Another First Friday in the books!

I should have posted this earlier, and certainly could have, but no excuses I'm here now. I was once again privileged to be a "guide" for First Friday and must say I thoroughly enjoyed it. Though it was much colder this month it didn't seem to cool the spirits of those who participated. Instead of remaining stationary on the Northeast corner of the court house square, this time my friend and I were charged with going to each business and leaving maps and other materials for them to pass out to their customers. We headed West along Walnut, North up Buckeye, East on Mulberry then jumped across to Walt Moss's Barber Shop and Jamie's. From there we stopped at Main St Cafe and Blye's before crossing the street and going South on Main to Planet Mind where we met up with another guide who had gone a different direction.

This was the first time I had gone into many of the businesses that were open and it was good to see what each was doing for their guests/customers. Due to the cold and the fact that most people were on the square for the lighting of the tree and other decorations, we didn't see many customers. I hope this changed later but I suspect many left after the lighting. There is always so much going on in December with Christmas shopping and events, many indoor sports, etc. Hopefully in the coming cold months we will have enough moderation in temperatures and fewer things demanding our attention that people will make the effort to support the uptown businesses on First Friday.

As you can see above the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree and Snoopy are among many of the lighted decorations around the square. The flagpole tree is lit as well as the wreaths on the light posts. The town looks very festive indeed. If you haven't been around the square after dark yet be sure to add it to your light viewing list along with Highland and We Care Parks.

I hope you've all voted First Friday as the best free entertainment in Kokomo, but whether or not it comes in at #1, it is well worth your effort to attend. It takes a little more dedication in the winter months but remember...pretty soon it will be spring!

If you'll bear with me for a moment longer, I'd like to say just a little about The Salvation Army's Service of Hope and Healing that I attended tonight. I had seen on television news and in the paper that this was taking place and decided to go to support those who were affected by the recent tornado's. I actually live across from the Key Bank on East Hoffer St and was home when the tornado hit. It was very frightening and my house sustained damage but nothing like many of the houses in the Bell St and Cedar Crest areas. I was without power for 3 days but was able to stay with a friend after the first night.

There were 2 TV stations at The Salvation Army Church when I arrived but I was saddened when I went in that there were probably less than 40 people in attendance. Many of those were members of the church, Red Cross, United Way and Rescue Mission. It appeared there were only 5 of us there who were directly affected by the storms. The aim of the service was to provide hope, healing and  additional information to those affected and provide support where needed. These agencies all put forth the effort to come together to provide whatever additional help and information was needed and it was disheartening that so few attended. Have we really come to a point where we no longer feel the need for hope and healing after this type of event? I hope not. While I really had no need of the services provided by these people I am so thankful they were out there helping those who did. The people of Kokomo, and other communities, stepped up in a big way to help with clean up, but these agencies are in it for the long haul and should be supported.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all. Thanks for listening.

Whoosh....

First Friday in November was an incredible amount of fun for those who attended, and there were lots of people who did. I had the privilege of helping to hand out information and directing people to various events going on. It was great fun, and if there were any, I didn't hear a single negative comment. I'm eagerly awaiting  December's First  Friday coming up on the 6th. We will need a break from this week!

I was beginning to think I wasn't going to have "something to say" for a while when, whoosh, a tornado blew through. Those of us who weren't directly affected by the spring flood had almost put it out of our minds and now it's back with a vengeance. A one-two punch for the city of Kokomo and many of its residents.

I was directly involved in the tornado as I live across from the Key Bank on Hoffer St. I was one of the incredibly blessed people who had only minor damage. A couple of broken windows, roof damage that can be taken care of after others with no roof have had repairs, some siding damage and it appears that my garage has been moved. The gate won't properly latch and the pass door won't stay shut, I have to use a bungee cord to keep it closed.

I lost one nights sleep (stayed with a friend the other 2 nights without power) and about $70 worth of food. While that does impact me, it is nothing, and I mean nothing, compared to the devastation that I've seen. It is heartbreaking to see the homes and businesses lost in an instant. Having been in the famous 1965 Palm Sunday tornado I can assure the people involved that eventually this event will be a distant memory. Something to tell the kids or grand kids that you experienced. But it will be a long time until then. In the meantime you will survive the pain and heartbreak of losing your home and/or precious memories in the form of photos and souvenirs. You will be blessed by all the people who step up to help - friends, neighbors and perfect strangers. I, and many others, are and will continue to pray for you.

I've read with interest the stories in the Tribune about how the community has come together to help. I've seen it out my front window. I don't find this such a dramatic story. There are and always have been good, even great people in Kokomo. It isn't every day that they have occasion to be seen as they do in disasters such as we've had this year. But make no mistake, they live and work along side you each day.

Well okay, let's give the scumbags their due also. In every situation where good can be done you will find those who will do everything in their power take advantage. The looters, the scam artists, the shady contractors. It's unfortunate that they get as much publicity as they do but I guess the rest of us need to be warned.

One last thought.....Yesterday I was again treated to a comment that was both distressing and heartbreaking. I was sitting next to 3 women who were talking over the JFK tribute I was trying to listen to on TV at a local nail salon.I was trying to listen to the TV and filter out their talking when one of them said "I just hate Christmas!" Wow, really??  I can only hope somehow, someway she has a chance to read this. Shame on you!

See you First Friday.

High on Kokomo's New(ish) Trail System & Jackson-Morrow Park, But A Little Sad

Wow, have you tried any of Kokomo's trails? You can now go from UCT Park on Phillips St to Waterworks Park or branch off to the South uptown, across the new walking bridge adjacent to the railroad bridge behind the main fire station, and go south along the Industrial Heritage Trail  to the old Damon's Restaurant.

So what about this makes me sad? Well now that I'm looking backward 20 years or so from my first year in the decade of my 70's, I'm remembering when a good friend and I used to walk every morning before work. We walked from 1 1/2 to 3 miles a day, in a circle. Around and around Highland Park we'd go, and believe me no one in Kokomo loves Highland Park more than I do, till I almost never wanted to see it again.

We tried occasionally to go to Foster Park but in those days the trail there was so overrun with geese it just wasn't a pleasant experience. We went out of Highland along some of the streets but had to deal with bad sidewalks and traffic.

Yes, walking on the trail in Jackson-Morrow is going in a circle, but what a circle! 

How I wish these new trails were available then. Now I have two bad knees, a bad back, and am overweight. You know, the "age" diseases.

Anyhow, here's what I have to say today: If you aren't taking advantage of these trails you're making a big mistake. You'll blink your eyes and be in your 70's. I know it doesn't seem like it, and honestly if you knew how fast it actually goes you'd be miserable, but take my word for it and enjoy these things while you can.This is a great time to be living in Kokomo!

First Friday Kokomo, IN October 2013

For some reason I woke this morning with a real desire to "say something".  In thinking about it I realized that the reason was an overheard comment from Kokomo's First Friday event last night.

If anyone ever does read this, my very first attempt at a blog, I should probably explain the First Friday event. Local businesses who have moved into downtown buildings, that for many years sat vacant, open their doors on the First Friday of each month from 6 to 9 in the evening. Each business provides one or more of the following: entertainment in the form of live music, magicians, artists, etc; refreshments, special sales...you get the idea. There are also groups who provide entertainment on the courthouse square during the event, the Humane Society brings a few animals that are up for adoption and on it goes. Last month the Library provided free horse drawn hayrides.

As a person who grew up in Kokomo in the 1950's when downtown was all there was for shopping I have taken a real shine to this event. For the first time in many years there are people walking around downtown. It's free, it's something to do that young and old alike can enjoy, it's a showcase for businesses that otherwise might go unnoticed.

The comments that caused me to try my hand at blogging were made by my sister and by a person on the street last night. My sister, who incidently is older than my 70 years,  answered a question posed by her daughter asking what First Friday was about....."it's for old people". By the way she wasn't there! The woman on the corner of the square was overheard saying "I'm really disappointed, yada yada.

Last night I saw the 60 and 70+ year olds, yes, but I saw more. There were young people, there were families with young children, there was music, there were high schooler's walking around advertising the great candy store run by Career Center students, there were young Girl Scouts helping to raise money for Bridge's Outreach.

My friends and I had a very good meal at Drake's before wandering around. I'd like to be able to tell you that we went everywhere but unfortunately I have a hard time walking for any length of time.  I need knee surgery that I continue to put off but that's another story altogether. We did manage to see most of what was going on.

I've been going to First Friday since March and here is what I've learned so far: Pepperwhistle has some great sandwiches, Cook McDoogal's Irish Pub is a good place for adults to eat and you don't have to drink, Drake's has great catfish & smoked meats, Main St Cafe has some great specials as well as coffee's. Manna From Heaven makes really good cakes, Kokomo Career Center students have awesome candies, Sycamore Cottage is now downtown! Leader One has great Kokomo pictures,  Kokomo Artwork's is unbeatable. Where else can you see ballroom dancing in the street than at The Literacy Coalition? Belly Dancing & Zumba is fun to watch at my age and may be fun for you to do at yours. Planet Mind is a teacher's and kid's dream come true, Sound of Music and Rhum Acadmey provide some great local talent. Boutique's, chiropractic, massage's, local jeweler's, game store, comics and on and on.

I'm sorry the lady who is disappointed with something that helps to promote the downtown merchants and Kokomo itself made herself heard. But hey, that's her opinion and this is mine. I vote for positive.