Dear Felicia

Well, sweetie pie, things around the berg are really into summer – and the usual things that happen hereabouts. Of course, there are things new, old and somewhat in between. The foist thing, of course, is the Shoreline Festival that is put on by Marenna Amusements, and starts this eventide.

The elephant in the room about it is that it was begun in order to fill the vacuum left by the mayor canceling the Savin Rock Festival a few months ago. Marenna, who was the provider of the rides and some of the attractions, had a space on his calendar and decided to take things into his own hands.

Word is amongst those involved he is hoping the festival will grow legs and replace – at least temporarily – the Savin Rock Fest, which everyone hopes isn’t going the way of all flesh. There are some hurdles that organizers and people involved know they are going to face.

The foist and foremost thing is the lack of stage attractions. If there are any, nobody has made any mention of them. One of the biggest things about the Savin Rock Fest was the rides and things for the kiddies to do, but the thing that brought the big crowds were the nightly concerts. There were some big-named attractions that came over the years, and that brought 20,000 or more to the Old Grove on certain nights.

With no concerts really on the docket, people are worried that the crowds will be on the light side. Cobina is taking more of a positive attitude (I know, unusual ain’t it). Whilst the crowds may not be as big as the Savin Rock Festival, methinks people will be attracted to things going on shore-wise and will take part in it.

Marenna was looking for civic and fraternal groups to take part in the festivities, and we know that many of the popular food trucks will be there. Bill Conlan, and Bill Dwyer for two are always big favorites, and HB and Roger will be there with their creations in food and drink. That will be something to draw crowds.

Of course, like I said, we’re hoping this new reality with the city’s finances won’t spell the end of the Savin Rock Festival. Let’s hope that, rather than the city running it, it goes back to the private sector as it once was. Remember, the festival was begun by the Chamber of Commerce in Reagan’s first term. Maybe the Chamber or a coalition of groups can take it away from the halls of government, and put it back in the hands of people who know what they’re doing.

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Speaking of the city’s financial concerns, let’s hope the current state of some of the city’s parks isn’t put under that umbrella. Cobina was about the city and some of the ball fields and parks – a big plank in herroner’s platform when she was runnin’ for office if mem’ry serves (and it do) – are in a shambles. Now, we all know the Dept. of Public Works is having furloughs and is short staffed, but the best workers are the ones that take care of the parks. Painter Park for example looks like hell in plain English.

Let’s not be penny wise and pound foolish, letting parks get so overgrown and outta sorts that it’s gonna take more money and more time to put things back to normal. Taxpayers use the parks and they should be presentable and can be, the finances of the city notwithstanding. There is also the liability question.

Effen yew don’t take care of things, people can git hurt and the city can be sued. That will put quite a chink in our insurance armor and cost us more money in the long run.

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Sammy Bluejay stopped by t’other afternoon and sez that the Haven is a go now that the public hearing was conducted last week, and that things might actually be moving along at a somewhat steady pace from here on in.

One thing that Sammy was happy about was the fack that Eminent Domain wasn’t used in purchasing any of the lots, and even the gas station that has been much in question will be built around, whilst it seems the hold out properties did settle. Good. Kelo was a very bad decision by the Supreme Court and will be a stain on the court until it is overturned. Taking over properties for private development is not a good use of land or a good way for governments to operate.

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As yew probably hoid, the GOP is having a primary Aug. 14 in the 116th for that party’s nominee. In something to be noted an 18-year-old Roman Khondker is looking get the nomination from Richard DePalma. The seat is currently occupied by Michael DiMassa, a Democrat, and it’ll be interesting to see what exactly transpires in this primary and how it affects the general election. Cobina can’t remember the last time a Republican occupied that district seat – maybe since Hoover.

Tennyrate, there are primaries galore over that week in both parties. The Demmies and the Republicans will be having gubernatorial primaries to determine who will take the nods in their respective lines. Because this is the year that there is a national component to the election – Congressional elections in this case – the primary is moved back to August.

This has only been the case for a few years. It was changed after the primary by Ned Lamont and Joe Liebermann fought for the party’s senatorial nod a decade or so ago. Since then it was determined the extra month was good for the winner.

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Nelly Nuthatch tells me that whilst we ain’t been hearing much over the last few weeks, the Charter Revision Commish is dutifully doing its task and staying under the radar. Nelly didn’t get into too much detail cuz there wasn’t much detail to get into.

But she did say that things are percolating over in that group and what started out as a rag-tag bunch of people who didn’t know much about city government, there are now people who have become quickly educated. We won’t call them experts in the field of city politics or the workings of the Actors Colony, but they are getting working knowledge – and that’s all that really is necessary.

Nelly seems to think some surprises might be in store for officials when the final report comes out. She don’t have any info other than what she shared, but she is using the “it’s too quiet” rule. Just like kids being too quiet, when a commish makes it pernt to be off the grid, something is happening. Just call it a hunch.

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Well, we ain’t talked about it for a while, but Cobina was out in her gassamobuggy and went via Beach Street. She still can’t figger out why properties over there aren’t being conveyed to interested parties. The old Captain’s Galley site is up for sale now that a new plan for a restaurant has been nixed. Chick’s former site is still up for sale and stands open to the elements, while the former Debonair Motel is closed off, with some of the parking lot used by beach-goers. Meanwhile that building just languishes there.

One of these days we’ll find out if anyone has a plan for anything over there. But for the fourth year ongoing, nothing is happening on one of the major arteries into the city.

With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,