Murphy's Law Tees Off.

The City Council Public Services Committee indicated Monday evening that they want to listen and respond to suggestions made by golf enthusiasts about the proposed improvements to the Municipal Golf Course. They also discussed dropping the creation of two extra holes proposed in the golf course master plan. That would shave approximately $120,000 off the expected $2.7 million project.

The Committee was presented with a revised spreadsheet representing cash flow for the course over the next ten years. City Administrator Tom Short told the Committee that with a more realistic estimate of the number of rounds of golf that could be expected, the increase in fees would not be adequate to fund any major capital improvements. The fees are being reconsidered.

The Committee is now meeting twice a month in order to put together a plan of action before the first of October. A presentation for the Steadley Trust for their October 18 meeting is considered critical to the project. If funding is not in place soon, it is unlikely that construction could be completed by the end of next season.

"It always takes longer and costs more than you expected, and if anything can go wrong, it will, at the worst possible time."

I’ve heard several variations of what is now commonly referred to as Murhpy’s Law. I don’t know if the one stated above is the original, but it’s the one I recite often.

It seems to be especially appropriate to remember when approaching government projects. There are always things that happen that aren’t expected that drive up the cost of almost every project. A 10% contingency fund is built into most contracts just to cover those expected unknowns. Murphy money I call it. It seldom goes unspent, and more typically isn’t enough.

Golf fees are goin’ up, the only question is what’s par.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

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PRIME TIME WITH KIDS

by Donna Erickson

Including kids in meal preparation is one of the most natural ways to provide a pinch of learning during the summer months. Measuring, pouring, stirring and observing chemical reactions in a mixing bowl is exciting stuff for curious, growing minds. While educators refer to such activities as "teachable moments," there is more than instruction going on. When we spend uninterrupted time with our kids, we are building both skills and relationships.

When my three children were 6 years old and under, our first and favorite concoction at the "Erickson Cooking School" was fruit salad. It was a favorite because there was a "job" for all three eager chefs. My 4-year-old peeled the bananas while her older brother sliced them with a butter knife. The toddler’s appointed task was to sprinkle the grated coconut into the salad and top it off with a fistful of raisins, some of which did land in the bowl.

Here’s a delightful summer salad you and your kids can make together. Serve it in an unusual serving bowl they’ll love - a half shell of a pineapple! As you prepare the salad, stir up some learning too, with the suggested questions.

Set out on the kitchen counter a variety of ripe fruit such as pineapple, mango, bananask, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, lemon, shredded coconut and raisins.

Ask your children to name each fruit. Which fruit is largest? Smallest? Which fruit is your favorite? How are raisins made? How many do you want in the salad? Count them and set them aside.

An adult should slice the pineapple in half lengthwise. Cut the fruit from the two halves. Save the pineapple shells and place the cut-up fruit in a mixing bowl. As you work, ask, "How does a pineapple grow and where?" Taste a chunk and describe it.

Wash, peel and cut the rest of the ingredients, adding them to the mixing bowl. Squeeze and drizzle lemon juice over the fruit. Ask, "What does drizzle mean?"

Scoop the fruit mixture into the pineapple halves. As you complete the luscious salad, ask, "What does fresh mean? Why is a fruit salad healthy?