I don’t know about you, but…
It seems to me that a lot of noteworthy occurrences happened recently and that there are a lot of cool things happening in the upcoming month, but first….
I don’t know about you, but…
I seem to be carrying more cash these days because I dislike paying the “card fee” that some businesses charge for using a credit card to pay for my purchases. It especially irks me when they refer to not using a credit card as a “cash discount.” I understand why businesses are using this practice, but please, let’s call it what it is, a “card fee,” that can be avoided by not using a credit card, and not a “cash discount.” However, I really like the convenience of using plastic, plus Mrs. Christakos is really good at cashing in the reward points.
I don’t know about you, but…
All I can say is “What the Flock?” Although I really don’t know all that much about Flock cameras I believe that, like most technological advances, they are a useful tool when used as they were intended to be used and by responsible persons. But also, like most technological advances, they can be dangerous, and can often invade people’s privacy when misused.
I don’t know about you, but…
I wonder if the 40-plus pound catfish hauled out of the pond at Windmont Park by a group of youngsters on Aug. 6 was the same fish caught back in May. If so, was the fish thinking “Oh no, here we go again?” Anyway, it is hard to believe that more than one fish that large can reside in such a small body of water. Anyway, congratulations to those that can land such a large fish. Now that is quite the “catch.”
Just when you think you’ve seen everything that there is to see in sports, you sometimes are fortunate to witness something that has never been done before. I don’t know about you, but…
I am glad I was watching TV on Aug. 18 when young Joshua Baez of the St. Louis Cardinals homered in his first three at-bats in his major league debut at Wrigley Field. Never having been done before in the Major League, it was a feat that amazed all baseball fans everywhere. It was celebrated and applauded by his family and by the Cub and Cardinal fans in attendance that day. Even these old, lifelong sports and baseball fan that has witnessed a lot of great signature moments in sports, watched in shock at what occurred that day. But alas, as in life, early success in sports is no guarantee for career-long success. But then again, no one can take this accomplishment away from the young man. Nice going Joshua.
I don’t know about you, but…
I believe that Bruce Springsteen had it right in his song “Glory Days.”
“Glory Days, well, they’ll pass you by, Glory Days, in the wink of a young girl’s eye. Glory Days”
I had occasion to share Glory Days with some people that I haven’t seen in quite some time. I was invited to the 40-year class reunion of the Class of 1986 of Atkinson High School, held on Saturday, Aug. 22.
“Why was I invited?” you may ask. Well, I was the head football coach of the 1985-86 Atkinson Tigers. A group of very special young men, two great assistant coaches, Joe Iorio and Bump DeDecker, a high school with an enrollment of 84 students and an entire community enjoyed a season-long celebration of an undefeated regular season. They also enjoyed an appearance in the IHSA Class the1A quarterfinal in a season that ended with an 11-1 record. I thoroughly enjoyed rehashing the “Glory Days” of that year with those in attendance at that reunion. I personally have used reminiscing of “Glory Days” as a way of getting through some times in my life when I was feeling a little down.
On a historical footnote, the AHS 1985-86 school year also had a very successful girls basketball team that advanced to the Elite Eight of the IHSA Class 1A State Tournament under the direction of Head Coach Heidi Hamer and Assistant Coach Ted Hamer.
I don’t know about you, but…
I think that if you haven’t had a chance to check out the new David L. Sprague Tennis Courts at Kewanee High School, you should do so when you get an opportunity. The courts, Sue Blake’s artwork and the adjacent fitness center are truly first class and a nice addition to a high school that already has many outstanding facilities. My opinion.
I don’t know about you, but…
I think anyone that I know personally that celebrates his 97th birthday deserves a shout-out in my column. My former neighbor, Kewanee native, Kewanee High School graduate, former Kewanee fire chief, and US Navy and Korean War veteran Bill Remick turned 97 on Aug, 25. Congratulations Bill, and thank you for your service to our city and our country.
As I said before, there are a lot of neat things happening in September.
I don’t know about you, but…
I believe that the organization known as Rebuilding Together-Henry County is installing its 500th home ramp sometime during the first week of September. This is quite noteworthy. Over half of the ramps installed by this organization were completed in the last half dozen years or so. These ramps are completely cost-free to the recipients and are designed and installed by volunteer help. Ramp number 500 is being installed in Cleveland, Ill.
I don’t know about you, but…
I didn’t even know that there was a village named Cleveland in Henry County. It happens to be located in the far reaches of the realm. See Google Maps!
I don’t know about you, but…
If it seems that Labor Day is coming quite late this year, that’s because it is. Labor Day, as most know, is always celebrated on the first Monday of September. This year that is Sept. 7, and the seventh is the latest day in September that Labor Day ever falls on. Heck, it occurs so late that the high school football teams will be playing their third game of the year on the Friday of Labor Day weekend. I can remember when the first game of the year was on Labor Day Friday. The reason for the high school football season starting so early is quite complicated. It would require another entire column for me to try to explain it.
I don’t know about you, but…
I would bet most of you aren’t aware of all the happenings at the Kewanee Municipal Airport during the first week of September.
The Kewanee Municipal Airport is celebrating its 60th anniversary of its original dedication on Sept. 4. Along with the rededication, the airport is to be renamed Kewanee Municipal Airport — Marlee F. Anderson Field after the original and longtime airport manager and aviation legend.
On Labor Day Monday, there will be the annual Fly-In Breakfast at the airport benefiting the Kewanee Community Fire District Volunteer Fire Department. This important fundraiser has been a well-attended event for many years and runs from 7 a.m. to noon that day.
And finally, on Wednesday, Sept. 7 is the Stearman airplanes event, weather permitting. So if you haven’t anything else to do, come out to the airport to watch these famous World War II-era biplanes take off and land.
I don’t know about you, but…
I don’t think that it would be right if I didn’t mention that, among other worthy inductees, two men that I know well will be inducted into the Kewanee Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, Sept 19. The former voice of the Boilers, Gary Petersen and teacher, coach and athletic administrator extraordinaire, Tim Atwell will be part of the ceremony taking place at Petersen Auditorium at KHS that evening. The ceremony is free to the public.
I don’t know about you, but…
Attending a lot of events, celebrations and ceremonies can make this old Greek very sleepy. I am predicting a lot of naps will be taken in the upcoming month.
I don’t know about you, but…
I know of no better way of ending this month’s column than to offer up a trio of quotes from the unforgettable entertainer Dolly Parton, who passed away on Aug. 25 at the age of 80 in Nashville, Tenn.
“You’d be surprised how much it costs to look this cheap.”
“I am not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know that I’m not dumb. I also know that I’m not blonde.”
“I may look fake, but I’m real where it counts.”
RIP Dolly.
Be real where it counts, and be careful out there!!
