Exactly 14 inches of potential flood material in my yard this Monday morning covering up the fact that the deer have removed every scintilla of azalea blossoms. Like an Upper Michigan typical January day when they have put away cars and use snowmopbiles. A good day to walk your property giving now reachable branches a good shaking before they break. But don't touch that shovel, leave the white stuff alone, God will tend to that later this week. It is difficult for ambulances to get around just now, turn on the TV and spend a day with your family. The obit columns are numerous enough.
A surprising number of persons showed up at the Horton Veterans Cemetery Saturday morning to respectfully create a sea of green wreaths and red bows. Nearly three thousand purchased with donated money to and by understanding citizens. It was a beautiful scene; a variety of groups assembled for the task, young and old, many in uniform, many others who once wore a uniform. Like most there I had not dressed properly for the cold that crept in, nor had those who addressed the crowd. Dave Parker, a local TV personality told a story about a Combat Engineer on Omaha Beach D-Day. I was bursting to tell him I was there at the same time. Later we did talk about that day and he knew more about it than I did. There were other interesting speakers; one had suffered years of prison and torture. But the usual highlight of a fighter jet fly over hadn’t arrived when I’d had enough weather.
Interesting development at our Council meeting Dec, 8 when a Suffolk group approached the bench for money in the vicinity of $4,000. It appeared to be a last minute appeal by the group, money they needed must be in their hands by tomorrow for due payment to others. They figured the city would immediately appropriate the sum and they would be on their way. Council was hesitant, the city was not obligated to pay but thought it a wonderful idea because the group in a way deserved the financing they needed, but not necessarily from the city funds. This led to discussion by Council concerning the city "contingency fund," or was it an emergency. Neither fit the dire situation and after several minutes of embarrassing to watch motions, seconds to motions, and withdrawal of motions a vote was taken. The group's appeal for money was turned down four to three. It was a correct decision but a painful one. The group probably deserved a favorable response for their admirable achievement but there are many groups that could use extra money. This particular group had come up short and unless money comes from somewhere there will be broken hearts. By the way, Gardy and Parr said they'd rather write a personal check than use the contingency fund. Brown agreed and said he was good for $500. There was no motion or second to that. The group's gentle spokesperson could have asked, but didn't, "How much have you given the SCCA?
The SCCA states things are looking up in the same way Obama said the recession is almost, nearly, just about, close to, approximately, practically over except for…. It is obvious the Director is turning every trick to lower expenses, keep his job, and reduce the embarrassment of the board after this many years attempting to amount to something. A contingent representing the SCCA shows up annually at Council to plead their case. Obviously the intent is to provide “culture” to a community they believe is short of it, or provide those interested a place where they are more comfortable. It is unfair to say the SCCA is primarily a watering hole for the local affluent...there is a very nice bar in the Hilton and it is not too crowded either. All those nice words by the mayor help get the tax dollars but that’s it. Just once, and we may have missed it, we would like to see an audit, even a balance sheet, understandable to the laymen showing how much of the tax dollars they don’t use. Show each year since the beginning so we may learn how much progress has not been made. It is a nice place and contributes to visible city assets but what else has it accomplished---really, isn't it very much like the Bureau of Tourism?
This is a perfect example why many refrain from watching news on ABC, NBC, CBS, or MSNBC. Last week on a segment of the "Glenn Beck Show" on FOX (Fox Cable News) was the following: Even though President Obama is against offshore drilling for our country, he signed an executive order to loan $2 Billion of our taxpayer dollars (which we can't afford to loan since we're broke) to a Brazilian Oil Exploration Company the 8th largest company in the entire world) to drill for oil off the coast of Brazil! The oil that comes from this operation is for the sole purpose and use of China and NOT THE USA ! Now here's the real clincher...the Chinese government is under contract to purchase all the oil that this field will produce, which is hundreds of millions of barrels"... We have absolutely no gain from this transaction whatsoever! Wait, it gets more interesting. Guess who is the largest individual stockholder of this Brazilian Oil Company and who would benefit most from this? It is American BILLIONAIRE, George Soros, who was President Obama's most generous financial supporter during his campaign. For verification 
The federal Act:
(1) is invalid in this state;
(2) is not recognized by this state;
(3) is specifically rejected by this state; and
(4) is null and void and of no effect in this state.
I read the Suffolk News Herald in the morning, go right to it from “IS” via our link. I will be a better reader when they don’t try so hard to confuse me with pop up ads. I’m a neophyte when playing in the mysterious world of bits and bytes as it is but these pop-ups jump on my screen without invitation smack in the middle of an interesting paragraph. I desperately click on the ad and different parts of the screen; sometimes they resist removal no matter the amount of button stabbing I do, if I am successful in eliminating one another takes its place…what I was reading goes somewhere and I must go fishing again to find it. The ads are probably effective except for the fact that I’d rather be reading news articles. 
"IS" regards that as noble but silly and suggests we think about it...if part of Obama's plan to become a socialist nation is to jam up the government operations any way he can what better way than to impair air transportation. If everyone refused to be searched the new "close up and personal way" air traffic would be stopped until TSA adopted less stringent methods of search and embarrass. This will happen if a significant amount of Americans stay mad as hell, or planes will fly half full, and that is not an option.
Every morning except Monday the Suffolk News Herald is scanned to be sure we agree on any news event and usually we do. But here we try to pack all the news into a few paragraphs to save reader time. We have had a link to their paper for years but they have not returned the favor. Take the mess at a Hobson church where the congregation is suffering the same disease as Repubs and Demos, they can’t get along. Twice the pastor has been fired and rehired, the church door sealed with lock and chain, later cut. It looks like a split to me. I experienced that 60 years ago when our church split…do we sing hymns with the organ or a cappella? Two churches a block apart now…that’s when I split.
Council still pondering left turn lane to the Children’s Center on Wilroy Road. The childcare facility was awarded a million + in federal stimulus money to expand the Early Head Start program. So City recommends the Center be required to pay for the turn lane but the Director, Tamie Rittenhoouse says the Center can’t afford to use their money and might go out of business. No turn lane compromises safety of the children. The stimulus money would allow a 3000 square foot expansion, increase the parking lot, and allow Head Start to increase to a max of 95 with a staff of 32. But a city traffic engineer is concerned that this would add traffic to an already-busy roadway. A city study states there have been three accidents in the eight years since 2002 caused by vehicles turning left into the Center, and lowering the speed limit may have prevented those.. 
A piece in the SNH written by Leila Roche pictured our grey haired handsome Treasurer smiling as he peeked over a pile of frozen turkeys. My first thought was; "That's great, our Treasurer giving up $28,000 of his salary to buy food to give away for thankgiving." I've always thought Ron was a good guy even though every year he receives the biggest check I write. But reading deeper into the story I came across the name Leotis Williams, that's the one who gave away two thousand turkeys. That Mr. Williams owns L. W. Lawn Care and MWM Investsments and has been generously giving food away since 1997.
The city will celebrate the opening of its Visitor Center today.
With Ann Seward reporting a year ending surplus Council can go on a bit of spending spree, or put it in a shoebox for a rainy day. $1,300,000 will renovate a building for a recreation center at Bennett’s Creek and, equally important, use $450,000 to fix up the Animal Shelter. Both expenditures will make citizens happy.
Mattanock Town passes Council almost unanimously after only eight years of trading blows with Chief Bass and his tribe of positive followers. All Council members figured it was a good fight and everybody wins. Amazingly no one spoke in opposition. Perhaps it was fear of being scalped but more likely no one could come up with a valid reason to say, "No," except Bennett.
With a 5 – 3 “NO” our Planning Commission slammed the door again on the Four Farms expansion of our south downtown area. These developers would force growth between White Marsh and Hosier Road to the tune of 462 acres. It would provide 2500 new homes and 164,000 square feet of commercial space. Sounds wonderful when a builder will throw in a new school and connector roads to currently congested traffic but residents of the area don’t want any part of it. Eminent Domain is when governments steal buildings and land to meet their needs. Reverse Eminent Domain is when an all-wise government forces buildings and land on a populace because they think it’s a good idea. Planning Commissions are created to stop bad ideas before they get to Council Chambers where growth is a hallucinogen that fulfills dreams. We invite your comment.
If you think about it the meeting in the Council Chambers at 7pm on 11/17 could have been to celebrate seven straight profitable years of operation in Mattanock Town. That is how long they have tried to convince our “Council” the village would be informative and provide the Tourist Bureau validity. Forced to return many times with further proof it could fly they were still met with doubts, or something else, from hard “negotiators,” The question remains: were there doubts in their minds about the success of Indian plans, or did it all hang on the success of restoring an aged bank that has received no attention for years? One local gentleman purchased the building and immediately the “city” chiseled him out of it. What or who prompted this despicable action is still under wraps but we know the sordid details. 
I asked Chief Barry Bass if there was anything "IS" could do to help convince City Council to give small acerage to Indians tribes so they could build historical authenic Village of Mattanock. Indians do not say much under ordinary circumstances but this is not ordinary. The village will assist those with interests in early American history as well as our Tourist Industry that could use a shot in the arm. The Nansemond Indians have been attempting to sell their idea to Suffolk for more than eight years. The story goes that Council is finally ready to work WITH them. The chief asks for your support by once again filling Council Chambers with you folks that second the motion. He guarantees, you know these Indians have mysterious powers, he guarantees the building will support a huge crowd because all city employees will be gone for the day. He expects us there by 7 PM. 
Mr. Varney, a quality gentleman, took on tough old Gardy who still wields enough charm and wit to beat the odds in his bailiwick. Varney was close and many hope he will be around for another challenge. But Gardy is hardly status quo, that requires at least two terms.
"From IS," congrats on your victories, you earned them by the old method, getting out the vote. The city Council gained but the school system lost opportunity. Now we can set aside the local aspects of government changeover, and there was lilttle of that, to concentrate on what a National sea change means. Pelosi is gone, one of greatest obstacles to recovery, and enough others are relegated to pastures. A combo of Tea Party organizations and what's left of the Republicans welded and pulled off an historic booting of House delegates. Now if we can just find a way to eliminate the Department of Energy, the hapless Department of Education, and the painful IRS we could eliminate the national debt Obama has placed like a yoke on our grandchildren. Two years from now we can get Socialism and worried conversation about it out of our hair. All we need to do to become "Exceptional America" again is to hush up the President and put a stop to the arrogance of government. We can save many millions of tax payer dollars by keeping the first lady from traveling, for god's sake lock the Queen in her room like the old kings did. 
