Wal-Mart is coming to town?

You better watch out
You better not buy
You better not shop,
I'm telling you why........

Wal-Mart is coming to town..........

Before making up your mind on how happy you will be to have a Wal-Mart in town, please take a few minutes to read some of the research that's been gathered over the past few years.

http://www.walmartmovie.com/facts.php

Think about some of the shops in town that will be gravely affected. Your friends, neighbors and family who own or work at auto parts shops, hardward stores, convenience markets, and even some grocers.
These local businesses that support our local schools and clubs, will be forced out. Will Wal-Mart contribute to our youth sports or the local arts scene? Can Patterson FFA expect Wal-Mart to donate to their fundraisers?

Think about it........

Goodbye to 2008.......

Growing up, time crawled by slowly. There was always something just out of reach, that only the passage of time would allow me to grasp. My next birthday, Christmas, graduating from high school, waiting for my wedding day, the birth of my children. All these moments just couldn't arrive fast enough!
But now that I've reached my fifties - time is like a bullet train! I can't believe how quickly this year has sped by.
Next year will be even quicker and there is so much happening in Patterson in 2009.
Here's to a healthy and prosperous 2009 for our little bit of the world -

Let's move forward now

We've come a long way, baby! Has there ever been an election that was filled with so much emotion? Locally, state wide and of course, our presidential election seemed to all have elements that touched us more personally, more deeply than ever before.

For Patterson, there's no less work to be done than in Washington DC. What happens here is as just as important to our everyday lives. After all, we are all members of this community, this circle city that we all call home.

My wish is that the new energy that the challengers brought to the campaign, the new ideas and involvement from new residents will continue. So let's move forward, together, east and west, new residents and natives, businesses and consumers to move Patterson into a new age of thriving prosperity and small town charm.

True Dat!

"Knowledge will forever govern ignorance; and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives." James Madison

Something to think about.........

Homecoming memories

What a great time of year, I love homecoming week.
For some of us who are old enough, we can remember the night parades through downtown, the bon-fires, beating up an old car with a sledge hammer during lunch-time and spending evenings in country barns decorating floats.
As a parent, I loved having hordes of kids at our house, practicing skits, cheers and painting up posters, signs and each other! We still have paint on a tree out back from 1993.
But now that the kiddles are out of high school, homecoming week is quiet at our house. I miss it. The energy and the optimism of teens is invigorating............like a B-12 shot.

So I'll go to the parade and the game and it'll be fun, and I will be reminded of some of the past homecomings - as a student and as a parent. Homecoming's not the same when you're a spectator rather than a participant. But then that's true in all things.................

Remember this?

Ran across this and had to chuckle.

"To those critics who are so pessimistic about our economy, I say, Don't be economic girlie men!" --California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, at the Republican convention 2004

I guess there a whole lot of "girlie men" now.

Gotta love Ronnie

I find myself buried in politics. The national political scene is captivating. It's almost like watching "E" network, but with government officials, instead of movie stars and entertainers. Sometimes I have to make a conscious effort to pull away from it for a while.

Locally, here in my sweet little town, things are getting just as interesting. Has it always been like this? Or is this race a little more venomous? I'd love to hear from others on this subject. Sometimes I think that working at a newspaper puts me so far into the middle of it, my viewpoint may be askew.

But I ran across this quote and just found myself smiling, so I wanted to share it.

“Politics is supposed to be the second oldest profession. I have come to realize that it bears a very close resemblance to the first.” - Ronald Reagon

Things that make you go, hmmmm.

Plaza Circle Raceway

Well, I almost got creamed today during the lunch hour rush to return to work.
Not once, but twice as I made my way around the circle from Del Puerto Ave. to North Third Street, two different vehicles chose to create a two lane race way.

First was a young woman in such a big hurry. Apparently I wasn't going fast enough for her, so she passed me on the inside, then cut in front of me so she could exit onto E. Las Palmas. Only problem for her was a pedestrian crossing there, which meant she had to stop. I stopped behind her too, as my other option would have been to A) hit her from behind; or B) try to veer left and continue my trip around the circle.

Luckily, I didn't go around her, as another vehicle with two gentlemen, was making it's way on the inside track.

Again, I ask you: When did the Plaza circle become a multi-lane roadway? Did I miss the memo on that?

Play Nice

With age comes wisdom........hopefully..........if you're payin' attention.

It's easy to rant, rave, accuse and name-call when you're wearing a cloak of invisibility. When your words have your name attached to them...............you think a little - maybe choose those words more carefully. Why do you suppose that is?

Blogs, posts and comments aren't personal diaries or journals. They are public. Anyone with a computer can read them.

Years ago - when my older children were in elementary school - there was a song that was in the Top 10. It's chorus was also the title, and was repeated over and over throughout the song: "French kissin' in the USA". Stupid song. Catchy melody though.

Everytime it came on the radio, I would switch the station. A friend observed this once. Her children were toddlers at the time. She asked why I was bothered by it. Besides promoting an activity that was inappropriate for an 8-year old, I was disappointed.

If I had the attention of millions of ears, several times a day, I know I could find something with some measure of value, to share with that audience. That's the way I feel about blogs, posts and comments.

Trading barbs and venting anger - what does that accomplish?

Good Turnout

Well, we did have a few people standing at last night's Candidates Forum. That was nice to see.

It was also nice to see the quality of questions that came across the desk. This town has so much to treasure and be proud of. Our residents being the most valuable asset.

The candidates gave us the opportunity to see each of them answer questions from the public without the benefit of much time to consider their answer. Very informative. Body language and facial expressions are also interesting to note. I wish there was a camera poised on the audience so we could watch their facial expressions as the candidates replied.

So overall I'd call the night a success. Thanks to all who turned out for it.

Got Questions?

Tonight is your chance to participate in the democratic process. This is a real opportunity for all the people who blog and comment on our website to actually come in person, face to face and pose your questions to the people who are willing to serve this city as YOUR representatives.

Several people have asked me if I think the council chambers will hold the crowd. Yes I do. The answer is based on past experiences. I wish we could have so many people turn out for these evenings, that we would need to hold it in a gymnasium. That has never been necessary.

If every person who complains about Patterson, and it's lack of this or that, would actually care enough to go to city council meetings and planning commission meetings, there might be a capacity problem. If people exercised their right to address these panels, at the meetings during the public comment period, they would find the councilors and commissioners very responsive.

So it will be very interesting to see how many people take a couple of hours out of their evening, away from their televisions, to come and see a reality show, that will impact their lives for the next two years, and possibly beyond.

Football time is here again

How 'bout them PHS Tigers? Wow. What a great time it is to go to a home game. Everyone there is rooting for the same team. How refreshing, during this political season.

It was just so nice to sit in the stands, perfect weather, beautiful stadium, a new group of cheerleaders with all their energy and enthusiasm. And the PHS band! They sounded so grrrrrrrreaattt! Having the band in the stands during the game - with their special brand of musical humor and well timed bits during time-outs..........fun stuff.

Here at the PI, we're working late on Fridays to get the game on the internet and some video for all the fans to see on Saturday morning. It's a labor of love in a town that loves it's high school sports.

Thanks to all of you who log in to PI. We're doing it for you!

You never know......

Development west of I-5......what a surprise. The results of the very unscientific poll that we had up for over a week, came as a real eye-opener to me. So did the video we shot last week, for our Street Beat, posing the same question to residents at the local donut shop.
Our poll showed 244 votes were cast. "Yes" votes totaled 151, or just over 61%; "No" votes totaled 93, or just over 38%. For some reason, that really caught me by surprise.

I really thought people here had an emotional tie to the foothills west of town. The natural beauty, the solitude, the sunsets......... guess I thought wrong.

There's a new poll up now. Equally unscientific, but it may prove to be just as enlightening as the last one.
Who knows? Maybe my grandkids (mere figments of my imagination as of right now) will someday come down I-5 and see high rise condos in them there hills.

Learn the rules of the round-abouts!

What is so difficult about negotiating a round-about? The approach is marked with "yield" signs, "One Way" signs, and in some cases, even a cute little circle of arrows showing the way.

Yesterday evening, as I approached the Plaza circle, I saw a small pick-up truck going the wrong way, hugging the inside curb, at about 5 mph. The poor driver had one passenger and they both looked very intense as they tried to decide where/how to get off the merry go-round. I tried to wave to them - didn't want to honk as that may have scared him - but he finally turned off on South Third street.

This is not the first time I've seen this happen. But that's not the biggest problem. The real mess comes when the traffic is heavy, usually around 3pm.

That circle becomes a 3-lane game of Frogger.

There are cars backed up waiting for the light at Hwy 33, cars driving on the outside (along the right-hand curb) exiting on Salado to avoid the back up, and then the cars trying to exit past W. Las Palmas, that hug the inside curb to pass the standing line of cars.

God help the poor pedestrians who may be trying to use the cross walks - hope they were good at Frogger!!!

So here's my advice on how to drive in Patterson............

As you approach any roundabout - you should expect to yield to any traffic that is either: a) already on the round-about; or b) entering the roundabout from a street to your left. This is one case when the driver on your LEFT has the right of way.

Try some patience and courtesy too. Maybe we should add road signs: "Entering a patience zone"........... or "Courtesy required next 1/4 mile" . whadaya think?

Usherettes

Check out these very cool ladies. This photo has been lovingly restored by Jenifer West, the President of the Patterson Centennial Committee. It shows us two usherettes posed in front of the Del Puerto Theater.

Why is it that people in old photos seem so elegant and regal? Ever noticed that? Pictures of my dad in his WWII uniform, and my mom with her hair all coiffed and her petite figure in some amazing 40's dress..........it was just a different time, I guess.

When I was a child and well into my early years as a mother, the Del Puerto Theater was such a cool place. Every Christmas season, Mrs. Fink would have Santa come by after the movie and hand out candy to all the children. What a thrill that was!

I remember watching just about every classic Disney film in that theater. Then in later years, I enjoyed getting scarred by the likes of Vincent Price and Christopher Lee. I even recall my first kiss in the balcony of that theater.

I have no idea who these ladies are, but if anyone knows (Claude-a little help here) please comment here and share the knowledge.

Who knew?

When the idea of a blog was first mentioned to me, I honestly doubted that I had anything worthy of sharing. But during subsequent conversations with staff at the Irrigator, as I was spouting off about something or other, they would tell me, "That's a blog, right there."

So, if having ideas and opinions on this adventure we call life qualifies me to blog, then who am I to question technology and the Y-generation?

Having lived in Patterson from the day of my birth at Del Puerto Hospital, I have seen a few(ahem) changes in this, my hometown. My husband and I have enjoyed raising our three kids in this town. We've benefited as parents by being surrounded with a caring network of health care providers, teachers, neighbors and friends.

So it's from that perspective that I will attempt to share some insights on the pulse of this great little city.