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My riding lawnmower has been giving me dirty looks when I open the shop doors. Mowing should almost be ending, but like most of you it still seems like June. I need to catch up (again) with my mowing.
After an entire month of rain, the trees have hardly begun to turn colors.
I was starting to feel sorry for myself, but I thought about the city's Parks and Recreation Department. Seasonal worker's jobs (like the people who mow parks) end in August and September) so most can go back to school, leaving all mowing and maintenance to the handful of permanent staff. With the month of rain, our city parks have taken on a new life just like my lawn.
How much do they need to mow? Hundreds of acres! Consider this: Riverview Park alone is 96 ACRES! So, if you see a city park that looks a bit shaggy, please give the Parks and Recreation Department some grace, they are working as hard as they can to get caught up before winter. If you see one of them mowing, give them a thumbs up in support.
Shuffleboard in the Coliseum??? Yes, in fact it is going to happen. Starting in November, all of you Senior shuffleboard fanatics can play once a week through the winter. Jenni at Parks and Recreation is setting it all up at NO COST. I might try it myself! Stay tuned for more details.
Sidewalks are being poured on Main Street now that the monsoon season is behind us. Con-Struct is doing a great job getting back on track.
The business owners have been so patient during this project. Make it a point to go uptown and show some support.
I was amazed at the turnout for Oktemberfest. It seems that Mother Nature was trying her best to throw a damper on the festivities, but Marshalltown residents just wanted to turn out and have some fun. Good on all of you. The Oktemberfest Committee deserves a big thanks for all the changes and efforts. All volunteers and doing great things. Some changes were made, some traditions remained. I'm all for trying new ideas. Remember, you miss every shot you don't take.
Word has reached me that the "The Coop" Chicken Finger restaurant Grand Opening will be next week at the old Wendy’s location. Soft opening perhaps this week. Councilor Mark Mitchell was in Ames this week and stopped at The Coop to eat.
He gave me two thumbs up. Teens and very young adults tell me the same thing but in language like "it slaps" or "bussin." So there is that....
Kyle Martin from KFJB almost caused a fiasco when announcing the Oktemberfest Parade when he jokingly announced that the ElPortal/La Carreta float was passing out burritos! Order was restored quickly. I think we need to keep a closer eye on Kyle....
"Cities are living works of human imagination, connection, and shared dreams."
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Mike Ladehoff is the mayor of Marshalltown.