Notes From Last Week

Got out of town last Thursday to attend our grand daughter's pre-school graduation. Now I'm playing catch-up. Times, they do change. When I was that age there was no such thing as pre-school. Kindergarten was optional. Legally a kid didn't have to attend school until they were six years of age, old enough to start first grade. Now a days a six year old is well versed in colors, drawing, know their numbers and most can read on what use to be considered a second grade level. Amazing.

Talk about times changing, for the first time is decades the Riverside Presbyterian Church cancelled their annual Sidewalk Cafe. Weather permitting it was held outdoors in front of the church over looking the scenic river and WV hillside. It was held to catch the lunch time customers and was usually well attended by village business folks and others just looking to get some good home made grub. Sadly it's a Wellsville icon that has probably come to past with today's economy forcing many of the younger parishioners into the work force.

Missed the Finance Committee meeting last Thursday. Committee Chairman Tony Cataldo was reported saying village income is down compared to last year but FO Dale Davis advised that June figures were not yet posted. It is expected that property & income taxes and interest earned from those will be down compared to last year. Cataldo was reported as adding the Fire Dept. exceeded revenue in May but on a percentage basis it "is right where it should be".

The EPA decision on the STAG funds being held in limbo is being appealed by attorneys of our engineering firm. That's the grant that is intended for sewage improvements that the EPA says they need age old documentation for the matching share. Village officials were able to document nearly 90% of the $1.2 million the EPA wanted paid back but the EPA is sticking to their guns. In the meantime the village started paperwork applying for an Appalachian Regional Commission grant for $133,000 for improvements on the sewage treatment plant.

The WPD COPS grant application needed some clarification that has been supplied. That's the federal DOJ program that will pay for extra police officers for three years with the village having to pick up the tab for the fourth year. Village employees are inquiring if there will be any pay raises for 2010 while contract negotiations are still in progress. As Davis was reported saying it's a little early for that question to be answered. They are checking into some Nature Works funding for money to repair the big fountain in the middle of Broadway Park. That's the only one that is not working. Jo Ann Bobby G noted in her Loose Ends remarks last Sunday that the cost for that repair job is $4,400.

The accused Broadway resident & meth lab operator busted a couple of weeks ago has been bound over to the Grand Jury. He remains on $500,000 bond but may be allowed to do house arrest with monitoring while he waits for the Grand Jury decision. According to newspaper reports that is still pending.

The Ministerial Association sponsored Paint the Town committee has got started on their first house this year on Clark Avenue last week. Members of the Nazarene Church undertook this one. This is the home improvement program for painting houses of Wellsville residents that are either unable or can't afford to do it. Pastor Dirk Hall is chairman of the committee this year. If you can donate time, money or both give him a call. It's a good neighbor program that is an all volunteer effort to help some of those in need. The number of houses that get done this year depends on your generosity.

Did you see the AP photo in last Monday's ER where the Sierra Club is protesting in Cleveland the proposed Baard plant? It was probably held there in the hopes of getting more publicity but I'm guessing those folks carrying hand made signs probably don't have much of a life or even know where the ville is located. Staging a protest nearly 200 miles away from here is an admission of being chicken to face some opposition. It's like drawing a line in the sand and then running as fast as you can going backwards. Bring it on down my fine feathered friends. I know a lot of unemployed workers in the area that would love to discuss your points of view.

The WVFD is scheduling a "Nite Golf" event for July 25, at the Beaver Creek Par 3. It starts at 9:30 P.M. The entry fee covers a lighted golf ball and food & drink. The prize purse totals $550. You can register your team at the Fire Station and get more info by calling 330-831-9061. Sounds like fun. Wonder if "Bonehead" is as good playing in the dark?

Another area icon is closing their doors soon. After 82 years Pearl China out on Dresden Ave. will be shut down. Pearl China is/was a pottery retail outlet that got started back in the days when this area was known as the "Pottery Capitol of the World". They offered for sale many unique items from manufacturers over all the region. I had two aunts from Kentucky that visited every summer and Pearl China was a "must stop" location on their travel itinerary each year. When the last one passed on a while back she still had some crockery ware mixing bowls she bought at Pearl.

State Senator Jason Wilson has sent a letter to village officials stating the the ville & officials from East Liverpool have to get together and decide which way they want to go with the Municipal Court issues. Officials in EL want to shut down the court and Wellsville officials want to change from the county court to the one in EL. Think it's time for our councilman who proposed this to get off his duff and try to arrange a joint meeting with all concerned to resolve this issue. Wilson is willing to help however he can but has rightly told each community he needs to know which way to proceed before taking the next step. For transportation and time savings I would prefer if EL officials would rescind their proposal plus I would like to see ville native Melissa Byers-Emmerling keep her job. I'm not fully aware of all the financial facts but I can't help thinking that in the long run moving the court out to Lisbon will prove more costly for EL.

Now - that nearly catches me up.

nib