Mort and Bicentennial Commons

Today's Journal...

Councilwoman wants to rename park to honor former bicentennial chair

MIDDLETOWN — A city councilwoman wants to honor a man who she said has left an indelible mark on the city.
Councilwoman Ann Mort wants to change the name of Bicentennial Commons, at the corner of Central Avenue and Carmody Boulevard, to the J. Knight Goodman Bicentennial Commons.

THAT'S A NICE GESTURE ON THE PART OF MORT EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE A NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN PAST YEARS WHO DESERVE RECOGNITION ALSO. WHY SINGLE OUT JUST ONE? IS THIS THE RIGHT PRECEDENT TO SET HERE? HAVEN'T HEARD MUCH OUT OF HER SINCE HER COUNCIL APPOINTMENT. WILL THIS TYPE OF THINKING BE REPRESENTATIVE OF HER CONTRIBUTIONS SITTING BEHIND THE COUNCIL DESK, OR WILL WE SEE SOME REAL SUBSTANTIAL IDEAS COMING FROM HER IN THE FUTURE? DIDN'T WE JUST LOSE A "QUIET/GO ALONG WITH THE PROGRAM" MEMBER OF COUNCIL IN TOM ALLEN? WILL MORT BE THE TYPE OF COUNCILPERSON WHO WILL ALWAYS VOTE THE STATUS QUO AND IN SUPPORT OF THE MMF WHILE SITTING SILENTLY AT EACH MEETING, BEING THE GOOD LITTLE SERVANT SHE WAS ELECTED TO BE? NICE, SAFE, INSIGNIFICANT DECISIONS SEEM TO BE THE SPECIAL OF THE DAY FOR THIS COUNCIL. APPARENTLY AFRAID TO TACKLE WHAT THIS CITY REALLY NEEDS.

Bicentennial Commons is a small park area located in near the Great Miami River where events are held throughout the year.

A BIT OF A STRETCH HERE ON THE USAGE THING, ISN'T IT? CAN WE RECALL WHEN THE COMMONS HAD AN EVENT THAT WAS SIGNIFICANT ENOUGH TO ALERT THE COMMUNITY?

The bicentennial projects was “good for the community,” he said. “It brought a lot of people together.”

I'M INTRIGUED BY THIS COMMENT FROM GOODMAN. HOW WAS IT GOOD FOR THE CITY AND HOW DID IT BRING ALOT OF PEOPLE TOGETHER? YOU COULD COUNT ON TWO HANDS HOW OFTEN IT HAS BEEN USED AND WHEN USED, IT ATTRACTED A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE TO ITS LOCATION. A BIT OF EMBELLISHMENT PERHAPS?

Goodman was also involved getting Middletown named an All-America City in 1957 by the National Civic League. He said it took a decade to win the award, but with Cincinnati State planning its campus in downtown he said it can happen again.

CINCINNATI STATE MAY BE THE CATALYST FOR ALL-AMERICAN CITY STATUS? ANOTHER EMBELLISHMENT OF THE SITUATION PERHAPS? I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN AWE OF PEOPLE WITH ROSE-COLORED GLASSES. NEVER UNDERSTOOD WHAT THEY WERE SEEING AND THINKING AS OPPOSED TO THE REALITY OF ANY GIVEN SITUATION. THOSE TYPES OF PEOPLE ARE THE ONES WHO WOULD WHISPER "EVERYTHING IS GREAT" IN THE EAR OF CUSTER AT LITTLE BIG HORN BEFORE REALITY HIT. EVEN IF CINN. STATE HAD AMAZING SUCCESS, HOW WOULD THAT SINGLE EVENT FOSTER INTO BEING CONSIDERED FOR ALL-AMERICAN CITY STATUS? NICE TO SEE MORT AND GOODMAN AS GOOD WILL AMBASSADORS FOR THE CITY AND SEEING ONLY GOOD WHEN SURROUNDED BY POTENTIAL DISASTER, WHICH IS THE WAY THE CITY HAS BEEN OPERATED FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS.   

MIKE P......

"Would setting such a precedent lead to a flood of similar renamings, such as the Lawrence P. Mulligan, Jr. Canal (after the city’s first elected mayor) or the Judith Gilleland Waste Treatment Plant (after the city’s first female city manager)???"

NOW MIKE, YOU JUST NAMED TWO OF OUR MOST ILLUSTRIOUS AND CELEBRATED CITY LEADERS AFTER SITES THAT GIVE OFF ODORS. WAS THAT JUST COINCIDENCE?


"Please recall fuss that resulted when the newly constructed portion of State Route 129 was proposed to be named the “Michael Fox Highway”. As I recall, the state refused to erect signs naming a highway after a living person, and that stretch of road was ultimately named “Veterans Memorial Highway”."

SCOTT NEIN, THEN STATE SENATOR OF THE 4TH DISTRICT INITIATED LEGISLATION TO HAVE THE NAME CHANGED. SEEMS HE AND FOX DIDN'T GET ALONG AND HE USED HIS SENATOR CONNECTIONS TO NEGATE ANY CREDIT FOR FOX WHO INITIATED THE BUILDING OF THE HIGHWAY. GUESS OLE SCOTTY COULD BE VINDICTIVE. NOT TO WORRY. OLD SCOTTY NEIN GOT HIMSELF A CUSHY INSURANCE JOB IN COLUMBUS AFTER HIS SENATOR DAYS AS A REWARD FOR WRITING ALL THAT LEGISLATION TO PROTECT THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY FROM GETTING SUED. KINDA OF A "BEHIND THE SCENES" TYPE OF JOB OFFER.

How are you feeling Pac? Hope everything is going ok for you. Cherish that caregiver wife of yours. Caregivers are worth far more than what society thinks they are worth. Trust me, I know. Ya gotta have the patience of a saint and learn to sacrifice part of your life for another. It ain't easy to give up the freedom you once had.

One day at a time Pac......one day at a time. Same for us.

God Bless

"This is a total P.R. fluff agenda item, no substance"- Stanky

Keep in mind who this suggestion came from. Mort, who is a PR person.


"So what will be next...will other councilmembers want to put forth their own candidates to receive a similar honor?"- Stanky

Perhaps we can ask Mort and company to start naming some sites around Middletown for current councilmembers. I would suggest naming the town dump after the group of city leaders who are taking us there as we speak. Just kidding of course......sort of.



How about naming a Section 8 complex after Adkins and Gilleland who seem to delight in the program's existence. Just kidding....great folks.

We could name some historic buildings after the current crew but alot of them have been bulldozed with, I'm sure, more to come.

All of the above is in jest and do not reflect my true admiration for them.

Bill Donham was a good old boy in city politics. Around many years with many connections. Kinda "untouchable". Bound to happen that he would receive something named after him.

Vet,