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Year ahead due for surprises
(by Barbara Christian - January 03, 2011)
WINDOW ON MAIN STREET, BY BARBARA CHRISTIAN
Year ahead due for surprises
It is at this time of year when newspapers across the land board their trusty time machine, throw it into reverse and take one last look at the year that is disappearing in the rearview mirror.
But just for once, let's put that old time machine in drive, flip on cruise control, focus on the road ahead and see what might be coming up next.
Here then are our best guesses for the year ahead. Included are some fanciful musings too, so you will just have to suspend your disbelief and enjoy. Now, as Rod Serling once said, here now for your consideration ...
-- Chagrin Falls Mayor Tom Brick announces he will not seek re-election in November, prompting council members Janis Evans and/or Bill Williams to announce that they will run to fill the vacancy.
-- Gates Mills becomes Mecca for baseball fans and historians wishing to honor the memory and accomplishments of "Rapid Robert" Bob Feller, who called the village home and where, at its North Cemetery, he rests.
-- The man-made Spillway dam is reconstructed, leaving behind a naturally flowing river and predictably angry upstream residents whose water view is no more.
-- Geauga County career politician Tim Grendell will leave whatever office he now holds (it's hard to keep track) and announce he will run for president in 2012. He is quoted as saying, "Hey, if Sarah Palin can come out of nowhere, I can too."
To advance his run for president, Mr. Grendell launches his own reality TV show in which he shoots, traps, catches or otherwise dooms Geauga County's various woodland creatures and fish species.
-- The Mug and Brush Barber Shop in the Chagrin Falls Shopping Plaza, the longest lived business in that collection of shops, celebrates its 50th year in business.
Doing the math, that's going on 18,000 days in business, and, figuring one an hour, that's approximately 144,000 haircuts. The shaves and various other services are incalculable, but the good will is infinite and longevity appreciated by one and all.
-- Chagrin Falls Council begins discussing how to improve the police station without asking taxpayers to consider another bond issue, much to the relief of said taxpayers.
-- Developers of the former Windsor Hospital property on West Summit Street are congratulated for preserving the structural integrity and exterior beauty of Linden Hall, the original historic hospital building.
Doing all of the back slapping are residents of the new Falls Walk subdivision the developers built behind Linden Hall -- the very same ones who were forced to witness the sad deterioration of a village landmark. As a result of the preservation effort, all remaining Falls Walk lots are sold.
-- South Russell Village Council takes to task the out-of-control Show Your Colors Committee by setting one new guideline for flag displays in the village. No more tea party flags. Memo to SYCC from council: "Red, white and blue only, with the exception of POW-MIA black and white."
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