Where's The Fire?

Life has been moving along at a wicked fast pace these past few months. It can be tough to keep perspective and enjoy the little things sometime. I was raking leaves with the better half last weekend and we joked about how the kids always hated raking leaves, or doing any chores for that matter. We had a good laugh on that. But we also thought about how it seems like just a few years have past since those days. It's been more than a few, that's for sure. It's nice to slow down sometimes, smell the roses they say. I couldn't think of a better time than Thanksgiving. So enjoy these next few days before Black Friday . What's the rush? Where's the fire?

I've been to the Hannaford on Union St a couple times each of these past few months. I've noticed that there seems to be a BFD ladder truck parked out front of the store in the fire lane a lot. The last time this happened, I went looking for the fire crew in the store as I shopped. I located a single fireman buying a sandwich at the deli. I kept my eye on this fellow and did eventually see him pull out of the parking lot in said ladder truck. On that same day, I also saw an EMT pulling up in front of Subway with an ambulance, and casually stroll inside, for what I would assume to be his lunch. Both of these units came from House 5 out on Griffin Road. Why are these fools riding around in City owned vehicles for lunch? Somethings not right here. All I can say is..... where's the fire?

It's been pouring today so I'm sure all those impaired streams around the City are getting a flushing. It's a good thing we have a storm-water utility in place to save us from the rush of pollutants. Praise the lord.

City Council elections came and went. A few newcomers have been added, and Charlie got the boot. Too bad, I liked Charlie. His ineptitude was his charm. We'll miss you sir. I will say, he truly loved the City, and tried very hard to represent fellow Bangorian's. We'll see how the new arrivals fare. These are tough times and there are no easy answers. Good luck to all.

Till next time, Happy Thanksgiving.

Here We Go

The new Cross Insurance Center is poised to open in a few weeks. Here we go Bangor. Will this be the spark that set this City on fire? Only time will tell. When it was announced that Mike Dyer would be the GM, this looked like a house of cards to me. Then the big announcement, HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS!!!! Big F’n deal, Mike going to his wheel-house right off the bat. Then Jeff Dunham, stupid puppet guy was announced, another wooopeee moment. Then I read online (not anywhere local mind you) that another Mike softball, Sesame Street Live was coming, WOOOOOOOOOO!!! I was totally psyched! NOT.  Then finally Global Spectrum kicked this up a notch with the Broadway Series. Good stuff here, real good. If you have not seen BMG, do yourself a favor. Fun for the whole family. This is quality shit right here in Bangor. I wont be going to any of those events, I’ve seen them before. But they will be packed I’m sure. Now comes the announcement that local sports teams will be using the Center, UMO and a few High Schools. That maybe what this place needs to keep it hopping every night. I’ve raved about the numbers being used for the Center for quite awhile. How something needs to be going down 5 nights a week just to keep the lights on. This just might be the ticket in the short term. I don’t see Chicago putting us over the top.

Noise at the waterfront is always a hot topic. So glad we moved the stage to lower the volumes for the neighbors. I have to say it’s been pretty quiet at my house. Kenny C was the loudest by far. I did actually close my windows. I cant imagine living on Patten or Walter St. during a concert. That must really suck. Of course, most folks say STFU, it’s huge money for the City. Once again, the little guy is being shouted out by the majority. Doesn’t make it right. The only thing I know for sure, there isn’t a solution to the noise. They can put a roof over the whole park and it wont make a damn bit of difference. They can build sound walls, wont help. Why? Because people will bitch. That’s what humans do. We like to complain. Oh, not everyone mind you, but there’s a few that have no life. The only answer would be to build another venue outside of town. But that’s not City property………and what about the stink? Nobody noticed the smell until after Phish played down there. Dirty Hippies!

City Council seats are up for grabs again, it’s that time of year. I’m curious as how Charlie Longo will fare this time around. Kid’s been a lightning rod for all things stupid. Sorry Charlie, me thinks your out. I’ll have to give the nod to Nelson Durgin. Outstanding civic leader in my book. So who will the newcomers be? Still pretty early to be thinking about November.

The SLWS is going strong this week. Good stuff for Bangor. Good stuff indeed. The kids from Bangor beat up on the Canadians in the opening round. But don’t worry, they have free government sponsored healthcare to heal the wounds.

The big brew ha concerning SNAP and EBT cards is a tough one. In the City, they can set up safe guards against abuse. Much tougher in the more prominent rural areas of the State. The small mom n pop store out in West Boonietown needs the business. Half the Town is using the EBT card. He'd go out of business if he didnt let things go, a few smokes or beers at a time. He'll be turning the blind eye for sure, who could blame him. Survival people. 

The American Folk Festival is next weekend on the waterfront. Never been disappointed with the AFF. Looking forward to this year as well. A bloomin onion is in my future. I don’t care how long that line is dammit.

Back In The Saddle

I haven't posted anything for a while, so it's time to get back in the saddle.

The City has been humming along quite well lately. The snow is gone and the leaves have come out. Looking forward to putting up my new flag this weekend. Been raining for the past few days, but that's OK, we needed it. I was talking with the good folks at City Hall the other day concerning the Stormwater Utility. Isn't it ironic that the people who told us to remove the storm drains from the sewer systems  back in the 80's (aka EPA), are now leading the charge on stormwater "pollution". If the storm drains had been left alone, and the treatment plants sized properly, we wouldn't really have any problems, right? So we follow the rules, only to have that used against us later on. Really? Isn't that after-the-fact (ex post facto) regulation? Well not so fast. Stop making sense. My case in point....A local businessman buys a piece of land in the 80's. He develops the property based on the City Ordinance of the day.  Now in 2013, a new rule-ordinance-utility is created that penalizes (taxes) the developer, based on his approved 80's plan. I'm no lawyer, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express a few weeks back. I smell a lawsuit. I would think Ed Bearor is at the Sea Dog looking for clients as I type this.

The 2013 Waterfront Concert Series kicked off last week and I didn't hear a thing. Nope, not a note could be heard at my place. I even thought the show was on Saturday it was so quiet that night. Sounds like moving the stage helped the folks on the West side. Not so much for those in North Brewer or near EMMC. Plenty of complaints from those areas. I'm a little pissed that I CANT hear anything. I liked the occasional music floating thru my window. I'm not in the direct path, so I cant relate to those people who say they are blown away by the noise. I do however, feel for them. One man's pleasure is another man's pain.

I've notice quite a few sofa's on the side of the road lately. Do people actually think that the trash collecting crew will take a sofa? Are you kidding me? Even the scrappers don't want your sofa. Actually, after two weeks out in the rain, nobody wants your crap. Don't we have an Ordinance for that? Where's a cop when you need one!!

I did my annual walk up the standpipe yesterday. Always a treat to climb to the top of Bangor. It was a little overcast, which kills the view, but pretty cool anyway. I love the fog as it takes me back to younger days on the Bay of Fundy. If you haven't done a standpipe trip, you should, it's worth it. They have one during each season. I'll be back in the Fall. Thanks BWD!

More Of The Same??

Crazy weather this past week. Nice and toasty, and cheap on the fuel bill. As an outdoors guy, this isn't what I'm really looking for. We had the "no snow" thing last year, and I was OK with that. But two years straight is gonna bankrupt some people. They don't call it WHITE GOLD for nothing. The outdoor recreation business is big money in these parts, but we need a little snow to grease the engine. You cant even go ice fishing with all the warm temps we've been seeing. I know a few fellows who went thru Pleasant Lake last week, and that's a good 90 miles North of us. Crazy weather, crazy times.

The City Council has been busy this past month. They've had their hands full working on the "Disruptive Property Ordinance", the Stormwater Utility roll out, and the NO SMOKING IN PARKS DAMMIT Ordinance. All have been met with plenty of skepticism. On the property ordinance issue, I'm kind of in the middle. This really targets a few local slum lords. These guys know very well what their tenants are up to. I've had a rental properties in my day and you know who's who in your building. The difference is that some people actually give a shit who they rent to, and some don't. Just because the place is a dump doesn't means its trouble. I've seen a few elderly folks in some rough places, but that's what they could afford, and they were happy to have a roof overhead. I've seen dirtbags in nice places, who terrorize the other tenants. So the common thread is the dirtbag, not the apartment, or the apartment owner. Of course Bangor Efficiency Apt's is another story all together. Who runs that crack house?? The Chief should run a patrol car thru that parking lot every 30 minutes.....No, its no secret how I feel on the stormwater issue. Nobody sees the real solution to this one but me I guess. If the city would simply tax the people within the watershed of the streams, who have had adverse impact on the water quality, this would be done with. I'm not sure who's being protected here. The mall owners? The Airport? The Air Force? The City??? Who exactly? I can assure you that the stormwater from my property does not flow into any of these "impaired" streams. The shear classification of these streams as impaired by the EPA is laughable. But, like good people, we smile, we bend over, we take it for the team. I'll be looking to sign that petition. This should be voted on by the citizens.....Lastly, the no smoking ordinancee. I'm not a smoker, or a rabid no smoking guy. I really have no dog in this fight. I think this is all really kind of silly, but if it keeps kids from inhaling second-hand smoke, I guess it's well intended. The sad reality of this is that we wont have cops at Hayford Park telling some smoker to stop pushing her kid on the swings. No, we wont. We'll have some new signs for sure. This ordinance is not worth the time it took to research. You would think that Norm Heitman works for free for god's sake. If someone is bothering you with smoke, how's about asking them to put it out, or move away from them. It still is a free country. What's it going to be next?

The Cross Insurance Center construction is moving along as planned. I was surprised to see Global Spectrum tap Mike Dyer to run the place. This guy is dead weight and was a min reason the auditorium was empty. Sure, he'll get the Y spring Fair, and maybe a flower or boat show in there, but that's about it. I hope the City's Hollywood Casino slush fund has 65 million bucks in it, or the cost of this white elephant is falling on property owners. With all the recent budget problems and cuts from Augusta, property taxes in Bangor will double in 4 years. Don't say I didn't warn you........

Till next time. Keep your chin up, and your hand on your wallet.