The Most Important News

What’s the most important news to come across the wires in the past 24 hours?

More on the elections? NO

The Ted Haggard evangelical scandal? NO

Miami upsetting the undefeated ‘Da Bears? NO

Scribner Place groundbreaking? NO

Louisville # 3 in BCS Rankings? L Yes!

Go Cards!

Next up this Thursday evening, the #3 ranked Cardinals will square off against the #15 Scarlet Knights of Rutgers. Both teams are undefeated, in regular season and Big East conference play. An overflow crowd is expected at what will be the Cards toughest road game this season (until they get to the National Champiosnhip, that is.)

Other Louisville related articles in today’s C-J.

Shoe is on other foot for Cards.

BCS Ranking Puts Title Game in U of L's Reach.

In all seriousness, though, tomorrow is Election Day. Folks are projecting heavy turnout, even locally; Strong turnout expected at polls in S. Indiana

I hope and pray such turnout is true, for I think that voting is perhaps the most cherished civil right that we have. I am however, long enough in tooth to have seen all this ‘mid-term, high turnout hype’ many times before, only to be disappointed the next morning.

Every vote does make a difference. In one of my prior posts, Happy Birthday America!, I highlighted how but one vote has at various times in the history of our country made a difference.

A few final interesting political anecdotes, for whatever they are worth.

In mid-term elections, in the second term of a sitting President, the opposition party has, on average, picked up 31 House seats and 6 Senate seats.

Since 1860, in mid-term elections when the country has been at war, the opposition party has, on average, picked up 35 House seats.

The House has never changed hands without the Senate doing likewise.

Happy Voting!

And, Go Cards!

Too Fast, Too Furious …

A puff piece ran on Baron Hill in the Courier Journal this past Thursday, entitled Driven By Competition.

In the article we were regaled with Baron’s athletic prowess.

I didn’t give it much thought until today, when I retrieved my mail and the Courier from the box. Seems that some of Baron’s claimed accomplishments were, lets say, a little ‘overly optimistic.’

Just this morning the C-J ran a correction on page A2, reprinted below:

CORRECTION

Baron Hill’s athletic accomplishments

A story Thursday said incorrectly that Democratic congressional candidate Baron Hill set and still held Indiana record for the 100-yard dash and that he had been drafted by the New York Giants football team when he graduated from college.Hill’s campaign biography said he set the dash record while at Seymour High School and continued to hold it. But the Indiana High School Athletic Association lists someone else as the record holder for running a time of 9.5 seconds during the state finals of the 1965-66 school year. According to Seymour High School, Hill ran a 100-yard dash in 9.5 seconds at a 1970 track meet. But because it was not part of the state finals, the IHSAA does not count it as tying the record. The Hill campaign yesterday removed the reference from its Web site. Also, Hill is not listed on the Giant’s official draft list. Through a spokeswoman, Hill said he remembers being contacted by the Giants organization and believed he’d been drafted because friends said they’d read about it. But he said he never followed up with the team.

[Hey, Baron, maybe they were calling to see if you wanted season tickets! As a former football player myself, with long-faded NFL dreams, I can assure you that no young man would ever forget to return a call from any pro team for any reason. What about an offer letter? C’mon, this doesn’t happen every day! It’s the stuff dreams are made of.]

The Giants story falls into that category otherwise known as A Whopper!


These ‘claims’ wouldn’t be so bad, if I had not yet received just today another couple of glossy mailers touting Baron’s “Family Values.”. In one, a letter from his wife Betty Hill proclaims in part,

”I want you to know, directly from me, the deeply held Christian values of my husband of 30 years, Baron Hill.”

Apparently one of those values is not complete honesty.

Alas, we’ll always have one of my hometown heroes and a real NY Giant, Phil Simms.

Think for a minute ........

You Wouldn't Even Ask

Fr. Frank PavoneNational Director - Priests for Life
If a candidate who supported terrorism asked for your vote, would you say, "I disagree with you on terrorism, but where do you stand on other issues?"

I doubt it.

In fact, if a terrorism sympathizer presented him/herself for your vote, you would immediately know that such a position disqualifies the candidate for public office -- no matter how good he or she may be on other issues. The horror of terrorism dwarfs whatever good might be found in the candidate's plan for housing, education, or health care. Regarding those plans, you wouldn't even ask.

So why do so many people say, "This candidate favors legal abortion. I disagree. But I'm voting for this person because she has good ideas about health care (or some other issue)."

Such a position makes no sense whatsoever, unless one is completely blind to the violence of abortion. That, of course, is the problem. But we need only see what abortion looks like, or read descriptions from the abortionists themselves, and the evidence is clear. (USA Today refused to sell me space for an ad that quoted abortionists describing their work because the readers would be traumatized just by the words!)

Abortion is no less violent than terrorism. Any candidate who says abortion should be kept legal disqualifies him/herself from public service. We need look no further, we need pay no attention to what that candidate says on other issues. Support for abortion is enough for us to decide not to vote for such a person.

Pope John Paul II put it this way: "Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights -- for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture -- is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination" (Christifideles Laici, 1988).

False and illusory. Those are strong and clear words that call for our further reflection.

"I stand for adequate and comprehensive health care." So far, so good. But as soon as you say that a procedure that tears the arms off of little babies is part of "health care," then your understanding of the term "health care" is obviously quite different from the actual meaning of the words. In short, you lose credibility. Your claim to health care is "illusory." It sounds good, but is in fact destructive, because it masks an act of violence.

"My plan for adequate housing will succeed." Fine. But what are houses for, if not for people to live in them? If you allow the killing of the children who would otherwise live in those houses, how am I supposed to get excited by your housing project?

It's easy to get confused by all the arguments in an election year. But if you start by asking where candidates stand on abortion, you can eliminate a lot of other questions you needn't even ask.

For more election related articles and information, visitwww.priestsforlife.org/elections

***********************************************************

In a very similar vein, on August 15th the Bishops of Kansas released a statement, Moral Principles for Catholic Voters. In a joint letter signed by the Bishops to every pastor in the State of Kansas they stressed the importance that Catholics not only realize their right and duty to vote but also of being informed voters who make their decisions based on moral principles.

The Statement can be found here.

************************************************************

And one further authoritative source on the matter is Archbishop Charles J. Chaput of Denver. His statement criticizing use of liberal Catholic 'seamless garment' philosophy to sideline the abortion issue can be found here.

We R Ready!

At the beginning of the season this year, many so-called pundits and commentators questioned whether the Cards were all they appeared to be. Even after injuries to Bush, Brohm and others decimated the team of its 'stars,' but UofL continued to show its depth, skill and tenacity by winning on the road, this same group of self-professed experts continued to ask R U Ready?

Well I'm a believer in letting performance speak for itself.

We R Ready!



Can't touch Brohm!

Cold but pumped!

A real "Blackout!"

The score says it all!

Let the party begin….

Hey Jurich, better order another set!

What a night!
What a game!
What a post-game tailgate party!
What a hangover! (I'm getting too old for this!)

What's the frequency, Baron?

Back in 1986, anchorman Dan Rather, while walking in a toney neighborhood in Manhattan, was assaulted by a ‘disturbed’ assailant who asked (in the popularly reported version), “What’s the frequency, Kenneth?”

When later arrested, the assailant said he came from a parallel universe 200 years in the future. He claimed that because everyone in the future had a double in the past, he had mistaken Rather for his own future double, Vice President Burroughs. He assaulted Rather to recover the secrets necessary to stop signals being sent to his brain, and then go back to his own time.

That inanity is about the same way I felt when reviewing Baron Hill’s latest print political ad. I feel that I am in some parallel political universe where the Democrat Ninth District Congressional candidate is now trying to run further to the right than the Republican incumbent. Is this not the same Baron that was banging the same Mike Sodrel on the same family values issues way back in 2004? Upon a closer reading of the ad, before relegating it like all others to my fireplace, one would think that Baron is planning to enter the seminary! Photos in front of the church, religious iconography, a large picture of Baron with his minister, written proclamations of his sanctity, etc.

Don’t get me wrong. I am all for religious values, if they are truly held. [To me, what is not said in this ad on Baron’s past pronunciations and House votes is more telling that what is said.] I thought, however, that this imposition of “family values” is exactly what the Democrats did not want.

This ad lays to rest exactly what the voters in the Ninth District really value; now the question is which candidate, in words and deeds, past and present, truly supports such ideals.

Is Mike the future double of Baron? Perhaps Baron should get the signals out of his head and return to his own time!

And speaking of the frequency, what’s with the national agenda for Democrats running for the House? First promised by Congresswoman Pelosi and Senator Schumer way back late 2005, a new, bold national agenda for all Democrats was to be delivered to an American public, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the same with baited breath, in January 2006. Never happended! Well, the 'partial' agenda for Democrats seeking to attain House seats is finally out, and reprinted in pertinent part below:

Put new rules in place to break the link between lobbyists and legislation.

Enact all the recommendations made by the 9/11 commission.

Raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour.

Cut the interest rate on federally supported student loans in half.

Allow the government to negotiate directly with pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients.

Broaden the types of stem-cell research supported with federal funds.

Now that’s bold, isn’t it?

I haven’t seen such milquetoast in national politics for …. well, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it! These are the type of issues that form the central, most important part of the Democrat agenda? I guess these same democrats are not listening to their own constituents.

What are the priorities of the American people? Lets’ take look at the most recent poll from CBS News/New York Times Poll. Oct. 27-31, 2006. The poll asked the following open-ended question, "Of all the problems facing this country today, which one do you most want the new Congress to concentrate on first?"

The top three issues identified are:

War in Iraq 39%

Illegal Immigration 9%

Economy and jobs 7%

Show me please just how this announced Democrat agenda addresses but one of these top priorities? It doesn’t! The national Democrat leadership, as it exists today, knows first and foremost that their own purported solutions to these issues are either non-existent or contrary to what the majority of Americans would find palatable. Being the proverbial ‘third rail’ for their desire to retake leadership of the House, they elect instead to simply avoid the issues, hunker down and hope for the best.

What are Baron Hill’s position in the war, immigration, and the economy and jobs? Haven't heard.

I know what Congressman Sodrel’s positions are on these issues, because he is not fearful to speak to them.

What’s the frequency Baron?

Oh, and GO CARDS !

Senator Lurch Kerry

“You know, education, if you make the most of it, you study hard, you do your homework, you try to be smart, you can do well. And if you don’t you get stuck in Iraq.”

Try unsuccessfully as you will to spin it any way you like, Senator, but here is some language even you should understand.

RES IPSA LOQUITUR

And something of which you have no understanding ……..

Semper fi !

  

[With sincerest apologies to actor Ted Cassidy]

GO CARDS !!!!

I was reminded this morning that I have been a bit remiss at posting anything, anywhere about my beloved University of Louisville Cardinals.

So here is a brief update, superseding even the upcoming elections in importance.

The undefeated #6 Cardinals (7-0) will meet the undefeated #4 West Virginia Mountaineers (7-0) this Thursday, November 2, at 7:30 P.M. Officially dubbed the Blackout, this game represents the Cards opportunity to avenge last year’s heartbreaking road loss at West Virginia. Do you know the last time the Cards were 7-0 was in 1925?!?

I will make one absolute prediction about this game: either UofL or WV will no longer be undefeated! And, the Cards will be victorious!

This past Tuesday also saw the Tipoff Luncheon for the men’s basketball team. This looks to be a strong season for the Cards basketball program; Pitino always makes it exciting.

Speaking of basketball, the Lady Cards basketball team is also gearing up for its season. Last year we were able to buy season tickets for the women’s games for only $25 per seat on the lower level. This year it is a mere $40 per seat. It was some of the most exciting basketball I had seen in quite awhile; these ladies are very, very good!

Some people have asked us how we got such good tickets for men’s basketball and football. Well, we started buying the seats years ago when a big game drew maybe half a stadium/arena full of folks. As long as we did not let our tickets lapse, we were guaranteed the same seats in subsequent years. The same is true of women’s basketball; lock in the good seats now!

GO CARDS!

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GOP Victory Rally (Election Selection: Round 2)

This afternoon we attended the Indiana GOP Victory Rally at Silver Creek High School in Sellersburg.

President Bush had the over capacity crowd of 4,000 jazzed for the upcoming election. As you can see from the photo above, people filled the gym quite literally to the rafters. I was personally enthused to see so many college students in the crowd. All I spoke with assured me they were indeed going to vote. [I do not know what this means, but a variety of studies over the past seven years show college students becoming more ‘conservative,’ albeit still in a minority.]

The President’s talk was positive, lighthearted, and humorous; none of the ‘doom-and-gloom air’ one reads so much about in the majority of the national media. The crowd was exceedingly energized, and ready for the final, critical week leading up to the general election (all the tickets were spoken for within three hours of the announced visit.)

Mike has once again assembled a formidable ground team, and his extensive GOTV efforts assured his success in 2004. His 2006 campaign accomplishments in this area far surpass both those which brought him victory two years prior, and from what I have seen and heard, also those of his competitor Baron Hill in this year’s race. Congressman Sodrel’s ground initiatives are but one reason that the National Republican Party has agreed to funnel campaign cash, and perhaps more importantly national political personalities, into his campaign this year.

The C-J has already posted an article on the rally.

Of course there was the same small, tired haggard group of gray haired protestors on the road leading to the high school, and a few in the parking lot. I’m sure I recognize some of these folks as the same who ‘greeted’ me and others outside LAX in early 1972; and through the years in a variety of other past protests. As the saying goes, just give ‘em a free sandwich and shove a sign in their hand, and they’ll protest anything! But hey, that is indeed the beauty of free speech.

No one knows what election day will bring in the Ninth District, but our hopes, prayers, personal campaign support, financial backing and, most importantly, votes are squarely behind Conressman Mike Sodrel.

Mike Sodrel for Congress

[I was similarly invited to the Baron Hill rally earlier this week with Senator Bayh, but could not make it since we were out of town. Perhaps this anonymous blogger is the one who should profess to have the 'press credentials'??]

More personal election selections to come ........

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Tutankhamun

My wife and I just returned from Chicago late yesterday evening, having taken a brief trip to Chicago with some friends and their kiddos.

While there we toured the King Tutankhamun exhibition at the Field Museum. The intricate craftsmanship of this period of the Egyptian civilization dating some 3,400 years ago is absolutely amazing, even more so when one considers the lack of tools and technologies available to their artisans.

No photographic images on any kind are allowed in the exhibition halls, but there are a variety of hard copy and digital images of the artifacts on sale (of course) in the gift shop. We bought the 'official' exhibition DVD narrated by Omar Sharif. Kind of pricey at $30, but it is an excellent resource with more in depth information on the artifacts and artistry than offered in the actual exibition itself.

If you can get to Chicago before the New Year, we highly recommend visiting the King Tut exhibit (plus the city is a cool place to be, especially during the holidays.) Many local hotels offer VIP ticket (non-time restricted on admission) packages. You can find these packages at the web link above; I am told the AAA offers similar packages for a better overall deal.

Happy travels!

blogtatsic

Election Selection: Round 1

Below are some of my final choices for local races. My decisions were made after reviewing the positions and performance of a given candidate/incumbent and their opponent, to the extent available. In addition, I have personally spoken to all of the candidates/incumbents listed below, to get any questions answered, in addition to three of their collective four opponents.

State Senate, District 46 – Connie Sipes (D)

Senator Sipes has done a wonderful job representing the interests of all her constituents, ready to lend a willing ear regardless of party affiliation. She also has a proven independent record, taking stands on issues that may put her in opposition to the power-that-be (like eminent domain), and even those in her own party. Coupled with her connections in the capital, Connie is best able to continue to serve the interests of her district in Indianapolis.

County Commissioner, District #1– Randy Stumler (D)

Randy has demonstrated leadership skills, especially in the area of financial controls, in addition to a track record of independent thinking. This coupled with his stand on proper development in rural Floyd County, and the rebirth of New Albany itself, sets him well above the competition. Only one note of caution. As Chairman of the Floyd county Democrat Party, should Randy fall in with the extreme radical wing of his party, all bets for future support are off. I find this prospect, however, highly unlikely.

Frank Loop - Floyd County Sheriff (R)

Frank is a very proficient law enforcement officer, with a personal and professional career track of increasing self-development and responsibility. Coupled with his clearly articulated vision of future improvements for the department, including but not limited to the critical issue of more officers on the street, Frank is the only choice in this race.

Keith Henderson – Prosecuting Attorney (R)

Professional, tough on crime and an extremely proficient attorney, Keith has brought to the office of the Prosecutor everything that was both desperately needed and sorely lacking in his predecessor. Sending Camm up the river only adds icing to the electoral cake!

An interesting article of note in the C-J: Key state races draw little attention.

More personal selections to come in a few days ……..

New Life: Part Deux

A week or so back, I wrote about New Life in New Albany, evidenced most recently by the opening of two new cafés in the still largely vacant and lifeless downtown area. Since that posting, there has been some bit of media coverage regarding the amount of tourism dollars being spent in Clark and Floyd Counties. Overall the news is positive.

From the Tribune ….

Tourism in the two counties brought about $317 million into the area last year. That’s up from $259 million in 2000 — a growth of 1.2 percent when adjusted for inflation.

“You’re seeing a very healthy growth each year over this five year period,” Carr said.

The tourism industry generated nearly $75 million in tax revenues to government, a number that’s up from $64 million in 2000. About $27 million went to the state; $14 million went to local government and $33 million went to the federal government.

The report cited job growth over the five year period as well. In the two counties, there were 4,386 travel and tourism related jobs in 2000.
That number grew by about 500 by last year. The jobs generated about $63 million in wages, the report said.

“Tourism has a wide range of benefits to communities in Clark and Floyd counties,” Carr said”.

[James Carr is president of Lexington, Ky.-based Certec Inc., which conducted the study.]

Tribune article: Sunnyside bureau touts sunny economic news.

And from the C-J’s more extensive reporting ….

”Jim Keith, executive director of the Clark-Floyd Convention and Tourism Bureau, said yesterday he was "pleasantly surprised" by the gain, considering that tourism went into a slump after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

Keith also noted that last year's numbers didn't reflect the full impact of the Bass Pro Shops outdoors store in Clarksville, which he said has received more than 1 million visitors since it opened in November 2005.

Although the casino is in nearby Harrison County, Keith said it has had a positive impact on lodging and travel in Floyd. Top tourism draws for the two counties included Louisville, the Falls of the Ohio State Park and Jeffersonville's restaurant row.

Slightly more than one-fifth of visitors to the two counties came from somewhere in Indiana, followed by Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio and Tennessee.”

C-J article: Clark, Floyd counties' tourism up, study says

As stated previously, overall this is indeed good news for Clark and Floyd counties. More revenue for business owners, more jobs and the increase in tax dollars dearly loved by the local politicos and the ‘progressive constituency’ are the positive outcomes of this increase in tourism.

It is good, that is, until you examine where the monies are being spent. If one takes a map and draws a line between all the southern Indiana communities and attractions mentioned – Jeffersonville, Clarksville, Starlight, Caesars casino – they end up with the “Tourism Crescent.” Isolated at the center of this crescent, and left out of any direct impact from increased tourism dollars, sits downtown New Albany.

With all this money floating around, I must ask what have our local politicians and those associated with official downtown redevelopment efforts done to help grab some of the bucks? Seems like the answer is NOTHING.

Even the small community of Starlight, with more limited resources than New Albany, has managed to launch a community marketing initiative to boost tourism even further: Ready to shine in Starlight.

Worse yet, it appears that people are having a problem even finding our little burg: Signs of our times in New Albany.

The articles citing the increase in tourism also leave out one critical fact. The tourist sites mentioned were overwhelmingly financed by private investment; casinos, restaurants, wineries, Bass Pro, shops, malls, hotels, etc. Perhaps New Albany’s local leadership can take a cue from this fact, and see what they can do to facilitate such investment from private individuals, rather than continuing to think they can construct such draws themselves.

Getting private individuals to risk their own cash, now that's progressive!

Alas, our local leadership hasn’t a clue.

I must admit, however, that the sight of all the hundreds of red tail lights on a crisp autumn night, bypassing our city en route to the casino, up the hill to Starlight, or over to Jeff and Clark, do begin to put me in an early holiday mood. I may not even have to hang my Xmas lights this year!

Thanks for the Laughs

After a brief absence, due to an unanticipated and tragic loss suffered by close family friends, I was looking for something to boost my spirits. Visits from my grandson and my children, accompanied by some serious hugs and handholding, did much to improve my spirits. Given the completely unknown tenure of our time on earth, and my own ever-increasing age, I have come to an enhanced appreciation of just simply spending time with loved ones.

This morning dawned much brighter. With a much improved disposition, I returned to the blogosphere to check out, among other things, the local goings on. What I found were a two items which made me chuckle quite heartily.

First it appears that the New Albany Sewer utility is asking to get even deeper into our pockets: City Council to hear sewer funding request. It appears that after recently receiving a rate hike of 8% and about $11M worth of EDIT monies, they are looking for another $540K. Not to worry though, because, ”Fifer said the $540,000 wasn't factored into the rate-increase package in August and isn't absolutely necessary.”

I must ask three questions of his honor the mayor. First and foremost, why was the $540K not factored into the August rate-increase package? Second, why ask to expend more of our hard-earned money when it isn’t absolutely necessary? And third, what and where are your priorities for Economic Development and the expenditures of EDIT monies?

This fiasco, humorous as it may be, is the lesser of the two entertaining issues I encountered this morning. The second is to be found over at the quasi-socialistic, I mean progressive, New Albany Confidential

In a series of rambling, somewhat incoherent and verbose postings, the author launches a vitriolic attack against the Freedom of Speech (FOS) blog, and the purported true identity of its editor/author. The broadside begins with a thinly veiled justification for his contempt, namely the posting at the FOS blog of a respectful photograph of the mayor’s family at the Harvest Homecoming Parade, accompanied by an innocuous question. Appears the NAC author is (falsely) concerned for the children; boy, hasn’t that fiddle been overplayed a bit?

Then the author delves into the readily apparent, yet undisclosed reason for his contempt, namely that he does not really know the true identity of the FOS editor/author. This is indeed what gets into his crawl, for his brief charade at defending the children provides but a rough segue into his true purpose of outing, then personally denigrating (as this author predicted over at SOLNA) the purported FOS writer, whom he identifies as, ”a pathetic Internet troll.”

Note that this barrage of attacks takes not one posting, nor two, but a total of three posts over two days. Must not have gotten the traction the author wanted. Seems he is trying to put into practice that old Vladimir Lenin advice, ”A lie told often enough becomes the truth.”

Perhaps the author should have spent his time and column inches (bandwidth,) and answered the question originally posited by FOS.

Daddy, why indeed are they booing you?

New Life

More signs of downtown renewal are popping up in New Albany, thanks in large part to risk-taking entrepreneurs and gracious donors.

Two new cafés are part of this reawakening, one already open for business and the second set to launch soon.

Theresa Dick and her identical twin sister, Lisa Fouts, opened their first restaurant, Main Street Cafe & Treats on Tuesday, in the location of the old Main Street Grind.

Twin sisters open cafe in downtown New Albany

Teresa Clancy, wife of Bistro New Albany’s co-owner Dave Clancy, is opening Treet’s Bakery Cafe at 135 Market St. The café is set to open as-close-as-possible to November 1st.

Bakery to face bistro on downtown block

Even though the old blood sugar is near borderline, I plan to check out the goods at both these new eateries. Too tempting!

Finally, the Padgett Museum, which documents Floyd County’s history, has opened at 509 W. Market St. The historical house in which the museum is located was graciously donated to the Floyd County Historical Society by Beverly and Jim Padgett. The Society has done a superb job setting up this new museum; it has a lot of potential and will be a terrific asset to our community. You need to check it out soon. We will be returning with our niece this weekend.

Floyd's past is on display

Best wishes to Theresa, Lisa and Teresa on their new ventures, and many thanks to Beverly and Jim for their donation to the Historical Society.


To think all this is being done while Scribner Place is still a ‘muddy’ dream ….

What was that comment about private capital investment?


Happy Harvest Homecoming!

Respect Life

Today is Respect Life Sunday, and October is Respect Life Month.

It is also Down Syndrome Awareness Month.

The two fit together quite naturally.

Respect for the dignity of human life from conception to natural death.

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly…….

Blondie

A new business is set to open in downtown New Albany in the old Fashion Shop building. A lot of traffic passes daily (and completely bypasses downtown) by this highly visible, and long-vacant, building at Spring St.

Some are lamenting that it is ‘only a flea market.’ What these critics fail to realize is that it will be yet another reason for people to stop and linger, and perhaps check out what is further down the street or around the corner. More people, more cash, more business….

Good luck to Messrs. Benjamin and Collins, and all those who rent the booths….

Tuco

The Ninth District Congressional race is getting more interesting by the day. Hill: ‘Good idea’ was a bad idea; GOP says it will change ad.

The Dems criticize Congressman Sodrel for being too far to the right, the President’s virtual lap dog.

At the same time, it is interesting that Baron Hill tries to show the he is the true God fearin’, church goin’, gay hatin’, flag wavin’, gun lovin’, senior protectin’, veteran respectin’, terrorist killin’, family values prayin’ candidate. (Did I leave something out?) It sounds like even his car doesn’t turn to the left anymore!

It appears Ninth District voters, on the whole, must truly embrace conservatism.

Angel Eyes

The mayor continues his unbroken string of inept, politically divisive appointments: Stormwater board’s reign arrives. Given the contentious atmosphere surrounding the entire stormwater, and interrelated sewer issues, one would think that a savvy politician/person would appoint a chair who could at least appear to soothe some of the wounds. [I think the article’s title, unfortunately and unintentionally, says it all.]

The mayor, however, has demonstrated he has no political savvy. It appears he is not only trying to absolutely destroy his own political career, but take the local Democrat party down with him.


Oh, well. Time for a motorbike ride with some friends. We have been told that the leaves are really starting to turn up around Brownstown. My wife and I love the fall season, so we’re going to check it out.

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The Greenway

Drats! Cold weather has returned! I enjoyed the past four days playing outside. I even enjoyed the recent rains of near biblical proportions. It temporarily turned a large portion of our cul-de-sac into a wading pool. My grandson and dog had a big time playing in the 'puddle'..... to be a kid again! (or even a dog for that matter…)

Speaking of playing outside, it is great to see the New Albany portion of the Greenway Project will finally be getting underway. Thanks to those involved, especially Valla Ann Bolovschak, for representing our local interests and making sure the necessary funding is obtained. [Let's not allow the mayor screw up this project, like almost all else he has touched!] For those who may not already know, Valla Ann is a member of the Ohio River Greenway Commission.

Just this past Sunday our family, some fellow parishioners and friends participated in the Louisville AIDS Walk. The walk took participants across the Clark Memorial Bridge and along a portion of the riverfront in Jeffersonville. Some co-walkers from Louisville, and even from Indiana, had never been down along that part of the Indiana riverfront. Many remarked on the beautiful views and surrounding scenery.

I started thinking how cool it would have been if these 3,000-some people could have proceeded on via the Greenway into an (albeit revitalized) downtown New Albany. If the ped/walkway was finished across the K&I railroad bridge, we could have organized walks/bikes, mutual community activites and recreation across this bridge as well!

After the walk, three carloads of us Greenway-intrigued folks drove back across the bridge, down past the Falls of the Ohio, over the floodwall to the George Rogers Clark Home Site State Park, across the new bridge, and snaked into New Albany via “junkyard row” (anyone know who owns the old interurban car sitting along the riverfront?) We then proceeded to the Loop Island Wetlands to look at the location(s) where the Greenway could/would cross Silver Creek into New Albany proper. Only two of us had ever been to the wetlands, and all were amazed at this treasure in such an unseemly place.

I do not yet know how and where the Greenway will terminate in New Albany (hopefully in a very apparent open, inviting and attractive area.) It did however begin to dawn on me that the Greenway has much potential to attract and channel many new people into downtown New Albany, I believe many more new people than Scribner Place.

And think of the expanded possibilities if the K&I crossing becomes a reality?

To dream like a kid again!