Published: May 16, 2008 06:49 pm            

GLYNN: Carnival plan surprises local residents

What’s with that carnival at Hyde Park?

That’s exactly what many local residents asked as word spread during the past few days that state Sen. Antoine Thompson’s office was sponsoring a five-day event that extends through the long Memorial Day weekend.

Obviously there’s a time and place for a family-oriented outing and the Hyde Park area, near Sal Maglie Stadium, seems a logical site.

No sooner had the plans been announced when some local residents called WJJL’s talk show program “Viewpoint,” hosted by Tom Darro, to raise questions. Some callers were upset that they hadn’t even heard about it until last week. It’s scheduled to open May 22 and end May 26.

One daily listener — he has answers to every global crisis — was even incensed that people would dream of having a good time on a day when, in his opinion, the nation is supposed to draw a collective breath to honor the war dead.

For the record, countless residents remember the flap a few years ago over the Niagara Falls Community Faire, a late-May event designed to restore civic pride, provide an enjoyable family event and, in a way, to jump start summer.

It didn’t work out for numerous reasons.

Residents close to Hyde Park Boulevard complained then about rowdy youths urinating on their front lawns and tossing beer or pop cans into their driveways. Loud and foul language echoed through the neighborhoods late into the night.

Is that someone’s idea of a family-oriented activity? It’s a sad day indeed in the community when the local police force has to beef up security to protect residents from what should be a pleasant outing with family and friends.

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CLOSE TO HOME: Two Youngstown residents, opponents in the May 20 village board election, live next door to each other.

Trustee Dave Gifford and Steve Suitor live on Glenvale Road.

Gifford and his running mate Fred Stephens are Republicans; Suitor and Raleigh Reynolds, Democrats.

Seldom, of course, do you find party labels on campaign signs anymore. In most cases, especially at the village level, it’s a popularity contest.

It’s always interesting to look closely at the message in campaign material.

For example, Suitor, a relative newcomer to politics, lists youth among his qualifications, maybe a subtle dig at the two GOP candidates, both retired. Suitor also offers, in his words, “energy and a new perspective combined with deep roots in the community.”

Reynolds lists “maturity, business background, community service and independent thinking.”

The two incumbents would argue that they have the time to devote to day-to-day needs that arise and that people with full-time jobs are often preoccupied at the office, unable to address the problems in a timely manner.

On a brighter note, village voters should be encouraged that there are four people who care enough to campaign for two seats in local government.

As you know in many communities the candidates often run unopposed.

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THE FLIP SIDE: A woman leaving Mass at an area Catholic church that had recently merged with another church was asked what she thought of the first service with the combined congregations.

“There were too many people in there,” she snapped at a reporter, “We couldn’t even see the priest on the altar.”

Yogi Berra was right: “No one goes there any more because it’s too crowded.”

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BOOK SIGNING: Ginger Strand, author of “Inventing Niagara,” a new look at how Niagara has changed over the decades, will be at The Book Corner, 1801 Main St., Niagara Falls, from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday to autograph copies, do a reading and present a short slide show.

C-Span, a national cable TV network, is expected to record part of the program.

        

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