No Icy Roads Here

I've lived in a town where we received snow.  Not 4" here or there, rather 4' in one storm.  I don't think salt was legal, and drivers were encouraged to use chains to prevent slipping and sliding on the roadways.  Chains with snow tires was preferred.  Anyone who has ever tried to put snow chains on a car in the snow knows exactly what I mean when I say it is not an easy (or speedy) task.  I must admit, our town never had ice like St. Joseph does.

I am impressed every winter when I take to Belt Hwy or other heavily traveled roads (Frederick, Lovers Lane, 22nd, Cook) to find that the city and MoDot have managed to keep a clear road for travelers.  Salt is liberally applied and major thoroughfares are continually plowed, making it somewhat easier for me to reach my destinations.  I know I won't have to worry about slipping near the shopping centers, only on residential roadways.

And so I send this big, warm thanks to those who oversee the roads.  Because of you, I am able to do my Christmas shopping, my grocery shopping, and pay my bills.  I am not afraid to drive in winter weather.  I'm relieved that I can relax just a bit on these frozen days.  Keep up the great work, fellas!  We drivers appreciate your hard work!

Saint Slow

In a recent discussion with a non-St Joe resident, a particular observer told me that he had always called St Joseph "St Slow".  My initial reaction was to be offended.  But after about... oh 1 minute or so... I laughed.  Out loud.  St Slow. How funny!  I can see how an "outsider" would see "St Joeians" as slow.

We have speed limits that are absurdly low (and nevermind that almost every resident obeys them); ahem, Woodbine, anyone?  Has anyone seriously tried to drive northbound on Woodbine without braking?  Next to impossible.  And our police force is consistently staking out this road to snag any who dare to pass the 35 limit by any speed.  Cook Rd - east of the Belt.  25 MPH?  You've got to be kidding me.  I could go on and on, but you catch my drift.

Nearly every retail store or restaurant is guaranteed to provide slow service.  Not good or bad service... just SLOW.  1 hour minimum visit at Chili's guarantees I won't be taking my lunch there, and 30 minutes in line at Wal-Mart makes me want to buy "quickie" items elsewhere.

The whole mindset of our town is slow.  A great example is an advertisement by The Comfort Center.  They are advertising a fiberglass pool as "the pool of the future".  People, these pools have been around for years.  They aren't anything new, yet somehow, St Joe is just now catching on.  Some homebuilders are still using copper pipes to build new houses for crying out loud!

Technology is slow.  Does any business provide stellar internet service?  No.  Does every citizen have internet access?  No.  Does every business have a website?  No.  In fact, most of these "technological" advances that most of the progressive world takes for granted is too far-fetched for St Joe residents.

What is the solution?  I dunno.  Maybe the roots here go too deep.  The old adage that "this is how it's always been done" will always remain in this town.  Stuck in it's history.  Continually looking backwards instead of forward.  It sure explains most of the current problems our town faces, including the inability to attract businesses in both the mall and the industrial park on Riverside.  Maybe other outsiders see us simply as "St Slow".  Maybe our workers are too "slow" for new business.  We need to kick the label.  Let's start with raising the speed limits!

Helmet Law

An article posted in the local paper about a 12-yr-old boy who was hit by a vehicle while skateboarding seemed to spur some discussion on the stjoenews.net blog boards. Some blamed the parents for lack of adult supervision, others blamed the City for not providing ample places for youth to skateboard, and one blogger even posted a link to the ordinance which stated that no person is allowed to use skateboards, inline skates or other similar device in any business district.

All "blame" and accessibility to parks aside, this does raise an issue of safety. Why is there no law in MO for helmets? One other state comes to mind : CA. They have a helmet law for minors riding anything with wheels. Youths are required to have a helmet on when riding their bicycle, skateboard, scooter, etc;. I cannot believe that the government has to be the one to protect your child, but apparently, I've been told that helmets can save lives! In CA, you don't have to be rich to have a helmet, either. There are countless opportunities for families to receive free helmets, courtesy of fire depts, public service agencies, etc;

It's time to demand a helmet law be enacted to protect our children.

Sonic

What is the obsession with Sonic fast food restaurants? In the city of St Joseph, there are 5 Sonic restaurants! Do we really need that many? The number of drive-thru restaurants in our small region is remarkable. Rather, it is appalling.

It is no surprise that fast food and obesity are directly linked. And it doesn't take a rocket scientist to look around our community to see that our citizens have a problem. In fact, our neighboring largely-populated cities (St Louis and Kansas City) have routinely made the "cities with the highest rating of obesity" list released by the American Obesity Assn. This rating is not an award. It is not something to be proud of.

Today I am met with a dilemma. How can I help change the notion that regular visits to Sonic are okay? It is like asking kids to give up their candy. Virtually impossible, one would say. However, there are solutions. And, like almost every other topic, it starts with education.

1. Offer cooking classes. Not at the college, but through a city/county/state-sponsored program that will offer free or at least reduced courses on how to make practical, real-life, un-gourmet snacks and meals.
2. Promote a healthy lifestyle. Uh... anyone hear the sound of change coming? It's time to suck it up and build and/or maintain sidewalks or bike lanes. Time to warmly embrace physical activities. A community center that offers racquetball, basketball, basically any indoor sport would THRIVE (year-round activity, folks).
3. Condone smoking and other poor health vices.
4. Start in school. Offer a health class. Not just sex ed here, folks. Actual discussion about the food pyramid, making healthy choices, the effects of those choices, physical education (not just running around the gym) to include the positive effects of exercising one's heart, lungs, muscles, etc; and also basic hygiene.

Obviously parents aren't stepping up to the plate to educate their children. And I believe it is extremely difficult to teach adults new tricks, but if we start now, we can change the predictions for obesity in our area.

Let's put pressure to halt or at least slow the addition of more fast food restaurants.

Let's put pressure on those who are overweight to make a lifestyle change. It is NOT okay to be overweight. It is NOT okay to eat out consistently.

Healthy is the new "in" thing.

The Madness Within

It's that time of year again.  Turkey, pumpkin pie, football games, family, and a touch of Christmas spirit.  Giving thanks for those special moments in our lives.  Sad to say all the warm fuzzy ends the moment we turn on the TV and are bombarded with "Black Friday" deals, see the ads on the internet, or even just drive around town.  

Black Friday advertisers spend millions trying to tell us that this is the best time of year to spend our hard earned money.  They package their deals with pretty bows and big smiles and they make us feel good about spending more money.  Do we really need all those gizmos and gadgets?  Is this truly the BEST time of year to buy that new electronic splurge?

 

Those that venture out at 4am are showing that the madness within is alive and well in the hearts of shoppers.  Many have been brainwashed into believing that they will get the best deal the earlier they get out.  If they show up late, their perfect present may not be in stock.  And so the frenzy continues.

More madness is evidenced with negative news articles pandering to the "politically correct" media, non-believers, and even our own politicians who tell us that Christmas is out, that not everybody believes what we believe.  They tell us we need to celebrate with Happy Holidays, 'Tis the Season, or even Seasons Greetings.  Have we all forgotten what Christmas is about?   

Cancer Stix

Biris, Butts Cubebs, Fags, Gaspers, Puffs, Reefers, Smokes, Cancer Stix - whatever you call them, cigarettes are on their way "out".... or are they?

According to a study by the USCDC "It's unlikely the United States will meet its Healthy People 2010 objective of reducing the adult smoking rate to 12 percent or less, say experts at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

A recent debate has ensued about whether or not St Joseph is ready to take the leap to a "non-smoking" city.  Traditionally, the midwest has served as a smokers haven, and it is common knowledge that our citizens enjoy their right to enjoy a smoke anywhere they please.  Many smokers in fact do not believe that the smoke they exhale into the air affects anyone in their vicinity, nor does the smoke wafting from the tip of their cigarette.

Smoking is a leading cause of PREVENTABLE death and disease in the U.S.  Okay, so I'm not here to preach about whether one elects to smoke or not.  I don't care what you do in your living room.  I am here to push for an area where those who choose to have clean lungs won't have to be subjected to a hazy environment. 

I think it is time.  The people are ready to see the restaurants go smoke-free.  The children have deserved the honor of dining sans smoke.

A Massachusetts study found that "youths who lived in towns with strict bans were 40% less likely to become regular smokers than those in communities with no bans or weak ones."  Isn't this reason enough?

A business owner told me the other day "Smoking around food is disgusting."  This particular owner does not have a smoking area in their restaurant.  They have been in business for many years and the lack of a smoking and non-smoking side does not negatively impact their success.

C'mon folks.  Put down the cancer stix for an hour.  You can rush outside following your meal to suck down some smoke.  In the meantime... relax. Breathe some fresh air.  Enjoy your meal without the worry of smokers guilt.  Your community will thank you.

To the Saint Joseph community - let's band together and get an initiative passed that will allow diners to select any restaurant they choose, regardless of indoor air quality.

East Hills Mall

Renovations on the East Hills Mall continue and the exterior changes are such an improvement! I am glad that mall management was willing to invest money in making our mall more esthetically appealing. I hope these changes encourage other building owners to follow suit and enhance the appeal of their buildings as well. How beautiful would our town be if property owners took pride in the outward appearance of their buildings, home and businesses alike?

Again, it's all about P-R-I-D-E.

Krug Park

Everyone who's anyone knows something about Krug Park. Whether it's the best time of day to feed the ducks, a secret way from the castle to the upper play area, a history story, or even the lessons of nature.

My annual attendance to the park consists of a once-per-week visit during the summer months and perhaps a single visit during the winter months (if the park is open). I greatly enjoy being able to see the excitement on children's faces when the geese and ducks so willingly open their mouths to be fed. I revel in the fall colors that adorn the park, and I take advantage of the serenity that can be present while visiting "the castle".

This year's maintenance of the park was TERRIBLE. Perhaps the City of St Joseph Parks & Rec department did not hire seasonal maintenance workers because it was saving it's money for the new Nature Center, or perhaps Parks & Rec supervisors do not visit the park as regularly as I do. Regardless, trash has overrun the park. The water is beyond disgusting. There is no word to describe how any humane person would allow our fowl residents to swim in such filth. The children's play area has broken, loudly squeaking swings, broken light fixtures, and rusty parts that are a negligence lawsuit waiting to happen. The park has become an eyesore. The trees are in dire need of trimming. And the landscaping... well, to be kind, has much to be desired.

How can we get St Joe residents to feel pride and excitement about this once flourishing park?

Perhaps the correct question would be - - how can we get our city government to feel the pride?

I have been told by Mr. McKinney, Parks & Rec Director, that the City has no intention to build any additional parks in the foreseeable future. Wikipedia says that the park was opened to the public in 1902. Wow - more than 100 years old. I wish our fellow citizens would love and respect this park.

Since the City refuses to build additional park facilities and is therefore stuck with maintaining only three parks, Hyde Park, Bartlett Park, Krug Park (there are other small, insignificant ones that are rarely attended, even by nearby residents), I expect, no, I DEMAND, better upkeep of our parks.

Solutions for maintenance:

1) City should budget more money for maintenance. Since this will likely not happen, they should plan for a regular park attendee. This person would be in charge of trash removal, pond skimming, animal feces clean up, animal feeding and care, and weeding. There should be an attendant at the park daily. On the weekends, bare minimum services, such as trash removal, are expected. Mowing of the property should be performed on a regular, scheduled basis. As should fertilizing and other additional steps to increase the quality of the rather saddened condition of the present lawn.

2) I see that a volunteer group maintains the garden area at the entrance to the park. How can we get other volunteer organizations to step up and perform needed work throughout the park? Volunteers can paint, add to, and otherwise enhance the look and functionality of the park.

3) Garden club.... elderly... students... take a look at the gazebo area. Remove all present "landscaping" and start from scratch. Plant an herb garden, rose garden (actually put some effort into growing the plants), etc. Add additional seating. This is an underused, hard-to-access area that shows potential.

4) Remove or repair the broken play toys. Cap the broken lighting fixtures. Add ambient lighting so the park isn't so "scary" and "ugly" at night.

5) Get rid of Kreepy Krug. Waste of time and money.

6) The City needs to manage the Christmas decorations throughout the park. Whomever does it now needs to be fired.

7) Hold events here! What a beautiful amphitheater! Forget your Parties on the Parkway - hold parties at Krug! Theater events. Live concerts. A public 4th of July fireworks fair. Give people a reason to keep coming back. They deserve it. They want it. "If you build it, they will come".

FIX IT. I beg the City - please, fix it. There needs to be pride, there is none. Appoint a leader - people will listen and respond. Rebuild the reputation instead of hoping the decrepit place will fall into a magical hole in the earth.

Extremist Republicans

A local radio station called some ideas about tattoos "extremist republican" views. The topic at hand was a recent article in the St Joe News Press "Hey, teacher! What’s that on your ankle".

Actually, this wasn't so much the topic of discussion as was the comments posted online referring to the article. Any poster who was leery of supporting prominently displayed or "visible" tattoos was condemned for not being tolerant.

The radio station dj's started their Monday morning off strong by denouncing those who spoke against the tattoos. Apparently, they believe that teachers should be allowed to "get inked" anywhere they like. Those who disagreed were extremists. And since they were extremists, they linked Republicans in the mix. Extremist Republicans. Wow. Tell me... what does a party affiliation have anything to do with teachers getting tattoos?

Since the SJSD isn't concerned with taking any steps to take a stand one way or another, why is our community having the discussion at all?

Old Glory

My recent evening drive downtown allowed me the opportunity to revel in the majesty of our city hall building. I was sorely disappointed to notice that something was amiss. The light for the flag on the southwest side of the building was burned out. Old Glory should not stand in the darkness!

I knew there was some kind of "rule" that governs flags flying in the darkness, and found the following from the "Flag Code" [United States Code Title 4 Chapter 1 — The Flag]:

It is the universal custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset on buildings and on stationary flagstaffs in the open. However, when a patriotic effect is desired, the flag may be displayed twenty-four hours a day if properly illuminated during the hours of darkness.

Ah ha! PROPERLY ILLUMINATED. The keywords. So I have written and called and emailed to no avail. Old Glory stands alone. In the dark.

UPDATE: Got the name of the maintenance manager, Scott Barnard. Found out that city hall has been vandalized repeatedly this year, with one of the primary targets being the American flag. I heard that the vandals have targeted wires, lighting fixtures, etc; What has this city come to? Where is the outrage? I for one am aiming for either an evening security guard or video surveillance. Anyhow - the light has been replaced (hooray!) and our flag stands watch over City Hall. Day and night.

For those interested - click here to view the live webcam of "Civic Center Park"