More Parades!

It's always a privilege to be able to walk in Kalamazoo parades, and they're a lot of fun. Priscilla and Arnold joined me in the November, 2008, Downtown Kalamazoo Holiday Parade, and then just Arnold for this past Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade. Arnold loves the parades and the kids flock to pet him. Priscilla is taking the photo at St. Pat's, and Laurie Terlesky snapped the Holiday Parade photo.

Memorial Day Parade

I had the pleasant opportunity to walk with current 60th District State Representative (and former Mayor of Kalamazoo) Robert B. Jones in Kalamazoo's Memorial Day parade on May 26th. Thanks to Mark Miller for snapping the image. For more photos from the parade, go to West Michigan Rising at: http://www.westmichiganrising.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=295

Cheapest Gas in Kalamazoo

From Department of the Not-Reinventing-the-Wheel:
I had a thought a while back to start a blog whereby people could let other motorists know where to find the best price of petrol in town. Lo, and behold, a quick google search revealed there already is such a site.

Of course, better alternatives include carpooling, taking the bus, telecommuting, riding a bike, or--heaven forbid--walking. I know I personally am guilty of driving to go get Martini's three blocks away. But for the time being, as filling our tanks is a necessary evil, here you can find the cheapest gas in Kalamazoo County.

Remember: If you're driving more than a few miles out of your way to save a few cents per gallon, it's--more or less--a wash.

Inspiring DC

My apologies for being away for so long. As hectic as campaigns are, the aftermath is equally so, though in a much different way. The new commission is getting up to speed and we have a draft 2008 budget for the city to review and eventually adopt.

My work at the American Red Cross took me to Washington DC for the first time in my life. How odd, I think, for me to have not been there before now, but that was the case. Following a mid-week two-day training, I stayed on through the weekend and packed in as much as I could.

Of course I didn't even scratch the surface, but there were some definite highlights - the Capitol Rotunda, the Washington and Lincoln Memorials, the National Archives and looking at the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights. It was inspiring and re-energizing, to say the least. Much more to go back for.

Commissioner McCann at Swearing-in Ceremony

The 47th Kalamazoo City Commission was sworn in this evening at City Hall. Sean McCann was re-elected with a total of 5803 votes, placing him third after Hopewell (6118) and McKinney (6064).
Photo: Dominick Gladstone

Sean McCann quoted in Monday's Gazette Editorial

From the Kalamazoo Gazette:

"Last week, Kalamazoo City Commissioner Sean McCann urged the administration to shed more light on the departures. 'There's the notion all of this is tied to the 2003 prostitution investigation,' he said. 'If this is not the case, we owe it to the public to offer an explanation.'

"We agree."

To read the whole editorial, click here.

Tour a Norman Carver, Jr. house in Parkwyn Village