And jest like that, it’s September fawth. Seems like jest t’other day Cobina was saying it’s June 1st and we had the whole summer to look forward to. Now, it’s all a mem’ry with a few things still on the docket as far as fun things, but when the Apple Festival comes later this month, it’s time to admit the summer is gone, and things git back to normal.
Normal is what it’s been for about a week, Felicia. The kiddies have trundled back to school – and I do mean trundled. Some o’ them looked a bit shell shocked last week when standing at the bus stops, waiting for the big yellow vehicle. Can’t say as I blame ‘em. Ya go from care-free to worryin’ about homework and tests and things. To a youngster that’s a lot to ponder.
Of course, the big news was the opening of Washington School with all the fanfare a few days before the big event of opening day. Of course, Sammy Bluejay was there, and noted that all the high mucky-mucks were present, including a few from the state capital. This is one o’ those big photo-ops for politicos so, they make sure they have their best faces plastered on and say all the right things.
Even our publisher, who happens to be on the Building Committee as the chairman. He pernted out a few interesting things for detailed-oriented personae like m’self. The new school has 26 classrooms. That’s interestin’ cuz Sammy was wondering about that and how 400 students were gonna fit in what looks like a smallish conventicle.
And there are reading rooms, resource rooms (whatever those are) and a giraffe. Ken likes to make sure the minutiae gets discussed. But his biggest pernt of pride, the whole thing is about $1.2 million under budget, something that is unheard of most of the time when it comes to public buildings. I guess there are few odds and ends still to be installed or added, but fer the most part the kiddies are ensconced, and things are “normal.”
So, the long and short is the building is done after about a bit more than two years of work demolition to opening. It was ready in May like it was supposed to be, and it was under budget. In a berg like this that’s a trifecta. Usually, things are delayed, cost more than expected, and have problems months after they’re open for business. No so, it seems, with this projeck.
Yeah, I’m gonna say it. It still is an ugly building. Jest don’t like modern architecture. It’s soooo institutional. It could be a school, an office complex, or the front part of a prison. They all look alike! Here endeth the rant.
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Speaking of summery, getting around the town ain’t the easiest thing in the world with all the milling and paving. Cobina was out in her gassamobuggy and several streets and avenues are chewed down to their original bases it seems. I wouldn’t be surprised effen we find paving stones or some other base under the older byways.
Tennyrate, yew hafta be veddy careful when traversing these areas, and in some places the paving is being piggybacked onto some tree work to git the branches away from the power lines. In other words, it is very rare to get through a drive to or from somewhere without having to negotiate a chewed up street, or “road work” that is really tree trimming.
Naturly, in this area the goal is to git as much done as possible until the hot asphalt super cools in the late fall or winter. Don’t wanna do roadwork in winter setch as paving. It won’t set.
Sooooo, for the next little while, things will be tight.
And, whilst we’re on it, the traffic over the Kimberly Avenue Bridge is woise than ever. I know they started work on the First Avenue Bridge, at least preparatory, but I thought only the on-ramp was closed. Right now, it seems like people are already determining to change their driving patterns and wow! It’s quite the trek back into the berg from the Elm City, and it don’t matter what day, either. The only thing we can do it git used to it, I guess.
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While Cobina was out and about, she happened by the high school and was fascinated by all the activity. Of course, we all know the pigskins are gonna be flying as well as soccer balls booted, or volleyballs batted, but what struck this gal was the 150 or so band kids that were out practicing.
And don’tcha know that jest after Cobina saw the players go through their paces as far as playing and marching, we git a little featurette from Rob Forleo, the school publicist, about setch a thing.
When yew think about it, and I hafta admit I never did, the band kids hafta go through their paces as much as anyone else. I cain’t be easy trying to march and play at the same time, and then back yourself into a formation that looks like something.
Soooo, it was a bit offen thee beaten track, but Cobina was interested. Iyam sore the parents of the kids are just as proud as anyone can be. They put a lotta hours in.
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We git a lotta phone calls in this office about many things, but one we got a few days back was one for the ages. A rather older sounding lady calls the office and wants to speak to the editor, who, in fact, picked up the phone. The lady started the conversation by saying she is a lifetime resident of the city and been around the block once or twice.
Needless to say, when a caller sez that, it usually means a complaint is in the making, and they are only setting up the scene as if age or experience gives ‘em gravitas.
Tennyrate, the lady got to her point, which was she didn’t like a columnist because he represented a viewpoint she didn’t like, and she thinks the people in the city doesn’t like. When it was pointed out the columnist is syndicated and part of the syndicate to which we subscribe, she said we should get rid of it. And here came the kicker, “It’s MAGA!” she bellowed.
Well, effen anyone knows anything about the syndicated colyumnist in question, he might be considered on the right of many questions, but his own public statements and the fack that his national magazine has been rather anti-Trump would place him outta the MAGA category.
Finally, our editor said effen the lady didn’t like the column she didn’t hafta read it. Of course, she got upset. She said she doesn’t read it. That begged the query, then why was she so upset? And the reason is, like with many people who are of her mindset, effen she doesn’t agree with it, she wants it banned, exiled, put to the hinterland cuz that’s her right.
When it was pointed out she needn’t read it, things degenerated, and she hung up on the editor. Not the foist time, and certainly not the last. People have made such demands before, and they always seem to end the same way when they are told just skip it, and not make yourself upset. That jest gets them more angry.
After a while you learn to understand one thing: they wanna be upset. As granny used to say, “Some people are only happy when they’re miserable. And they’re very happy.”
Granny had it nailed, methinks.
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Iva Lootey was in and word is that the Debonair Motel may be on the business end of a wrecking ball by the time yew git this missive. Word was it was supposed to start last week, and it might even be down by now. In a way that’s sad, cuz it’s been there for soooo long. But, it’s quite the eyesore, and only makes the area around it look very bad.
We’re sorry to see a semi-landmark go, but we hear the plans for what is to follow are in keeping with the way the neighborhood has developed over the last little while.
Once it’s down, and work starts on a new construction, whatever it is, probably condos, Beach Street will almost be complete with the exception of the corner of East Avenue. Work at that old remnant of Savin Rock is gutted and will be repurposed, and we hear a new construction is going behind it.
The sum and total is, Cobina over the years has railed about Beach Street and how it was falling apart. Finally, things are getting done over there, and the neighborhood is gonna benefit.
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Finally, sometimes our birdies get faulty info. It seems the item last time about the Kelsey being handled by the same people was wrong. We apologize fer that, and hope to meet the developers really soon. Work has begun over there as things can be hoid behind closed doors. Soooo, things are looking up next to Savin Rock as well.
With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,