Up, Down and Around Our Town

There is certainly lots going on in this early part of April. The weather is breaking somewhat; the promise of even better is right around the corner. Plus, the opening of the baseball season and the week of the Masters can make any dull week a decent one. Alas, there is other stuff to deal with.

In our little corner of the world, we have a Mayoral election and an election for school board members. Both have turned to be somewhat prickly and both tend to point out both the best and the worst that we have to offer in our Democratic way of doing things.

No school district is immune from the financial troubles that have eroded almost every tax supported entity and oour local district is no different. This past week 24 professionally trained teachers were let go because of the projected lack of funds. As if there wasn't a huge time to beef up on professionals, the local district will have to do with fewer. I understand the numbers; what I just will never understand is the motive.

There have been many attempts to ask the voters to raise funds and in my 35 years here, the answer has been a consistent "no". Almost to a point to illustrate the pride in voting down the needed dollars. There is little agreement on the school board and over the past few years, those whose sole intent seems to be to bring down the institution are probably going to end up in the majority once this week is over. For that, I am most concerned. Even more shocking is the local media's reporting of these events. We now report layoffs with the same zeal that we report victories in sports. There are certainly lessons to be learned in both camps. Sadly, the media is in a freefall as well, financially speaking and their thinned ranks are starting to show the stress.

When money is tight and this recession is no different, the class envy is huge. Even Suze Orman, normally one that I take with many grains of salt, has changed her tune somewhat by stating that we should be focused on what we have rather than what we want. Perhaps the days of 3 homes in every climate zone and an unlimited executive spending budget is actually coming to an end for awhile. Paying attention to the neighbors in this economic time is even more important.

As for the local Mayoral race, we have an incumbent with a good record running against a challenger with big challenges. The smell of the corruption of Illinois politics perhaps (and I emphasize the word perhaps) has touched the local campaign, but for the most part, it is the sign of the time that the challenging party has somewhat lost its way. No way that one could see that the party in control is in any way losing said control - that leaves going dirty about the only option. My sense is that little will change post election, but perhaps some perception will reappear.

What we are now seeing nationally is the steep rise in homicides and more than most are being blames on job layoffs. Being that stressed can do a lot of bad things to your judgement and it is always a homicide/suicide scenerio. That's the residue for 750,000 jobs being lost and one can only hope that the nationalization of GM and Wall Street will help us get through the credit crisis and on to the ability to once again produce things.

Yet, the highlights of the week are always the most rewarding. Getting a chance to share some time with the brightest and the best at a recent Honor Society induction was a real treat. Even more, having a long, but productive evening with 12 special Seniors was equally as rewarding. Their semester-long Capstone Projects all came to a head and those presentations reinforced my belief that the coming generation will lead us well. Pride from a couple of levels.

The Final Four is now down to the Final Two and while the Spartans of Michigan State have made their state forget some of the problems, my thought is that the Tarheel State will probably raise the big trophy. But, it has been a great couple of weeks and as always, the surprises have been tremendous and the favorites have had to work to get where they are. But, it is a long season.

Cardinals? Cubs? Getting that debate started never gets old in our part of the world. Both teams have flaws; both clubs have tremendous support. And again, if I were Commissioner, I would schedule Sunday double-headers, finish the season 2 weeks earlier and get rid of the DH. Plus, 75% of the games in post season would be played in the daylight. Of course, television would never allow that, but that's the reason I'll probably not be Commissioner for a day. Nice dream though.

Fridays are still special when all of my clan comes together and to watch our little hero approach her first birthday is tremendously exciting. We have realized how blessed we are and even with her challenges, the environment is something to behold. Not to mention what a major role big brother is already playing.

We'll be back post-Easter for a Masters wrap and the thoughts for the coming week. Don't forget to stock up on your Peeps - a true staple of the Easter season. Till then, and as always, I remain.....