Paul's Falls
I have lived in the Falls since 1968. My great-great grandfather was one of the village founders. I have served the community in multiple ways: Firefighter, various boards and commissions and for many years was president of the Falls Cable Access Corp. Currently I own, and am active in, a restaurant equipment manufacturing company.
Tom, Tom the piper's son...
...stole a pig and away he ran.
Shame on some of our citizens. It seems that some people are out to ruin everyone's fun. Stealing pigs meant for people to visit on a scavenger hunt is about as poor citizenship as a malcontent always stirring up issues to divide the peace and quiet of a community.
Dan Knodl's Dirty Tricks
I chuckled at first this morning when the first of many e-mails arrived at my desk. Each one referenced a particular well known member of the community who was "endorsing" the candidacy of Dan Knodl for State Assembly.
The problem is that each of these community leaders is disavowing that endorsement and claiming that no permission was given to Dan for using their name.
911 - Never Forget
We all bow our heads today in memory of those who lost their lives in that tragety - and later, for our troops unselfishly giving their lives on our behalf.
What More Could Be Fairer?
Yes, I know the grammar is far from acceptable. But, that phrase was used over and over again many years ago by Roundy Coughlin. Roundy - known as The Sage of Mendota was an elderly Madison sports reporter in the 60's. He used that phrase at least once in every broadcast sports report - often if there was a bit of irony associated with the story.
So after 42 years of marriage, Meg and I often use that phrase - often totally out of context in our daily lives.
I Have Learned A Couple Of Things
This weekend Meg and I helped one of our sons move his family into a new apartment near the high school. We carried stuff up the stairs, down the stairs, up again, down again. Repeat a couple of hundred times. And that was just at the old apartment. Similar actions also happened at the new place.
I learned a couple of things:
First: While my brain tells me that I am in my early twenties, the rest of me tells me otherwise. No matter which way I move today, some muscle or another is tweaked into the it's attention mode. Attention comes in two ways: soreness or pain. Sometimes both.
A Burning Issue
What can divide a community more than loss of or intrusion upon personal freedom?
In the Falls the current issue is centered around who can or cannot burn combustible materials on their property. Each side in the controversy has a valid argument. One side says 'my health and pursuit of happiness is violated due to the smoke' , and the other says ' we enjoy the smell of burning leaves and barbecued meat'.

