Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow. And it did! A great deal of thanks goes to LaDon at Alliance and his crew for the great job of cleaning off our streets and roads. They are still in the process of snow removal so please be patient as they continue to serve Bowling Green and beyond. I also need to correct a previous article in which I thanked MODOT for their help with striping Business Highway 54. It turns out that Alliance had to take the initiative to rent a striper, buy the paint, and then apply such to the road. Once again, a big thank you Alliance for your care and efficiency in meeting the needs of our water systems, streets, mulching our leaves and limbs, and caring for the compost area. They do so many other jobs beyond listing but a few more are grass cutting and caring for our ball-diamonds and cemeteries, patching and repairing our streets as needed, clearing ditches and culverts, and at the call and needs of our citizens.
When you love what you do, what looks like work to others is simply enjoyable to you. That’s the way I felt about teaching, coaching, and administrating for 45 years. I hope you feel the same about your job! As the new year is just beginning, it’s a good time to assess our attitudes and outlooks on life. Are we the kind of person that people like to be around or are we always negative and grumbling? Laughter and a positive viewpoint have been proven to prolong and improve mental health. Laughter does good like medicine! When our focus is on our job and others where we are trying to do our best for our company and our co-workers rather than ourselves, it is much easier to stay positive.
As a new presidential administration takes over on January 20, 2025, there is “the call” for unity and peace. Peace is not free from conflict. It means work and communication and commitment! It is like a bond or link that connects our lives. It must become a rope that ties and upholds us up and together. When storms come-and they always do-this bond is our ANCHOR, our SOLID GROUND to link us together as a nation and especially as our town. We can tear apart these links, ropes, or bonds with our prejudices and self -focus or we can come together in power and forge UNITY and PEACE. In an increasingly divided world, we can work at unifying and coming together or we can make matters worse.
Bowling Green has accomplished many good things over the years and the way we can continue to do so is to work together, share common visions for our community, communicate and not grumble, and you as a citizen must get involved and have your voices heard! You can elect officials that reflect your ideas and innovations, or you can step up and run yourself to improve our city and what it can offer to its citizens. “It takes a village” is not some simple slogan but a concept of working together to bring unity, collaboration, innovation, and a thriving attitude to make Bowling Green be the best it can be for 2025 and the next generations.
The next Alderperson meeting is January 20th at 5:30 and the next Park and Recreation Board meeting is Wednesday, January 22 at 5:30. Come and see what’s being planned for your city and its components.
Written by: Mayor Jim Arico