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.