Ahhh fall is in the air, the leaves are crisp, the smell of burning leaves permeates our senses, and the stench of municipal corruption smacks us in the face. And by corruption I mean the stench coming from a certain old bank building on Main Street.
The smell grows stronger as one gets closer to the superintendents office. It is as if you have entered a black hole. All money and common sense goes in and it is sucked away to nothingness. Its like a skunk smell, only a special blend will get it off of you. The only real way is to leave….forever.
Another employee has fallen to the hatchet of the Grand Inquisitor. Warn ye those who do not abide to the Divas of the Palace! Pay no attention to the woman behind the curtain! The benefits coordinator made the most serious mistake of all, she failed to bow low enough to Twit and Frack who guard the palace safe. Hmmmm, what did she know about the inner workings that they wanted to crush? She was terminated for “supposedly” releasing salary information to a department head. Hmmmm let me see………don’t department heads ALREADY know the salaries of department personnel? They do the budget for the department don’t they? And isn’t salary information available to anyone under the Freedom of Information Act? So why was she terminated? She was the remaining portion of the old regime and did not fall on a sword for the Diva’s. So she became expendable.
After the Diva of Administration has bloated herself on the city trough and wasted all the money the well has begun to dry up. The state budget has cut funding and halved the lottery proceeds. How will she react to the decrease in funds available? She will throw herself to the ground in front of city council and wail and cry that the district “is struggling” and in need of “local support” when in fact the locality supports the school board budget much better then they should. I can’t decide who has their heads deeper in the sand, city council or the school board! Neither seems to understand the waste the district continues to allow.
Well the leaves on the trees are like the school board budget—red. Let’s see if these nutty squirrels ever had the brains to stash some nuts away for winter.
Coming Soon: The School (GW) With the Phantom Principal
The Galileo School- Animal House Meets Brokeback Mountain
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Oh Where Has The Summer Gone
Well as the fall arrives and our children scurry back to school lets look into what madness that emanates from the Concrete Palace (School Board Central Office).
As usual the edicts passed down make absolutely no sense and make one wonder if psychiatric drugs are being dispensed in candy dishes throughout the building. Or has aerial spraying of Prozac been approved. Either way the ridiculous mandates show that the School Board is one brick short of a full load. To see the board members nod their collective bobble heads to the drivel that comes out of the Divas that appear to run the asylum without a single question makes one wonder. Should candidates for the school board be required to pass minimal tests to see if the gray matter between their ears has any electrical activity?
In my absence (gotta take a break from the insanity….) I wondered if some sense of stability had come to the school district. Not a chance. Here is a sampling of the ridiculous “policies” recently enacted:
1) Students at GW are exempt from exams if they do not miss 7 classes. Hmmm let me see this is really preparing them for college life. When questioned about it Sue Davis sticks to her “site based decision” monologue. Since when is grading and such policies a site based decision? I thought there was a superintendent in this district or at least a reasonable facsimile of one but I guess not. The fact is such a decision at the level of an inexperienced principal is ridiculous. This is not preparing them for college and doing the students no favor. But then again when does the board ever do anything for the students?
2) Trying to pass a policy to have all students and teachers have lunch at the high school at the same time. This is to stupid to even try to address. Can anyone in that school count? Do they know the capacity of the cafeteria? Do they know what would happen if students were given an hour for lunch. Can you say supervision nightmare! Man who even thinks these things up…………
3) Filling buses to only a ¼ tank to save gas. Oh god what physics professor thought this thing up! Defies logic, sensibility, and the basic laws of physics.
4) Colored mulch stacked up for three months in the maintenance yard and finally having bus drivers spread it. No comment here…..just to dumb to even talk about.
5) Giving first graders A, B, C, D, and F grades. Ok what Dr. Spock reject came up with this one? No one owning up? I wouldn’t think so…….. Defies ALL established research.
Well now’s you chance for all teachers and employees to get even. Just e-mail the most ridiculous policy the administration has passed on to you to savetheschools2@aol.com.
The best will be printed (anonymously of course).
I’m back on tract and ready to write. So much mismanagement….so little time. Write soon the pen is hot!
As usual the edicts passed down make absolutely no sense and make one wonder if psychiatric drugs are being dispensed in candy dishes throughout the building. Or has aerial spraying of Prozac been approved. Either way the ridiculous mandates show that the School Board is one brick short of a full load. To see the board members nod their collective bobble heads to the drivel that comes out of the Divas that appear to run the asylum without a single question makes one wonder. Should candidates for the school board be required to pass minimal tests to see if the gray matter between their ears has any electrical activity?
In my absence (gotta take a break from the insanity….) I wondered if some sense of stability had come to the school district. Not a chance. Here is a sampling of the ridiculous “policies” recently enacted:
1) Students at GW are exempt from exams if they do not miss 7 classes. Hmmm let me see this is really preparing them for college life. When questioned about it Sue Davis sticks to her “site based decision” monologue. Since when is grading and such policies a site based decision? I thought there was a superintendent in this district or at least a reasonable facsimile of one but I guess not. The fact is such a decision at the level of an inexperienced principal is ridiculous. This is not preparing them for college and doing the students no favor. But then again when does the board ever do anything for the students?
2) Trying to pass a policy to have all students and teachers have lunch at the high school at the same time. This is to stupid to even try to address. Can anyone in that school count? Do they know the capacity of the cafeteria? Do they know what would happen if students were given an hour for lunch. Can you say supervision nightmare! Man who even thinks these things up…………
3) Filling buses to only a ¼ tank to save gas. Oh god what physics professor thought this thing up! Defies logic, sensibility, and the basic laws of physics.
4) Colored mulch stacked up for three months in the maintenance yard and finally having bus drivers spread it. No comment here…..just to dumb to even talk about.
5) Giving first graders A, B, C, D, and F grades. Ok what Dr. Spock reject came up with this one? No one owning up? I wouldn’t think so…….. Defies ALL established research.
Well now’s you chance for all teachers and employees to get even. Just e-mail the most ridiculous policy the administration has passed on to you to savetheschools2@aol.com.
The best will be printed (anonymously of course).
I’m back on tract and ready to write. So much mismanagement….so little time. Write soon the pen is hot!
Friday, July 4, 2008
Cell Phone Myths
I realize this is off my usual subject, the ridiculous way Danville and the public schools is being run but on a holiday I don't want to get too depressed. Knowing that Danvillians are naive to a fault I couldn't help but notice that the Sam's Club had a sign about not using cell phones at the pump. While using mine I was approached by the brain trust that runs the pumps that I needed to turn off my cell phone. When I tried to explain to him the FACTS he simply said, "But the sign says so!" I was immediately reminded of the carelessness of the school board in BELIEVING everything that Sue Davis ever says without question. If they would only look at a few FACTS they might be able to get their collective heads out of the sand. Anyway here are some interesting myths about cell phones and the FACTS. (My daughter researched these.....LOL)
Cell phones crash planes.
Myth: If you use a cell phone while flying, the signal can interfere with the plane's compass and navigation systems, possibly leading to a crash.
True or False? It's debatable.Anyone who's flown knows that flight attendants ask you to turn off all electronics, including phones, until after takeoff. According to one pilot who was interviewed by ABC News, the reason for this is so you pay attention to safety instructions, and, in the case of an aborted liftoff, "I don't want a laptop flying across the cabin."A UK study in 2003 showed some interference with compasses and navigation systems, but that was done in controlled settings, not on real planes. More recent studies by the NASA and the FAA have found no instances where a cell phone caused a crash, although some pilots claimed otherwise.Currently, the approach is "better safe than sorry," but they say that systems in aircraft are shielded enough not to be disrupted. As soon as it's proven that there's no link or threat, you'll be able to talk someone's ear off instead of watching the crappy in-flight movie.
Cell phones can cause gas station fires.
Myth: While pumping gas, using or turning on your phone can release a charge of static electricity that will ignite the fuel.
True or false? False.This rumor dates back to the '90s, when a phony e-mail made the rounds of people's in-boxes around the world. The e-mail claimed that Shell Oil had issued a warning about three instances of cell phones causing fires at the pumps. When contacted about it in 2003, Shell claimed it was a complete hoax and that it wasn't aware of any such incidents.While it has been proved that static electricity can cause fuel vapors to combust, cell phones do not emit a strong enough amount to ignite anything. Smoking, however, will still cause problems.
Cell phones cause cancer.
Myth: Prolonged cell phone use can cause brain cancer or tumors because of radiation.
True or false? Debatable.Ever since cell phones became popular, both the media and average people have claimed that cell phones can cause cancer. Unfortunately, there have been many medical studies on the issue and they still don't offer any definitive proof.A 2005 study of 4,000 Europeans by the Institute of Cancer Research found no link to any types of cancer among regular phone users, but did say that radiation could potentially cause adverse effects, so moderation was recommended.
Cell phones can be used to open up locked cars.
Myth: Broadcasting the sound of a remote keyless entry device over a phone can open up a locked car.
True or false? FalseThe rumor is that if you have an extra key remote at home, you can call someone and have them hit the open button while you hold your phone up to the lock. Well, those entry systems use radio waves and proximity – think about when you've tried to open your car from too far a distance – and can't be transmitted over a phone.Unfortunately, if you lock your keys in the car, you'll have to get your spare set or AAA to open it for you.
Dialing a special code gives you extra battery life.
Myth: Entering *3370# or some other code will unlock a reserve amount of battery to allow you to make another call.
True or false? False.Sure, it'd be nice if this trick really worked but, unfortunately, once a battery's drained, you're out of luck. One European Nokia executive even called this idea "pure science fiction." Some phones actually use codes like that to enhance voice quality, which decreases battery life.Instead, keep your phone charged and don't rely on this one.
Cell phones interfere with hospital equipment.
Myth: Cell signals disrupt hospital equipment and can kill patients.
True or false? False.Many uniformed people have claimed that the radio frequency signals from phones somehow screw up medical technology in hospitals, so it's unsafe to use your phone in any of these settings. Even some hospitals have cell phone bans as a way to avoid this potentially life-threatening scenario.Thanks to a study by the Mayo Clinic, this was proved to be completely untrue. 300 tests using two cell phones, four carriers, and 192 medical devices were conducted at the clinic's Rochester campus over five months and not one problem occurred. The study even recommended that hospitals lift their bans, so you can forget about this one.
Hitting a button gets you a number that will help you get your phone back if it's stolen.
Myth: Pressing *#06# will give you a serial number that you can use to prevent your stolen phone from being used and help investigators find it.
True or false? Both.Yes, entering the code *#06# on many phones with GSM (those from T-Mobile or AT&T Wireless) will bring up a 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity or IMEI number that is unique to your phone. It's also usually printed underneath the battery. Depending on your carrier, you could use this number, if you wrote it down, to flag the phone as invalid if someone tries to use it with a different SIM card or provider. Unfortunately, this doesn't really do much for you in terms of getting your phone back.The smarter option is to just report the phone as stolen to your service provider, which protects your account from unwanted charges.
Cell phone use lowers sperm count.
Myth: Carrying a phone in your pocket and constant use can lower your sperm count (that is, if you're a guy).
True or false? TrueSorry fellas, but if you're on your phone all the time, you might have a lower sperm count or abnormal swimmers.A study at a Ohio fertility clinic tested 361 men with infertility issues and divided them based on cell phone usage. Those who used their phone more than four hours a day were found to have much lower sperm counts and higher amounts of poor quality semen. The study is being reviewed currently, as it didn't take other factors such as drug use into account, and follow-up studies will also test electromagnetic radiation on sperm cells in labs to see if they're directly affected.It will be a while before we know anything for sure, but in the meantime, you might want to keep your talk time down.
So now you have all the FACTS on cell phones. Now if we could just get the school board to do a little research maybe the school system would get just a little bit better. Errrrrrrrr Don't hold your breath......................
Cell phones crash planes.
Myth: If you use a cell phone while flying, the signal can interfere with the plane's compass and navigation systems, possibly leading to a crash.
True or False? It's debatable.Anyone who's flown knows that flight attendants ask you to turn off all electronics, including phones, until after takeoff. According to one pilot who was interviewed by ABC News, the reason for this is so you pay attention to safety instructions, and, in the case of an aborted liftoff, "I don't want a laptop flying across the cabin."A UK study in 2003 showed some interference with compasses and navigation systems, but that was done in controlled settings, not on real planes. More recent studies by the NASA and the FAA have found no instances where a cell phone caused a crash, although some pilots claimed otherwise.Currently, the approach is "better safe than sorry," but they say that systems in aircraft are shielded enough not to be disrupted. As soon as it's proven that there's no link or threat, you'll be able to talk someone's ear off instead of watching the crappy in-flight movie.
Cell phones can cause gas station fires.
Myth: While pumping gas, using or turning on your phone can release a charge of static electricity that will ignite the fuel.
True or false? False.This rumor dates back to the '90s, when a phony e-mail made the rounds of people's in-boxes around the world. The e-mail claimed that Shell Oil had issued a warning about three instances of cell phones causing fires at the pumps. When contacted about it in 2003, Shell claimed it was a complete hoax and that it wasn't aware of any such incidents.While it has been proved that static electricity can cause fuel vapors to combust, cell phones do not emit a strong enough amount to ignite anything. Smoking, however, will still cause problems.
Cell phones cause cancer.
Myth: Prolonged cell phone use can cause brain cancer or tumors because of radiation.
True or false? Debatable.Ever since cell phones became popular, both the media and average people have claimed that cell phones can cause cancer. Unfortunately, there have been many medical studies on the issue and they still don't offer any definitive proof.A 2005 study of 4,000 Europeans by the Institute of Cancer Research found no link to any types of cancer among regular phone users, but did say that radiation could potentially cause adverse effects, so moderation was recommended.
Cell phones can be used to open up locked cars.
Myth: Broadcasting the sound of a remote keyless entry device over a phone can open up a locked car.
True or false? FalseThe rumor is that if you have an extra key remote at home, you can call someone and have them hit the open button while you hold your phone up to the lock. Well, those entry systems use radio waves and proximity – think about when you've tried to open your car from too far a distance – and can't be transmitted over a phone.Unfortunately, if you lock your keys in the car, you'll have to get your spare set or AAA to open it for you.
Dialing a special code gives you extra battery life.
Myth: Entering *3370# or some other code will unlock a reserve amount of battery to allow you to make another call.
True or false? False.Sure, it'd be nice if this trick really worked but, unfortunately, once a battery's drained, you're out of luck. One European Nokia executive even called this idea "pure science fiction." Some phones actually use codes like that to enhance voice quality, which decreases battery life.Instead, keep your phone charged and don't rely on this one.
Cell phones interfere with hospital equipment.
Myth: Cell signals disrupt hospital equipment and can kill patients.
True or false? False.Many uniformed people have claimed that the radio frequency signals from phones somehow screw up medical technology in hospitals, so it's unsafe to use your phone in any of these settings. Even some hospitals have cell phone bans as a way to avoid this potentially life-threatening scenario.Thanks to a study by the Mayo Clinic, this was proved to be completely untrue. 300 tests using two cell phones, four carriers, and 192 medical devices were conducted at the clinic's Rochester campus over five months and not one problem occurred. The study even recommended that hospitals lift their bans, so you can forget about this one.
Hitting a button gets you a number that will help you get your phone back if it's stolen.
Myth: Pressing *#06# will give you a serial number that you can use to prevent your stolen phone from being used and help investigators find it.
True or false? Both.Yes, entering the code *#06# on many phones with GSM (those from T-Mobile or AT&T Wireless) will bring up a 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identity or IMEI number that is unique to your phone. It's also usually printed underneath the battery. Depending on your carrier, you could use this number, if you wrote it down, to flag the phone as invalid if someone tries to use it with a different SIM card or provider. Unfortunately, this doesn't really do much for you in terms of getting your phone back.The smarter option is to just report the phone as stolen to your service provider, which protects your account from unwanted charges.
Cell phone use lowers sperm count.
Myth: Carrying a phone in your pocket and constant use can lower your sperm count (that is, if you're a guy).
True or false? TrueSorry fellas, but if you're on your phone all the time, you might have a lower sperm count or abnormal swimmers.A study at a Ohio fertility clinic tested 361 men with infertility issues and divided them based on cell phone usage. Those who used their phone more than four hours a day were found to have much lower sperm counts and higher amounts of poor quality semen. The study is being reviewed currently, as it didn't take other factors such as drug use into account, and follow-up studies will also test electromagnetic radiation on sperm cells in labs to see if they're directly affected.It will be a while before we know anything for sure, but in the meantime, you might want to keep your talk time down.
So now you have all the FACTS on cell phones. Now if we could just get the school board to do a little research maybe the school system would get just a little bit better. Errrrrrrrr Don't hold your breath......................
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
What has Danville Public Schools Done?
Lets see what has happened since Sue Davis took over Danville Public Schools. A measure of true leadership is performance. And the performance has been miserable to say the least. The money flows but with no results. If she was a CEO of a major corporation the board of directors would have removed her long ago. But Danville School Board just smiles and says everything is ok as they all stand with their fingers in the dike. It’s a shame and an embarrassment to the citizens of Danville.
Why the criticism? Lets start with drop out rates. Danville’s rate is 3.65% compared to Pittsylvania County (1.24%), Henry (2.54%), Halifax (1.29%) and Patrick County (1.20%). I’m sure they will puff up and say that these districts do not have the problems of an urban district. Well ok let’s look at “urban” districts: Lynchburg (2.06%), Newport News (0.66%), Hampton (2.95%), Norfolk (3.06%), and Staunton (1.0%). GWHS had 102 drop outs by itself. Lord even the golden goose Galileo had 3 drop outs! Enough said. Danville has not stepped up to the plate and addressed this issue with any amount of success. The disgraceful way the leadership has ignored the problem thinking it would go away borders on malfeasance.
Are the schools safe? Not by a long shot. GWHS had 5,316 violations of school regulations in 2006-2007. This includes student disruptions, weapons, drugs, and fighting. This is up from 2,406 in 2005-2006! A lack of leadership both on the school level and the district level again. The school board turns a blind eye.
High drop out rates, out of control discipline, outrageous costs, questionable spending of funds, an exodus of good administrators, teachers fleeing to other districts, and a employee morale in the toilet is what this board has allowed to happen. What can Danvillians do? Well its too late to get new candidates for the election. Unfortunately the voting system does not allow a line to vote “I don’t trust any of them. The only mandate they have is to do their job! Stop all the dog and pony shows on TV and the self gushing of praise for programs that don’t really work.
Why the criticism? Lets start with drop out rates. Danville’s rate is 3.65% compared to Pittsylvania County (1.24%), Henry (2.54%), Halifax (1.29%) and Patrick County (1.20%). I’m sure they will puff up and say that these districts do not have the problems of an urban district. Well ok let’s look at “urban” districts: Lynchburg (2.06%), Newport News (0.66%), Hampton (2.95%), Norfolk (3.06%), and Staunton (1.0%). GWHS had 102 drop outs by itself. Lord even the golden goose Galileo had 3 drop outs! Enough said. Danville has not stepped up to the plate and addressed this issue with any amount of success. The disgraceful way the leadership has ignored the problem thinking it would go away borders on malfeasance.
Are the schools safe? Not by a long shot. GWHS had 5,316 violations of school regulations in 2006-2007. This includes student disruptions, weapons, drugs, and fighting. This is up from 2,406 in 2005-2006! A lack of leadership both on the school level and the district level again. The school board turns a blind eye.
High drop out rates, out of control discipline, outrageous costs, questionable spending of funds, an exodus of good administrators, teachers fleeing to other districts, and a employee morale in the toilet is what this board has allowed to happen. What can Danvillians do? Well its too late to get new candidates for the election. Unfortunately the voting system does not allow a line to vote “I don’t trust any of them. The only mandate they have is to do their job! Stop all the dog and pony shows on TV and the self gushing of praise for programs that don’t really work.
Monday, April 28, 2008
The Apathy Election
The citizens of Danville have alot to fear unfortunately they will never realize the source of the fear. This is because it is going on right under their noses but they choose to do nothing about the situation. As Edmund Burke said in 1756, “No passion so effectually robs the mind of all its powers of acting and reasoning as fear.” This spells out the case for Danville very prophetically.
Danvillians fear change. Why change it when it is working? Why rock the boat? Leave it alone. Such statements are the thoughts of fearful people. They accept the substandard, the mediocre, the bland. They accept that in their leaders also. The more they blend into the background the better they like them. It is government by fear of change.
The city council elections are coming up in just two weeks. The leaders elected will guide the city for two more years until the next group are up for a vote. But instead of widespread questioning of the candidates the only sound heard are the sheep lining up to be fleeced. For the last few years the people of Danville have been sold a false hope. Hope that more jobs will return. Hope that utilities will decrease. And hope that Danville will revive itself from its Rip Van Winkle sleep. Hope lacking foundation.
Danvillians should jam the candidate forums asking the hard questions of the people seeking the positions. But only a handful of people show up. No hard questions just softball throws from the press. A middle school child could put together the answers to the questions. But why worry? Life will go on as it always has, with no direction, just fear. Fear that someone may actually have a new idea that hasn’t been thought of before. Fear that the candidates might have to answer a real question.
The school board elections? Please…………. A jackass could run and win. Or has one already won? What a pitiful group. They are the biggest collection of failures lacking the basis intellectual standards to move the needle on a brain scan machine. They sit by quietly as the district dies a slow squirming death. The leadership of the district are a collection of misfits who masquerade as administrators. Dumb decision after dumb decision is made and supported by the board. When are the tough questions going to be asked of them? For example why does the city fund the school board at over $6 million above the minimum when example after example can be shown of the board’s complete inability to control spending and stop wasting money? Why does Pittsylvania County produce such better results on one twentieth of the funding? Why have a majority of the district true leaders resigned or retired over the last four years? Why has the board stood by when hundreds of thousands of dollars has been wasted on idiotic purchases, mismanagement, and fraud?
Well I for one refuse to let them get by. I will continue to write about them and the greed they display. They will not slink silently into the night. I will not let apathy win. As Charles Nimitz once said, ”God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.”
People of Danville. Wake up. Throw off the shackles of apathy. Ask questions. Demand answers. Vote like your life depends on it.
Danvillians fear change. Why change it when it is working? Why rock the boat? Leave it alone. Such statements are the thoughts of fearful people. They accept the substandard, the mediocre, the bland. They accept that in their leaders also. The more they blend into the background the better they like them. It is government by fear of change.
The city council elections are coming up in just two weeks. The leaders elected will guide the city for two more years until the next group are up for a vote. But instead of widespread questioning of the candidates the only sound heard are the sheep lining up to be fleeced. For the last few years the people of Danville have been sold a false hope. Hope that more jobs will return. Hope that utilities will decrease. And hope that Danville will revive itself from its Rip Van Winkle sleep. Hope lacking foundation.
Danvillians should jam the candidate forums asking the hard questions of the people seeking the positions. But only a handful of people show up. No hard questions just softball throws from the press. A middle school child could put together the answers to the questions. But why worry? Life will go on as it always has, with no direction, just fear. Fear that someone may actually have a new idea that hasn’t been thought of before. Fear that the candidates might have to answer a real question.
The school board elections? Please…………. A jackass could run and win. Or has one already won? What a pitiful group. They are the biggest collection of failures lacking the basis intellectual standards to move the needle on a brain scan machine. They sit by quietly as the district dies a slow squirming death. The leadership of the district are a collection of misfits who masquerade as administrators. Dumb decision after dumb decision is made and supported by the board. When are the tough questions going to be asked of them? For example why does the city fund the school board at over $6 million above the minimum when example after example can be shown of the board’s complete inability to control spending and stop wasting money? Why does Pittsylvania County produce such better results on one twentieth of the funding? Why have a majority of the district true leaders resigned or retired over the last four years? Why has the board stood by when hundreds of thousands of dollars has been wasted on idiotic purchases, mismanagement, and fraud?
Well I for one refuse to let them get by. I will continue to write about them and the greed they display. They will not slink silently into the night. I will not let apathy win. As Charles Nimitz once said, ”God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.”
People of Danville. Wake up. Throw off the shackles of apathy. Ask questions. Demand answers. Vote like your life depends on it.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Business Rumblings and Briefs
Just an overview and musings of the latest business news in Danville….. Welcome O’Reilly Auto Parts building at the corner of Piney Forest and Audubon..... Mighty fine headquarters for Dodson Pest Service on Memorial Drive….. Bill Stearners HVAC supply company built a new warehouse and sales office on Memorial Drive next to the old Danville Chrysler building….. Harbor Freight, a discount tool store, opening soon on Sandy Court off Piedmont Drive….. Sam’s Club had biggest opening of any Sam’s Club in history, Danville people do buy!..... Its amazing that no one has ever built a restaurant along the river, it would be a great location….. What’s behind the Stratford Inn closing down?..... Heard of a new restaurant/night club going up near NC line ….. Roto-Rooter moving office from Piney Forest by Skatetown to old Dan River trucking terminal on 58 West….. Newspaper in town has been butchering classified ads for weeks with new system, why mess with what isn’t broken?..... New executives at Swedwood all bought homes near Greensboro. What does that say about Danville?..... Warehouse district is really heating up. New young professionals love the lofts….. Ollies Bargain Barn coming to Fairgrounds Plaza…..Perfect Body gym is expanding AGAIN. This time to add basketball court….. Look at the trucks doing work in Coleman Marketplace. Very few Danville area contractors are working there. Perhaps the $8 million given to the developers should have had some stipulations about supporting Danville contractors….. “Its Fashion” moving into new expanded store in Nor-Dan Center…..Lots of places to eat in Danville if you don’t want to use a fork…… The Rosen Group are the new leasing agent for Danville Plaza….. Two new tenants already in Jerry Davis’ strip center on Riverside Drive….. 41 renovations going full steam. That area will be the next development hot spot. Pittsylvania County better plan additional school space quick….. Pittsylvania County wants to close only state store? Go back to math class….. New strip center going up on Westover. Do developers see the empty retail space around town now?..... CVS ready to open at 58 East and Kentuck Rd…… Rumor of another Sheetz going up on 58 East….. Walmart pulls plug on Blairs store. Hopefully just on hold and not killed totally. Ever try to shop in there on the first or third of the month? Why do they only open a few checkouts?..... Sam’s Club has already shown it intends to be a good corporate citizen. Already donated over $5,000 to God’s Pit Crew. Also notice that a lot of Danville service contractors worked on their building…..Rumor that the old hotel at Main and Union will start renovations again….. Shame the old Dimond offices on Bridge Street can’t find a new life…..Wouldn’t the old Carrington Hall on Bridge Street make a good restaurant/music venue with possibly a deck overlooking the Dan River?….. Don’t rule out uranium yet. Its day will come. The more gas creeps up the more it looks as a good alternative….. Danville needs a fast food salad restaurant….. WDVA closing down soon and towers will be removed….. Danville needs a full service real bakery, fresh bread, rolls, pastries, mmmmm….. Till next time—Buy In Danville! ..... Any news send to savetheschools2@aol.com.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
The Big Pie In The Sky
Well the spinners at city hall have really done it this time. After packaging Coleman Marketplace as the “savior of the region” it turns out that Danvillians again have gotten the short end of the stick. Oh we were all told how good this would be for the area, the jobs it would create in construction, the taxes to be charged, etc. etc. Well as always pay attention to the man behind the curtain. The snake oil salesmen are out in force.
It turns out the center is smaller then originally planned due to engineering missteps. Don’t ever use the term “dirt cheap” because it appears that dirt isn’t cheap. Even after moving tons of dirt off the creek bed behind Lowes it turns out it still wasn’t enough so the project shrunk a little. Next came the “jeez that’s a big rock” incident. It appears that despite engineering studies the whole project sits on solid rock. (Anyone who was around when Piedmont Mall was built could have told you that.) So after using over 2,000 pounds of dynamite the mountain won. The project is now a series of different levels which will require shoppers at Home depot to get into their cars move to the Target level then get in their cars again and move to the Marshalls level and so on. Maybe the next store in there needs to be “Mountain Goats R Us”.
Well as a continuation of the Murphy Law they had to rip out a lot of drain pipe that was installed due to inferior materials. This is not even mentioning the multi-million dollar bridge the was built that is barely two lanes wide. Who made that decision? Hmmm now lets see the traffic dumps out at the light at Hobby Lobby which is only about five cars from the Piedmont Drive light. Can you say huge traffic jam? If you want to get to Piedmont Drive be prepared to wait….and wait…..and wait. This must have been the same engineering firm that designed the new intersection at Boxwood Court that will be half a block from the Parker Road light. So all the extra tax money Coleman will generate will be used up on the extra policemen needed to keep the traffic flowing. Sort of like a raccoon trap, you can get in easy enough you just can’t get out!
But the biggest flaw of the project is the down right lie told to everyone about jobs. Check out the trucks doing the work at Coleman Marketplace. See anyone you know? Probably not, they are all out of the area, not Danville contractors. Now someone has to explain to me how a floor tile and ceiling company from El Paso, TX can bid a Danville job cheaper then a large flooring and ceiling tile company located in Danville! We will never know because Danville companies were not even given the opportunity to bid! Concrete contractors from Warrenton, earth movers from Atlanta, plumbers from North Carolina, and electricians from Greensboro. The list goes on and on. Sure a handful of locals were thrown a bone on some small contracts but the majority of the work is being done by out of area contractors. So much for the philosophy of “keep the money in Danville”. Its flowing out faster then the Dan River.
But the icing on the cake is the decision by the local business mafia, the Chamber of Commerce, to only allow Chamber members to bid on service jobs at the complex when it is completed. For years many small business men in this area have shunned the Chamber due to the fact they have never offered any promotion of the small business man. It is a closed club that wants your dues to complete the agenda that they feel promotes their “mission”. The “mission “seems to be to be the “closed shop” mentality of the 1960’s. I recently ran into several business owners who were not members who felt they have been shut out by the Chamber. Where was the Chamber when all the contracting jobs were going to out of area companies? How many of them are members of the Chamber? Let me tell you…..none! Sounds like they are talking out of both sides of their mouth. Why Coleman Marketplace ever gave them the job of collecting proposals for service work is beyond logic. It appears North American Properties knows nothing about Danville and cares not to find out anything. Oh yeah, by the way, they aren’t a member of the Chamber either………………..
But it will open with all the fanfare like Sam’s Club (who by the way tried to use as many local contractors as possible and allows anyone with the best price to bid on their service work). The people of Danville will flock to see the shiny buildings and those new fangled big city stores. They will beat it to death for six weeks then settle back into their normal routines (back to Walmart). And the city officials will thump their chests and roar about all the $5.85 an hour jobs that Danville has brought (to replace the $12.50 and hour average job lost)to the area. All is good they will roar, all is good.
It turns out the center is smaller then originally planned due to engineering missteps. Don’t ever use the term “dirt cheap” because it appears that dirt isn’t cheap. Even after moving tons of dirt off the creek bed behind Lowes it turns out it still wasn’t enough so the project shrunk a little. Next came the “jeez that’s a big rock” incident. It appears that despite engineering studies the whole project sits on solid rock. (Anyone who was around when Piedmont Mall was built could have told you that.) So after using over 2,000 pounds of dynamite the mountain won. The project is now a series of different levels which will require shoppers at Home depot to get into their cars move to the Target level then get in their cars again and move to the Marshalls level and so on. Maybe the next store in there needs to be “Mountain Goats R Us”.
Well as a continuation of the Murphy Law they had to rip out a lot of drain pipe that was installed due to inferior materials. This is not even mentioning the multi-million dollar bridge the was built that is barely two lanes wide. Who made that decision? Hmmm now lets see the traffic dumps out at the light at Hobby Lobby which is only about five cars from the Piedmont Drive light. Can you say huge traffic jam? If you want to get to Piedmont Drive be prepared to wait….and wait…..and wait. This must have been the same engineering firm that designed the new intersection at Boxwood Court that will be half a block from the Parker Road light. So all the extra tax money Coleman will generate will be used up on the extra policemen needed to keep the traffic flowing. Sort of like a raccoon trap, you can get in easy enough you just can’t get out!
But the biggest flaw of the project is the down right lie told to everyone about jobs. Check out the trucks doing the work at Coleman Marketplace. See anyone you know? Probably not, they are all out of the area, not Danville contractors. Now someone has to explain to me how a floor tile and ceiling company from El Paso, TX can bid a Danville job cheaper then a large flooring and ceiling tile company located in Danville! We will never know because Danville companies were not even given the opportunity to bid! Concrete contractors from Warrenton, earth movers from Atlanta, plumbers from North Carolina, and electricians from Greensboro. The list goes on and on. Sure a handful of locals were thrown a bone on some small contracts but the majority of the work is being done by out of area contractors. So much for the philosophy of “keep the money in Danville”. Its flowing out faster then the Dan River.
But the icing on the cake is the decision by the local business mafia, the Chamber of Commerce, to only allow Chamber members to bid on service jobs at the complex when it is completed. For years many small business men in this area have shunned the Chamber due to the fact they have never offered any promotion of the small business man. It is a closed club that wants your dues to complete the agenda that they feel promotes their “mission”. The “mission “seems to be to be the “closed shop” mentality of the 1960’s. I recently ran into several business owners who were not members who felt they have been shut out by the Chamber. Where was the Chamber when all the contracting jobs were going to out of area companies? How many of them are members of the Chamber? Let me tell you…..none! Sounds like they are talking out of both sides of their mouth. Why Coleman Marketplace ever gave them the job of collecting proposals for service work is beyond logic. It appears North American Properties knows nothing about Danville and cares not to find out anything. Oh yeah, by the way, they aren’t a member of the Chamber either………………..
But it will open with all the fanfare like Sam’s Club (who by the way tried to use as many local contractors as possible and allows anyone with the best price to bid on their service work). The people of Danville will flock to see the shiny buildings and those new fangled big city stores. They will beat it to death for six weeks then settle back into their normal routines (back to Walmart). And the city officials will thump their chests and roar about all the $5.85 an hour jobs that Danville has brought (to replace the $12.50 and hour average job lost)to the area. All is good they will roar, all is good.
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