Walking around

City work can be soooooooo boring - right?

Think not you non-civil servant types.

Sometimes it can drive you over the edge - and often in a good way.

I just happened to be managing-by-walking around this afternoon and came across this stately group - a vampierette; a cat; Jackie-O; raggedy ann; a scarecrow; and a ghostly bride - or is it a ghostly maiden-of-honor?

Thanks Darlene, Benjie, Megahn, Rebecca, Lynda, and Jaime in the Finance Department for making the day a little brighter - and feel a little less like work - for the rest of us.

Thanks for the cupcake too.

Hydrants

Hey dog lovers - don't miss the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Bark Park this Tuesday, November 1, 2011 at 4:00 p.m.

The Bark Park is the our newest recreation facility located in Charlie Robinette Park on Vance Drive across from Rooster Front.

The Bark Park is also the new home of four of the mature trees moved from the Central Elementary site last week.  The trees add a nice finishing touch to a great facility.

Bring your pooch to help christen the site - we have two matching fire hydrants awaiting the canine crowds.

Waxing

Cold today - colder than normal.

Kids didn't seem to care - pumpkin palooza was jammed this morning with hundreds of ghosts, goblins, pirates, princesses, and others in attendance to decorate their free cucurbita maxima (i.e., pumpkin).  This was the final day for the 2011 farmers market - what a great season we had.

Later today and a scant block away, the Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration held a drug turn-in day.  Hundreds of pounds of unwanted prescription drugs were turned-in to be properly destroyed. 

Did I mention this was Saturday night before Halloween?  A large number of adult ghosts, goblins, pirates and princesses were seen moving about downtown Bristol in the early evening hours.

I suspect there will be many more howling at the waxing crescent moon this evening. peace

Titanic

100 years ago this month Mr. Fred T. Vance, a visitor at the October 6, 1911 city council meeting, made a request on behalf of Hose Company #1 of the need for a new fire horse to replace the 19-year old horse then in service.  No action was taken but the matter was referred to the Committee on Fire and Lights for investigation. 

At that same meeting, an inquiry was made regarding the lack of police enforcement of folks spitting on the sidewalks and a lack of enforcement of the "move-on" ordinance.

Times were simpler 100 years ago - or were they?

1911 - 100 years ago:

• the federal government sends 20,000 troops to the Mexican border
• the Polo Grounds grandstand and left field bleachers go up in flames
• the first Indianapolis 500 is run
• the Lost City of the Incas was discovered by Hiram Bingham
• the first woman to complete a solo transcontinental trip by horse was made
• the Mona Lisa was stolen from the Louvre
• the first transcontinental airplane flight taking 82 hours was recorded
• the South Pole is reached
• the ground breaking for Boston's Fenway Park began
• the Supreme Court dissolves Standard Oil on antitrust act violations
• the R.M.S. Titanic was launched
• Italy declares war on the Ottoman Empire

Time were simpler - perhaps in Bristol.

Catch the bus

Raise your hands:  who has ridden a city bus recently? 

OK, raise your hands again:  who likes hamburgers, hot dogs, cookies, and soft drinks?

Now with both hands held up high:  who likes free food and free transit rides on the same day?

I thought so - so come out to the Bristol Transit Customer Appreciation Day on Thursday, October 27 to enjoy a free-ride day and enjoy lunch complimentary of our transit system.  Lunch will be served from 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. on the Shelby Street side of the Downtown Center.

The Bristol Transit System operate Monday through Saturday between the hours of 6:00 a.m and 6:00 p.m.  Over 65,000 passengers are transported each year.  And for those persons unable to use the regular fixed route service, there is a special service also available for you.  Please call the transit office at (423) 989-5586 for more information.

Put your worries and mind at rest - ride the bus and leave the driving to us!

Relax

Went downtown today several times.

Visited the H.P. King Builiding on State Street to view the progress of the adaptive reuse of the former department store into a multi-use facility.

Wow.  The project is moving ahead with dispatch.  The vision is incredible - it will bring something unique to downtown Bristol that we'll all be proud.  Watch for the next announcement coming soon.

Came back later - after hours - to relax for a bit.  The downtown is so vibrant and comfortable - I think I'll go back tomorrow.

How about you?

Mayo

Do you ever have just one of those days?  You know - one of those days when the four corners of the world seem to be closing in; when minor issues seem somehow to morph into something more; when your ordered corned beef and swiss on rye and you got pastrami - with mayo.  Is that what's got you down Bunky?

Hope not - welcome it all with gusto.

Remember the world is large with many lessons to be learned - mine the corners and embrace the opportunities that you'll discover.

Remember that minor issues are granular opportunities to fix something meaningful to someone somewhere - and can result in the most deep felt thanks.

And never forget that pastrami is leaner than corned beef and healthier for you - and it's tasty too.

There's a whole lot more good days ahead - and we need everybody to get us there - so hold the mayo.