Post Office Traffic.

A discussion of traffic congestion around the Post Office that began in the Public Safety Committee Monday evening was continued in the Public Works Committee meeting Tuesday afternoon. City Director of Engineering Joe Butler is to report back to the Committee with suggestions for improved traffic flow and initial plans for the Post Office expansion.

A request by Jenny Mansfield to eliminate three parking places on Fourth Street and Lyon has prompted the study. Mansfield told the Public Safety Committee that her 10 year old granddaughter was bumped by a car trying to cross the street at the location. Although the girl is doing fine, Mansfield said parked cars blocked the view of those trying to enter Fourth off Lyon and eliminating the parking spots on the South side of the Professional Building would make a safer intersection.

Public Safety Committee Chair Charlie Bastin moved to eliminate the spots. Committee member H.J. Johnson said he would rather wait and look at the traffic at all corners of the block before taking action. Bastin withdrew his motion.

Now I suppose that if a fella was out pear pickin’ and happened to be standin’ exactly where the perfect pear was fallin’, and he happened to see it on the way down and caught if ‘fore it hit the ground and got all bruised, most would call that good luck. Some would call it the ultimate windfall.

The fact is, the pear was gonna fall whether the fella was there or not. The fact that he happened to be standin’ in the perfect spot was most likely ‘cause he was lookin’ for the opportunity. It wasn’t luck at all. He had prepared himself to be ready to take advantage of any opportunity that happened to arise, then took action to take advantage of the the situation. Lotta folks woulda been lookin’ at their feet and ended up with pear juice in their hair.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

by

Metcalf Auto Supply

Click & Clack
TALK CARS

by Tom & Ray Magliozzi

Dear Tom and Ray:

I have a 1989 Buick Century. Recently, the left directional flasher went out (i.e. stopped flashing). The local service-station mechanic didn’t have a clue. He said about an hour’s labor plus parts. I took it to another station and was told anywhere from $3 to $125. Then I called two Buick dealers and they couldn’t give me a firm estimate either. What would be a fair amount to pay to fix this problem? No one can tell me. -Jerry.

RAY: In many cases, Jerry, this problem is caused by a burned-out bulb in one of your directional lamps.

TOM: The flasher is affected by resistance. And if one of the bulbs burns out, the resistance changes. Then the flasher either flashes very rapidly or stops flashing to let you know a bulb is out. So by turning in the blinkers, and comparing the right side, which is working, to the left side (look carefully, because each lamp contains several bulbs), you should be able to tell if you’re down a bulb.

RAY: And if that’s the case, you have a $3 fix.

TOM: If it’s not the bulb, then it probably is the flasher (occasionally, we do see a flasher that works on one side but not the other). The flasher is a round, ice-cube-sized relay that plugs in under the dashboard. And you can find it by listening for it. Lie on your back on the driver’s side floor with a flashlight, turn on the blinker to the side that works, and listen for the little box that’s clicking.

RAY: When you find it, pull it out, bring it to your local auto-parts store, and say, "Give me one of these."

TOM: By the way, that’s also a $3 fix.