Long one, but it's my last.
My neighbor told me today that my name was mentioned in a couple of posts on the Forum, so I think I'll just clarify a couple of things. One, nobody told me to do or not do anything. I simply got tired of all the bickering and gibes and erroneous statements coming at me as though I were some kind of nemesis and/or spokesperson for the RCA candidates. I am not, and beyond campaigning for what I believed - and still believe - were the best candidates on offer, I have no affiliation to the RCA. I did not donate to it, instead putting my funds into the Tree Bank that I started a couple of years back, which will plant some trees - from the approved list - up at RBHS after the construction has ended.
I don't like having to address people who are anonymous and unknown to me, so I shall henceforth refrain from posting here. I see Catherine, Chris Hajer, Chris Robling, some others use their names and are identifiable, as I did. I don't know why people can't or won't do that, but it's a free country. Do as you like - just leave me out. FYI, I have not started any other web site and don't post on any other ones that apply to Riverside. As one of the old guys said in Baby Doll, "I'm retired."
But that doesn't mean I'm not actively trying to make a positive contribution to the Village. I shall continue to give to the Tree Bank. I originally came up with the idea for meandering the curb on Burlington so as to provide a more interesting streetscape and a viable place for outdoor seating at the Chew Chew and what was then Fresh Express, now Grumpy's. That was way back before Scott opened when he was just looking to get permission for a couple tables outside without being dinged a thousand bucks, as Grumpy's later argued for. I went to the Board meeting and was going to present it, but saw Scott there, and figuring he was much more in favor with the old Board than I, I just gave it to him "to do with what he wanted." He has since altered it. At the EDC meeting last week, which I attended, I said I supported the concept but perhaps not as he presently described it - I'll have to wait and see what it looks like when he shows it. I do think that it should be not over three spaces long down there and perhaps another space should be over in front of the Hot Dog place, and perhaps another in front of the VC. I, and others, told that to the EDC.
I spoke to Scott and advocated that he try and get the Chamber to have its members share their private spaces in off hours, as that way he would have dinner parking for 10-20 cars right across the street behind the bank in space that is empty. Very convenient and ready to go - I would think the Chamber members should be able to band together to do something like that. We’ll see.
I think the new Board has done allright. They found Robin and now the new VM and didn’t spend the thousands that a search firm would have charged. The contract they announced seems fair to everyone, and saves us some money too. They are looking at all the ways to economize in tough times. I bet most people are satisfied. We should all bear in mind that no other Board has faced the severe economic restraints that this one has to work with. It was not caused by them and every municipality I know of faces a similar situation.
It’s always hard to motivate people for anything beyond talk. Example: I wrote up and gave a proposal for bringing foot traffic to the CBD on the theory that cars just driving by don’t make customers - you have to get them out of their vehicles, walking and look ingin the windows, etc. (And let’s face it - not many of our CBD windows except for Riverside Plumbing and Basilli’s are very well decorated, to put it mildly. I thik I have a viable plan to make the CBD more interesting, so I wrote it up and took it to the EDC, to the head of the the Chamber, to a member of Preservation, and Trustee Shevitz. I only got a response from Trustee Shevitz and Aberdeen Marsh-Ozga who had it put on the agenda for the Preservation meeting this week. I got no response from either the EDC or the Chamber, which I find curious, and perhaps a little disappointing. Aren’t they the ones that should be most interested? Or do they only like what they conceive?
I also made a pitch for doing a better and more attractive board-up of the Arcade, which really looks awful, and needs to be done before the snow flies. That was essentially the same thing I proposed almost two years ago and was totally ignored then. Maybe now???
I attended EDC last week. Tuesday I attended the LAC and offered to donate some trees for up in front of the high school, where several were lost to construction and DED. Alas, it seems the matching grant money is already used up, and the space might not qualify anyway - no one was quite sure. Sop I’ll figure something else out - and get those trees planted next year. I shall attend Preservation to see if they have any interest in my proposals for the Arcade or the promotion of the CBD. I will attend the next Board meeting and ask some questions concerning the Swan Pond river wall. I encourage others to do the same.
Anyone who wants to can attend and ask questions - the meetings are very open now, no pre-registration required, so instead of asking me about the RCA platform - which Chris has posted some links to, whynot just go and ask the Board and listen. There are Trustees there from both sides and you will get an answer - assuming you really want one. Ask the Board directly. Just state your name and address like everyone else. Maybe some of the former Board members will attend.
I want to clarify one thing. Someone, identity unknown to me, posted here that I used a racial slur when I mentioned "Bikini-Bocce.” FYI - That is a name I registered for a game I created, a kind of "atomic bocce" aimed at gamblers, well over ten years ago. I pitched it to Christy Hefner and Steve Wynn, among others. We were going to operate fit rom a hotel in Ochos Rios, Jamaica, and put it on the internet. It is a spin-off of what is arguably the world's most popular game. How mentioning that came to be construed as a "racial slur" of any kind is beyond me.
I have for years advocated that we have a couple bocce courts in town. It would be great in Centennial park, (which is not actually a park) where people - young and old - could gather to play. That would bring people into the center of town. The balls could be kept at the Rec department and checked out from there, maybe generating a small fee for use that would help Rec. We could have teams sponsored by local businesses and individual play. I think it would be great for the community. I used to play at public courts in San Rafael, CA,
http://www.yelp.com/biz/marin-bocce-federation-san-rafael-2
http://www.yelp.com/biz/yelp-elite-event-at-marin-bocce-federation-san-rafael
In Riverside bikinis would not be mandatory, and in fact might be dangerous and distract the drivers. Check it out. Families and teams salso do a lot of special events for charity.
"bocce for kids' sake
Saturday, Sep 5 9:30a
at Albert Park Bocce Ball Courts, San Rafael, CA
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay invites you to attend the 1st Annual Bocce for Kids' Sake Tournament on September 5th! Come out to Albert Park Bocce Court in San Rafael to show off your Bocce skills. This Italia-themed event is a fantastic way to support youth in our community & is open to players of all skill levels."
Perhaps our new VM will know more about Bocce than the last one did. Maybe we could do this? Could this be a better or “higher use” for the lots on Burlington? I’d be willing to wager that such a facility would draw more people into Riverside’s CBD than that parking lot will.
In Highwood, on the North Shore just north of Highland Park, theyhave courts too. There they do a lot of different community activities there and it’s right near the train tracks on Bank Lane. Take a look at their web pages.
http://www.highwoodbocce.com/
If anyone else is interested in seeing how we might further this concept please get in touch.
So, to my friends and detractors, I hope this clarifies things. My brain hasn’t stopped working and I'm not dead yet. Sure, I'm busy with my Avanti and a couple writing projects and frankly tired of all the petty bickering this site seems to trade in now, but I shall continue to propose fresh ideas and stir the pot from a different perspective. But instead of wasting time here I shall choose to try and get something positive going out in the real world. I don't see anything happening on the Forum that I think I can contribute to. Hence, my future absence here. Have fun. It’s all yours...