9/11.... A day to Remember!

Hello everyone......its been awhile. Hope everyone is doing fine. Well today is a day of remembrance. Nine years ago today is a day all of us will always remember.It is hard to believe it has been 9 years. My son was only 3 (in preschool) and my daughter was not even born yet.Now he is 12 ( and I am so proud of him), also, Daddy's little girl is sooooo precious to me! They are the the best!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And what can I say about Re Re. The love of my life. Life would not be happy anymore. She has brought such joy into my life. I do not show her enough that I Love her Very Much. (She still gives me goose bumps.)

Today is an important day,but then again ,everyday is an important day.We should always be thankful for the people in our lives and always remember. Remember not just what happened on that awful day in September,but also always remember your family and why they are so special to us. Be Good and Take Care.

Change

Time seems to be flying by so quickly and I find that the summer season is half over. What seemed to be a controversial event-the construction of new sidewalks on the Public Square is now a memory. In retrospect, I think that much of the construction "panic" was overblown. Such things pass and the result is that the downtown looks better, is more pedestrian friendly and it's beauty is enhanced and because of this, I think value has been added. There has certainly been a change. A change for the positive.

Change can be a hard pill to swallow. You can need it, but you can fear it. Our country, our state our cities and ultimately we as individuals have been faced with figuring out exactly what change can mean. Blame has been thrown at those who create change. We've been told that the change that's happening is the wrong kind of change. There are those who have said we haven't changed enough. We fight change and embrace it at the same time. We crave it, yet admonish it. Change is always with us. Perhaps it is just that this time it's been the amount and frequency that have lately set some of us off balance. Being the prolific creatures we humans are; I'm sure we'll survive it and hopefully be better for it.

So now, I wait for local median construction, road repaving AND the change that it will bring.

A Pollyanna's Hope

It seems to me, and perhaps I am incorrect, that it has been a very wet June so far. Today, the sun shines brightly, but my gratefulness gives way to a mixed bag of anticipation marked by worry and a touch of trepidation.

In spite of the newly constructed sidewalks and the beauty of the day, I still worry about the future. The welcomed investment in the Downtown community is still shadowed by a county unemployment rate of 11.5% and a somewhat questionable economy, resulting in many disgruntled citizens searching and hypothesizing for an answer.

Business could be better-not just for Mitchell's, but for countless other small businesses in Downtown, the state and the country. As times goes on, it seems that just being able to somehow "surf" and survive this economic tidal wave has become the goal. How does one judge when the "wave" has subsided and we have landed safely on terra firma? What are the sign posts?

I am not in the business of economic prognostication. Perhaps it is just the "Pollyanna" in me, but I believe that Downtown Angola is poised on the cusp of a renaissance, but it will be up to the private sector to decide how it all turns out. Sidewalks are just the beginning. It will take hearts and minds to finish the task.

I have met many dedicated, unsung heroes in the downtown area-pushing and striving to make this a better place not just for them, but for our entire community. Some you may have heard of, most probably not. They are business owners, employees, volunteers, friends and neighbors. They dream, they plan and they do. Advancement just doesn't happen, it is coordinated, planned and executed by dedicated individuals who even through adversity, get back to the mission at hand and attempt to "ride the wave".

Our downtown is not just buildings of brick and mortar, but the hearts and souls and the backs of hard working small business owners and those who support them. There are faces and stories behind the new concrete and brick sidewalks. People who believe and dream of a better future and work to make it happen. My hope is that these dreams become reality.

A Break and a Wish

For the first time in a few years, Mitch is going on vacation. I'm excited, but a little nervous. Things always seem to "pop-up" when he's away. Fortunately, Mitch has left the store in more than capable hands and I thank our family members for their work. It is truly the gift of time that they give him. Time for himself. Time for his family. That is precious.

I'm not sure that it is always understood-the type of dedication he has for his business. Times have been a bit tough lately as they have been for so many. The economy. Construction. Morale can be low sometimes, but we do consider ourselves lucky. Mitchell's is still here. The family is intact. We live in a great town and a great country.

I send this wish out to Mitch. I hope you have a wonderful time. I hope you enjoy your break and take advantage of all it can give you. Enjoy yourself. Enjoy your family.

Angola Featured June 9th 5:00pm on Channnel 21 Fort Wayne

Here's a commercial for the feature. Pizza Forum, Mitchell's and Joppa Minerals. Remember to watch Angola featured on "Life's Better Here" on ABC Channel 21 Alive Fort Wayne!

Plants, Sidewalks & Summer Heat

They are finally laying brick in the Northwest quadrant of the Public Square! I'm excited with the prospect of the finished product within the next week or so. My enthusiasm is somewhat dampened by low volume rumblings of the possibility of no flowers in the Public Square by the 4th of July. While I am not 100% sure why this is occuring, I believe that the delay will make the downtown construction feel unfinished even if the sidewalks are done by that date. So, while I try to understand the politics of this possibility, I am a bit saddened by it.

Overall, the construction seems to be rolling along. When it's done there's no doubt that the downtown will be visually appealing, but it will be up to the downtown businesses to take advantage of this marketing opportunity.

This week I spent a few hours with acquaintances, friends, family and complete strangers filling and planting the eight large planters that are distributed around the downtown. I have to applaud those that came to our rescue when we needed to place those planters filled with 300 pounds of compost.

It has been a hot week temperature wise. I'm thankful for the bricklayers who through the weekends and the heat have been faithfully handlaying and cutting the brick for the sidewalks. They are doing a tremendous job and the Northeast quadrant certainly looks wonderful. I on the other hand have suffered a mild case of dehydration and have taken a couple of days this week to recuperate.

I've noticed several people walking in the evenings checking out the new sidewalks. It's good to see people out and about. Not sure if it's the weather or the construction. Perhaps a combination of both.

I still hope things will work out and we'll have finished landscaping on the Public Square by July 4th.

Prom Season and Parrish Excavating Inc.

Those of you who rented tuxedos from us, I'm sure have noticed the hub of activity in front of the store. How could you miss it! We'd like to thank all of you for choosing Mitchell's for your tuxedo needs. We are particularly grateful considering the amount of construction dust that was flying as well as, at times, the absence of parking in front of the store.

The hired construction workers have been FANTASTIC during this busy time for us. They have moved their equipment and stopped what they were doing so that delivery trucks could do their job. They've helped people navigate through the construction. They've listened and done their best to accommodate our business. They have stopped traffic for our deliveries and they even helped carry tuxedos to and from the delivery van.

THANK YOU.