basement, but the square-footage rental was a bit outta the ball park. Sooooo, there is some hope that discussions will take place concerning a new location for the facility. Allingtown people don’t think they get any bang for their buck as it is, the fack that a new location for their library doesn’t seem to be a priority for anyone in City Hall has to be stickin’ in somebody’s craw.
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Something we haven’t mentioned in a bit is the fack that things are still lying fallow over on Beach Street. The former Debonair Motel is still up for sale as is the former Chick’s and the former site of the Captain’s Galley. As far as the last site there was talk of putting something over there, but that seems to be off the boards. One problem with the Galley was the business didn’t own the land, and that seems to be a stickin’ point about any future development.
Meanwhile the other two are just bein’ taken over by the elements. One wonders effen it’s gonna take an “event” before somebody does something with the buildings.
Nelly Nuthatch, meanwhile, sez the snow has put a damper on demolition at the Haven location. Some buildings were torn down, but things are kind of in a holdin’ pattern.
With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez