So, summer is officially over now; I guess I’m going to have to get back to work. Here are a few things I’ve noticed worth mentioning:

Have you driven on Park Avenue in the last week? It’s like riding on a road made of that space-age stuff they make mattresses from. It is as smooth as a baby’s bottom. The streets of Greenwich, Connecticut have nothing on Park Avenue. And it looks like Atlantic Street could be next.

I just wish the city would let people know and make more of a fuss out of improvements like this. It would make everyone feel better about how their tax dollars are being used. With the City/County about to demolish another 350-400 houses it would be nice to be able to follow the progress as Youngstown residents are able to do according to a recent Trib article. (Note the comments. People will bitch about absolutely anything.)

City Council resumes meeting next week (September 12) after their August break, and the bond issue and the one-stop building will soon be resolved. There were a couple of strong letters in opposition last Sunday in the Tribune. [Links to letter 1 and letter 2]

I attended the Residents’ Advisory Committee meeting last night and there were three city Councilmen present: Greg Bartholomew, John Brown and Jim Valesky. They got an earful from the committee which was unanimously opposed to the one-stop as currently proposed and not overly enthusiastic about the bond issue in general. Everyone wants more information about the use of funds than is available; for example, which streets are to be paved?

Third Ward Councilman John Brown is hosting a Q&A session at 5:00 p.m. on Monday September 10 at Christ Episcopal Church, 2627 Atlantic Street, where anyone with questions or comments about the bond or the building can either ask or express them.

For all you gregg’s gardens fans out there…I just found out that YNDC planted 14 wildflower gardens in Youngstown two years ago using a similar seed mix bought from the same seed wholesaler we are using. If our gardens look as good as the photo here from Youngstown I’ll be very happy.