Exeter Wal-Mart - My Two Cents

I'm no legal/zoning expert, but it now (again) appears The Wal-Mart project will happen in Exeter - my former hometown of 30+ years.

Everyone in town has an opinion. If pressed, I would say I'm against it - but for primarily selfish reasons.

# 1 It’s a three minute car ride from home to mom and dad’s. The New Wal-Mart would now be exactly in the middle. With the extra traffic / inevitably longer traffic light, it could add another minute or two. I like being three minutes away - not four.

# 2 While I live in another town - West Wyoming – I’m still very close to the proposed site. It's so close I think I’ll hear the trucks loading - especially with the windows open on hot summer nights.

# 3 With the extra traffic – the lines are going to get longer at Carter’s Ice Cream across Wyoming Avenue. I don’t want to wait in line any longer for my ice cream!! Carter’s better not be going anywhere.

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OK - guess I have more than three reasons.

Wal-Marts are supposed to be AWAY from residential areas and NOT in the middle of them.

I LOVE small towns and main streets, but they are most certainly slipping away and we have to hang on to the ones we have left. I used to ride my bike ride up and down the sidewalks of Wyoming Ave. as a kid. This stretch of road may prove too dangerous for sixth graders to navigate now - and that's a shame.

Also, I will also continue to support the smaller family-owned family businesses of Exeter, West Pittston, Wyoming and West Wyoming - as long as they remain open.

GUEST BLOG! Helping Out the Library

I received this email from listener Jocelyn - and as someone who has spent HUNDREDS of hours at the Osterhout over the years (a favorite childhood Saturday stop) - we're happy to spread the word. Give 'em your votes!


The Osterhout North Branch Library is one of ten non-profits from around the country vying for $10,000 in Gap's Give and Get contest on Facebook. The contest started on March 1st and from dozens of entries, the North Branch received a spot in the top ten. The finals started today and run until April 4th. You can vote once a day for your favorite non-profit. The winner is the non-profit who receives the most votes through the Gap Give and Get page on Facebook.

http://apps.facebook.com/contestshq/contests/23972/voteable_entries/3254196

In July 2007, the building that housed the Osterhout North Branch was damaged by fire. Currently, the branch is located in a space donated by a local businessman. A former church was recently purchased and will be converted into a library, but $80,000 needs to be raised in order to make the necessary repairs and upgrades to the building. This $10,000 would go a long way towards the goal!

It's not everyday that a local non-profit has a chance like this! Any publicity you could give to us and this contest would be fantastic!


Thanks!
Jocelyn Chocallo
co-chair
Osterhout Library North Branch Committee

American Idol 9

Some random thoughts...





Ellen is clearly trying to find her place at the judges' table. She's intimidated and struggling to find unique things to say about the contestants. Also, she obviously doesn't know the difference between a guitar and piano! :) Maybe she'll be better next season?



Season 9 has been good to Kara. I'm liking her more and more. She offers the best constructive criticism.



OK - some favorite contestants. I'm rooting for this top eight. Look back in April and see how wrong I was!



Aaron Kelly. He's local (Sullivan County) and his soulful country vocals are pretty charming. NEPA's David Archuleta?



Alex Lambert. One of the better voices - though the mullet has got to go! If he can beat his nerves - another Lambert could wow America this season.



Casey James. Kara's shirtless crush has won me over (um - his singing that is). A rocker who can handle the ballads too.



Crystal Bowersox. Feelin' good and kickin' butt.



Katelyn Epperly. Dark horse. Good song choices. At this point I prefer her to Lilly - as more of a unique stylist - but I could be wrong.



Katie Stevens. Hated her last week - but she's cute and can sing. America's teen sweetheart? I'd pick Michelle over her - but one young girl always ends up strong in the end - and this one is easy to predict.


Paige Miles. Simon's right - one of the best voices - but she still needs to nail that right song.

Michael Lynche. Big Mike reminded me of Ruben last night - and he won this thing in Season Two.

To be continued...

PIX! PIX! PIX!

Here's one for all of us who grew up in the 60's to early 80's - a You Tube video tribute to WPIX - Channel 11 in New York. Our cable system (Verto) carried Channels 5, 9 and 11 from New York - plus Channel 17 "WPHL - Phil-a-DELL-phee-uh". These independent stations were as good as gold to a kid. This was long before our local Fox 38 (and later 56). There were morning and afternoon cartoons, oodles of sitcom reruns, Phillies/Yankees/Mets baseball, late night creature features, big city news and so much more.

All of these stations are still broadcasting - but are no longer (for the most part) on our local cable systems. Sadly, these once "independent" stations are now Fox, CW and other network affiliates - and have become much more predictable and less unique ---long newscasts, tacky daytime talk shows, infomericals. Compare them to other stations across the country and sadly they are all carbon copies of each other.

I recall "Dick Tracy" and "Mr. Magoo" on WOR (Channel 9) instead - and there's plenty missing here (TV Pix - the first interactive TV Video Game, Twilight Zone, Channel 11 news, The Yule Log) - but still, this is a nice trip back. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njs9NuDopC4#watch-main-area

Hotel Hell!

Trip Advisor.com has ranked The Dirtiest Hotels in the United States - and we've made it!

Dirtiest Hotels - United States
(based on TripAdvisor traveler reviews)
1. Heritage Marina Hotel, San Francisco, California
2. Days Inn Eureka/Six Flags, Eureka, Missouri
3. Tropicana Resort Hotel, Virginia Beach, Virginia
4. Super 8 Virginia Beach/At the Ocean, Virginia Beach, Virginia
5. Quality Inn, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
6. New York Inn, New York City, New York
7. Parisian Hotel & Suites, Miami Beach, Florida
8. Capistrano Seaside Inn, Capistrano Beach, California
9. Desert Lodge, Palm Springs, California
10. Continental Oceanfront Hotel South Beach, Miami Beach, Florida

Tripadvisor.com is a great site - by the way - we use it for recommendations every time we travel.

Don't let the bed bugs bite!

Sunny Came Home

Not only is it above freezing today - but there's abundant sunshine! The older I get, the more I notice that my mood IMPROVES on sunny days. How about you?

While I hardly ever leave work by 5pm - it sure is nice having a few minutes of sunlight for the afternoon commute - and I think we all feel more awake getting up AFTER sunrise - even if that's only a few days each year.

Looks like we're gonna make it through this winter thing after all!

Route 115 Petition

After two fatal accidents just days apart, there's a growing movement to improve safety on Route 115 in Bear Creek. Increased traffic over the past few years has only aggravated the problem - especially with those unfamilar to "the big hill".

Click here to see (and sign, if you'd like) The State Route 115 Safety Improvement Petition which will be sent to our State House and Senate Representatives.

Bye Bye Sy!

From an MTV "Bulletin":

Simon Cowell announced today that this season will be his last as a judge on American Idol. CNN reports that next year, Simon will bring the popular British talent show, The X Factor, to the U-S and he’ll be a judge on that series. There is a chance he might bring an old friend to that show too. Cowell spoke about former American Idol judge Paula Abdul saying, “I adore Paula. Whatever happens, I will be working with her in some capacity.” Simon’s final season on American Idol premieres tomorrow night at 8 PM Eastern on FOX.

We've been hearing rumors regarding this for a long time now - but this appears pretty official --- Mr. Nasty appears ready to leave the biggest U.S. TV Show of the past decade in just a few months. I think his departure could do this show in. Seriously. Without that drama - there's just not as much entertainment. Plus, they've added Ms. Nice, Ellen DeGeneres, as a judge this season. I doubt Ellen will be very critical - she'll probably throw roses. In a way, I guess she's "the new Paula" - but perhaps with a better singing voice! Unless Kara really starts to get tough this season - or they find another curmudgeon - for 2011 - I think Idol is in trouble. Seriously. Well, let's enjoy this season together - and all of Mr. Cowell's wisecracks. He won't be holding anything back!