THE PONCHATOULA TIMES, SEPTEMBER 23,20010, PAGE 4
FROM PAGE 1
ministration initiative to participate fully in the "Safe Routes to
School" program funded with $425,000 by the Louisiana Depart-
ment of Transportation and Development (DOTD) that is allowing
the city to construct new sidewalks with good drainage and handi-
cap access to initially serve Tucker Elementary and Ponchatoula
Junior High School.
It also involves a major improvement to Pine Street, extending
a modern new sidewalk from the east side to Berryland Shopping
Center.
The city is augmenting the project with sidewalks on North Sev-
enth Street that will allow neighborhoods easier access to Memo-
rial Park.
Mayor Bob Zabbia announced to The Ponchatoula Times on
Monday that a third phase will be proposed for funding, expanding
the current two-phase project along another section of state high-
way in the city, perhaps extending it east along La. 22 or north and
south downtown along Railroad Avenue.
With the state and federal funds comes the mandate for the city
to encourage walking (or bike riding) to school, part of a healthy
America thrust.
Working with local public schools will be Ponchatoula Police De-
partment juvenile officer Carol Wilson and Morris Evans with the
Canadian National Railroad, obviously focusing on safety along
the school routes.
American Life in Poetry
By TED KOOSER
U.S. Poet Laureate, 2004-2006
I love to sit outside and be very still until some little creature
appears and begins to go about its business, and here is another
poet, Robert Gibb, of Pennsylvania, doing just the same thing.
For the Chipmunk in My Yard
By ROBERT GIBB
I think he knows I'm alive, having come down
The three steps of the back porch
And given me a good once over. All afternoon
He's been moving back and forth,
Gathering odd bits of walnut shells and twigs,
While all about him the great fields tumble
To the blades of the thresher. He's lucky
To be where he is, wild with all that happens.
He's lucky he's not one of the shadows
Living in the blond heart of the wheat.
This autumn when trees bolt, dark with the fires
Of starlight, he'll curl among their roots,
Wanting nothing but the slow burn of matter
On which he fastens like a small, brown flame.
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Picnic tables gift
FROM PAGE 1
table designed to accommodate
the handicapped) in Memorial
Park, a gift of the Strawberry
Festival Board.
The gift is paid for courtesy
of Past-Chairman Amy Ed-
wards with funds generated by
the 2007 Strawberry Festival
that she chaired. Festival offi-
cial Jeff Wright was instrumen-
tal in arranging for the gener-
ous gift to the city, according to
Mayor Bob Zabbia.
The four regular tables had
already been deployed at press
time and the handicap accessi-
ble table will likely be delivered
to Memorial Park by the time
you are reading this.
With the recession battering
city finances, the donation was
particularly welcome by the ad-
ministration.
Even though the city dialed
back its expectations for sales
tax revenue because of the
current economy, income from
the tax for August was only
$195,000 (even less than the
lowered expectation of $212,000
the administration was hoping
to collect.
Television news at noon on
Monday was trumpeting some
federal agency's determination
that "The recession officially
ended in June." Yet, no one's
feeling the love in Ponchatoula
,et.
"The person who is really
in revolt is the optimist, who
generally lives and dies in a
desperate and suicidal effort
to persuade other people how
good they are."
G.K. Chesterton
Sombreros preferred
Sombreros of all types can be seen at the Fairgrounds
while Quarter Horse Racing has it's run at the track: Tues-
day, September 21, through Saturday, September 25th.
(Times Photo Chris O'Connor)
Quarter Horses excite
FROM PAGE I
Horse, known as "The World'sThough the horseflesh is fast,
Fastest Athlete" can, for short the spirit of the crowd is re-
bursts reach speeds as high as laxed. The reign of the Quarter
55 miles per hour. Horse brings yet another laid
Well, now I'm a witness. Sat- back rhythm to the loose jazzy
urday, September 18, New Or- vibe that is normally associated
leans at the Fairgrounds, I not with the Big Easy. Today the
only was a witness, I became a dust of the paddock and home
believer and fan of this aspect stretch is tinged with a laconic,
of the sport of horse racing. I cool American polite toughness.
fell for it hard and fast. Clint Eastwood could blend
Positioned on the rail at the in at the Fairgrounds during
finish line for my first race, I the Fall season. And why not?
watched as horses blazed past Even bigger artists have ob-
me at such an extreme gal- served the New Orleans racing
lop that I could not catch their scene. Among them: humorist
numbers. At first, I couldn't Mark Twain, whose wry in-
quite grasp what had just hap- sights on the sport ring true
pened, today; Edgar Degas, whose Im-
I looked at the clock. In those pressionist stature owes much
330 yards the horses I saw - to his horse track paintings,
mind you, on an ordinary race and; the South's great literary
day in the Quarter Horse realm icon, William Faulkner. One
- those horses would have shel- of Faulkner's earliest short
lacked the great Triple Crown stories was written for a local
winner Secretariat. paper "The Double Dealer." It
When I finished bab- captures the sound and the fury
bling, I said to my compan- of betting on the ponies. In fact
ion, "Toto, I have a feeling we the Bard of America, once said
aren't in Kansas anymore." in an interview, "Good art can
That said, The New Orleans come out of thieves, bootleg-
Fairgrounds Racetrack does gers, or horse swipes (grooms)."
currently sport the look of Next weekend's finale on Sat-
Dodge City. urday, September 25 will fea-
When Quarter Horses are in ture the Treme graded stakes
the house you can count on see- followed by the 50,000 Fair
ingstraw Stetsons andWrangler Grounds Challenge Stakes. Try
jeans. Gambler's boots lean on this headline: Illegal Memo-
the rail of the famed paddock as ries, Vrrroom to stalk Martini
they consider the current race's Mountain for $50,000 close to
entries. The contenders are of- Treme."
ten walked around the preview Nowhere else in the world
ring by Waylon Jennings look- dahlin...
alikes while Tim McGraw plays The final week of Quarter
in the background. Horse season begins on Tues-
Much like on the Country day, September 21, witha 12:40
Music charts, the girls can post time and goes on daily un-
be tops in the winner's circle til we bid the Wild West good-
even in a crowded field of boys. bye on Saturday, September 25.
Quarter Horse fillies and mares The Ponchatoula Times will
are quite able to outrun colts have a report on the season, but
and geldings in these amazing don't just read about it in these
sprint races, pages. Treat yourself to a day at
The girls can ride 'era too, the races. Parking and Admis-
Cowboy. Saturday, Septem- sion to the Grandstand is free;
ber 18's rac .s featured smil- it is a kid friendly venue, and
ing, but tougn-: -nails jock- nice-sized hamburgers are only
ey Tammy Smith, for $1.50!
trainer Charles Meiners.
Oh, Mom
Young and old delight at the passing scene of beauty at
the Fairgrounds. While waiting for the gorgeous Quarter
Horses to emerge from the barn and take their turn around
the paddock, this young mother's son said with great an-
ticipation, "Mom do we get to pet the horses?" (Photo Chris
O'Connor)
How to Save Our Schools
Change',
the Leadership
Status quo says:
Our schools cannot
be improved because
we're underfunded.
We need that tax.
We must have $250
million in new taxes.
It's too late to sit
down and talk about
any alternate
solution to the deseg
case.
O
New Leadership says:
Throwing money at problems is not a
solution. NO NEW TAXES.
There are many contributing factors to our
Ihiling schools that could be addressed
without additional funding. NO NEW TAXES.
The School System has millions available in
bondable money. Even if we did need more
money, NO NEW TAXES are necessary.
Continuing this expensive deseg debate, or
adopting this politically motivated deseg
"building program", are UNNECESSARY mad at
your tax dollar expense! Judge Lemelle has
repeatedly said if the two sides bring him
something they both agree on, he will en-
dorse it - mad the plantiffs are willing. It's the
School Board dragging it out telling us on
Sept 7 "it's too late to talk".
Let's quit stalling and get serious about improving our schools!
Vote BETH DAVIS
EARLY VOTING THIS WEEK
Through Sept 25 at REGISTRAR of VO'I'ER'S ()FFICE, CLUB I)ELUXE RI)
8:30 AM - 6 PM Daily except Sunday
More information at www.VoteBethDavis.com
Paid for by Beth [)avis Campaign
A New
Church in the Community
ht Meetings
Reimers Auditorium
*Child care is provided*
III r •
305 E charles St. Hammond, La.
(on the corner of E. Charles and Cherry St.)
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