Today's Feature

Public Services No Quorum.

There was no quorum at Monday’s Public Services Committee meeting. Committee members present included Claude Newport and Larry Ross. Also in attendance of the meeting were City Administrator Tom Short and Parks Director Alan Bull. Those present discussed informally some of the items that were on the agenda, but no action was able to be taken.

Kellogg Lake Board Member Jo Ellis spoke to the committee members and staff concerning a pond near Kellogg Lake. Ellis said that the pond has no access to the flow of water from the lake and has a tendency to get stagnant. A community service worker with access to the proper equipment has spoken to Ellis about the possibility of cutting an access from the lake to the pond to let the water flow through the area. The committee members discussed the idea, and agreed that the circulation to the pond would be an improvement. Committee members discussed whether a bridge would be needed to maintain accessibility, and also discussed the possibility of using a culvert pipe and re-filling dirt over the top. Parks Director Bull recommended getting input from the Department of Conservation about the proposal. Committee members agreed to discuss the item further when there is a quorum.

Parks Director Bull also gave an update on the proposal to make Fair Acres Sports Complex a non-smoking venue. Bull said that two of the cities that had previously claimed to have similar ordinances in place were later discovered to not have any such ordinances. More information was received from Springfield, where non-smoking ordinances actually are in effect. Bull added that Police Chief Dennis Veach had recommended making a rule for the park instead of an ordinance, saying that the Police Department would help enforce it. Bull said that an officer could ask any offenders who were not willing to cooperate to exit the premises, and if those requests were not met the offenders could be charged with trespassing. Bull said he felt it was "not a bad way to start." The committee agreed to discuss the item further at its next meeting.

Oh sure, there are those who would tell you the holiday is more about gatherin’ of family and takin’ comfort in the efforts and rewards of the harvest. But then, by the last reckonin’ I heard, less that 2% of us actually take part in a real harvest any more.

‘Course gettin’ the family to actually sit down at the table and share a meal prob’ly is somethin’ out of the ordinary these days. Typically at our family Turkey Day, the table is so full a food no one can sit at the table anyway.

I guess when it comes down to it, Thanksgivin’ is a family day. The food is just serendipity.

This is some fact, but mostly,

Just Jake Talkin’.

Here's A Tip
By JoAnn Derson

• Here’s what L.S. in Texas has to say about a previous tip regarding storage of good silver serving pieces after using them on major holidays: "What’s wrong with the rest of the year? After 50 years, I took the plastic and stonewear to the Senior Citizens Resale. Now we dine three times a day on the best china and crystal, with tablecloth and napkins. We deserve the best!" Hooray for you, L.S.!

• "Local farmer’s markets are a fantastic way to buy fresh, locally farmed produce. I love shopping at mine, as there is so much more than just fruits and vegetables. But I have made it a habit to check in with my senior neighbors to see if I can pick a bit up for them as well." -- P.F. in Georgia

• "To keep from getting splatters on windowpanes when painting trim, rub a little petroleum jelly right on the glass. You can splatter all you want, but it will wipe right off." -- S.K. in Massachusetts

• "My mom doesn’t see so well, so she has a hard time with the labels on her medicine. We bought a multipack of colored electrical tape (it comes in many different colors) and placed a different color on each pill bottle. Then I made a chart that shows which color represents which pill. I made the chart large, and taped it inside her medicine cabinet. She can see it very well, and when she gets her refills, I just make sure the bottles are taped with the right color." -- A Reader, via e-mail

• Traveling with kids can be a chore sometimes, but luckily, kids love distractions. Art supplies such as modeling compound, crayons and coloring books, plus small toys can be parceled out at regular intervals to keep kids occupied during long flights or road trips. You can accomplish this for less money and find an incredible variety at your local dollar store. These small distractions can provide hours of entertainment at a small price.