Out of the Inkwell

Why living in the city is a pain sometimes

My wife and I have lived in our home for the past 19 years and generally we've been lucky. We've had no major crime incident. No house fire – although we were struck by lightening and the Fire Department personnel were great – and even the missionary types seem to have put a "Do Not Disturb" sign on our house.

So it is the little things – in the absence of something major – that bug you.

This week the trash collectors do what they do every week. They empty the bin in such away to spill trash onto the street. The trash then blows down the street and into my front yard as well as others.

Why do they do this? Why not pick up what they spill?

In the summer the truck leaks a stream of fluid from its nether region that fills the street with a smell that could stun a skunk.

But my current complaint is the fact that people park on both sides of this narrow street. Take a look.





As far as I know there has never been an effort to ticket these cars. This is a major public safety issue as I doubt that emergency vehicles could make it through what's left of the thoroughfare.

This week I will call the Quality of Life Flex Squad to see if the police have a solution for this situation.

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Mark May 1 on your calendar media fans:
The Valley Press Club's Annual Roast of newsmakers and
journalists is slated for Friday, May 1, at 5:30 p.m. at the Keg Room, 87 State St. Tickets are available in advance or at the door. The roast satirizes personalities and stories in the news. Various local and state politicians are expected to attend along with the public. Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe and Holyoke Police Chief Anthony Scott and other public officials are expected to attend.

The event includes food, a raffle and a cash bar. The proceeds benefit the club's scholarship funds for journalism students. Members of the area media and Springfield City Hall staff members are among the participants in the roast .The emcee is Jim Polito, a former reporter and anchor for abc40. WAQY-FM Rock 102 radio personality John O'Brien of the "Bax and O'Brien Show" will also participate. Tickets to the roast are available in advance by sending a check made out to "Valley
Press Club" for $10 per person, mailed to Valley Press Club, P.O. Box 5475, Springfield, MA 01102. To reserve a ticket, or for information, call (413) 575-4954.

Tickets at the door are $15. The Valley Press Club consists of active and retired journalists, and public relations
professionals from corporate and nonprofit organizations throughout the Pioneer Valley. During the year, the Valley Press Club conducts luncheon meetings with newsmakers and elected officials, co-sponsors and presents a communications conference at Western New England College, and raises funds for scholarships, among other activities.

The Web site address is valleypressclub.com.
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For those interested, I'm still working on my sketch of Steve Bissette. It will debut tomorrow!

© 2009 by Gordon Michael Dobbs