Skate Park

 Carbondale could use a skate park. Slabz has proven there is enough demand for one but we need one that skaters do not have to pay to use. I still see skaters on occasion using the Faner Hall breezeway area, despite the efforts of the city to stop them. it would be another activity for tween and high school students. Putting one in has been discussed for several years and the city does have open space available south of the new nameless entertainment venue on East Walnut.

Top City

 According to Yahoo Finance, Carbondale is listed as one of the top 10 cities in the midwest to which to retire if you are living on a fixed income. We have a livability rating of 70 and have the cheapest average rent of any city on the list, although other monthly expenditures are on the high end.

Big Chill

Big Chill closes today for the season so stop by for a traditional Carbondale snack. Will likely reopen for 2025 in February.

Preservation Commission Meeting

 The Carbondale Preservation Commission will meet in the Civic Center next Monday at 5:30. Not much on the agenda save for the following:

Brief overview/summary of current and recent projects:

1. Creation of Northwest Historic District

2. Historical/Architectural Inventory of the Northeast Quadrant

3. Attucks High School Designation

4. Annual Preservation Awards

Appears the Northwest Historic District will complement the West Walnut Street Historic District. I thought the Arbor District might have been designated as a historic district but not according to the city.

Candidate Petitions

 It looks as if three of the candidates for city council, Rye-Sanders, Hill and Reed, did not follow the directions for submitting their petitions for getting on the ballot and former councilman and local businessman Navreet Kang has filed an objection and there will be a hearing by the Municipal Officers Electoral Board at an unspecified date in the future.

Q Massage

 Q Massage has opened up in the University Plaza strip on South Illinois. That, by my count, makes at least 5 Asian massage locations in Carbondale. We must be a really stress filled community.

Little Grassy Lake

 The marina and campground at Little Grassy Lake will close permanently, at least until someone else buys it, on November 24. Despite some misleading comments, the lake, since it is a state operation, will remain open but with only state provided facilities.