Park District Survey

 The Carbondale Park District has a survey up asking for input on your attitude toward and use of park facilities and functions. Should take less than 5 minutes to complete and would help with the ongoing discussions about the future of the Carbondale Park District, esp as it continues talks regarding the city absorbing Park District functions

Covid-19 Numbers

 Friday Jan. 22 Jackson County 4303 infected, 64 dead, 3974 recovered, Randolph County 3781 infected 68 dead 3592 recovered, Union County1968 infected, 25 dead 1497 recovered and Williamson county 6492 infected 105 dead 3839 recovered.

Friday Jan. 29 Jackson County 4419 infected, 66 dead, 4186 recovered, Randolph County 3876 infected 76 dead 3719 recovered, Union County2035 infected, 25 dead 1895 recovered and Williamson county 6718 infected 109 dead 3983 recovered.

Mary Lous

 Looks like Mary Lou's will not have to pay the $750 fine for seating customers during the restrictions. I would guess that, since the restrictions got eased a few days later, the city has decided the bad press is not worth the effort

Multi Modal Station

 I can see updating/remodeling the Amtrak Station, which conveys the aura of the 1970s quite well and is an atmosphere we really do not need train riders encountering as their welcome to Carbondale but I do not see any huge demand for a station combining the Amtrak Station, bus depot and taxi drop offs. We have two taxis that come to the people who summon them and the past attempts to establish a bus depot have proven not particularly successful. Upgrading the depot yes but ripping down more of the older buildings that give the downtown its charm doesn't seem particularly useful

Cricket

Looks as if the Cricket wireless seller is moving into the old Radio Shack location in Murdale Shopping Center. Not sure if they have closed the S. Illinois location or not.

Reader's Choice Awards

 In case you want to vote in the Southern's Reader's Choice awards, here is the link  Looks to me that, if you want an actual listing in the poll, you had to pay for it, otherwise people have to write you in. If I remember, rightly, I got pitched $200 for a listing in the "collectibles" category.

Covid-19 Numbers

 Friday Jan. 15 Jackson County 4158 infected, 64 dead, 3782 recovered, Randolph County 3709 infected 66 dead 3449 recovered, Union County1914 infected, 25 dead 1310 recovered and Williamson county 6320 infected 103 dead 3552 recovered.

Friday Jan. 22 Jackson County 4303 infected, 64 dead, 3974 recovered, Randolph County 3781 infected 68 dead 3592 recovered, Union County1968 infected, 25 dead 1497 recovered and Williamson county 6492 infected 105 dead 3839 recovered.

City Hall Reopens

 According to this post, Carbondale City Hall reopens to the public at 8 a.m. tomorrow. Bernie is already waiting.

Thai Taste

 According to this post, some low-class potential customers are name calling and harassing the staff at Thai Taste because the restaurant has not opened up for seated dining, still offering only take out and delivery.

Although smarter people will not need a reminder (and I classify you as  a smarter person because you are reading this), Thai Taste is a private business and, absent legal requirements such as the ADA, they are free to act as they see fit. The state has said that restaurants and bars may reopen for seated  without violating regulations but there is no requirement that  restaurants and bars do so. If Thai Taste, out of abundance of caution, wishes to remain closed, the owner is within their rights to do so,  just as, when open, any business is within its rights to require all customers to wear shirt, shoes, pants and mask. Customers, of  course, are free not to patronize that business but to insult the staff just  because they will not allow inside dining shows a pretty low level of crassness.

Chicago Hot Dogs

 "For Sale" sign up in front of the Chicago Hot Dogs building. Of course, that does not mean the business is closing, just that the building and property are for sale. Sound Core has had a For Sale sign in its window for a few months now.

Library Open

 According to this post, the Carbondale Public Library has reopened for limited use. 90 minutes at a time, three times per week and must call in advance to make an appointment.

Restaurants Open

 Took a couple of drives through downtown this week  after dark and noticed the following places offering inside seating:  Trax, Pag's , PKs. That seemed about it although I would expect a few more to open up if cases of COVID-19 keep declining.

QQ Bubble Tea

 After 16 years on S. Illinois, QQ Bubble Tea has closed. The business had a sign in the window last week offering various fixtures for the and a non-committal "good bye " sign. Over the weekend, the owners cleared out everything else and now there is a "For Rent" sign in the window.

COVID-19 Numbers

 Friday Jan. 8 Jackson County 3934 infected, 63 dead, 3578 recovered, Randolph County 3555 infected 60 dead 3262 recovered, Union County1820 infected, 25 dead 1202 recovered and Williamson county 6024 infected 100 dead 3349 recovered.

Friday Jan. 15 Jackson County 4158 infected, 64 dead, 3782 recovered, Randolph County 3709 infected 66 dead 3449 recovered, Union County1914 infected, 25 dead 1310 recovered and Williamson county 6320 infected 103 dead 3552 recovered.

Tier One

 Nope not Pier One. They closed up and moved away awhile ago.  The state announced late yesterday that our region had moved into Tier One mitigation, meaning that infection rates had dropped to a low enough rate that restaurants and bars could reopen with limited seating. Pag's Pizza reopened inside dining last night and Mary Lou's announced they will reopen on the 19th.

Not Fade Away

 ....has faded away. For a number of months signs in the window of one of the storefronts in the 200 block of West Main have announced the eventual opening of Not Fade Away, a tie-die and Grateful Dead  themed shopped. It appears the owner has decided to either not open or move to a different location or online as most of the fixtures and merchandise have been removed.

Mary Lou's Closed

 Mary Lou's has a sign posted on the door indicating that they would close for the immediate future and announce a reopening either on the door or on their Facebook page.  Looks as if they are now offering specials via FB like 16 biscuits and gravy for $25 in limited quantities, which sold out in about 12 hours.

I find it interesting that both Thai Taste and Aban Kitchen, in the same block, are able to do well enough with takeout that they can remain open, while Mary Lou's cannot. Granted the epidemic affected Mary Lou's more than the other two, forcing the restaurant to change its model and start accepting credit cards, which it had resisted for years but still, the other two operate under the same space limitations as Mary Lou's with no outside dining. Maybe because Mary Lou's caters strongly to breakfast diners or because the atmosphere at M;s is a major selling point?

GameStop Closing

 Just got word that the Univeristy Mall GameStop is closing. Last day of operation is Feb 21. Current markdowns are 10-30%. Fixtures for sale too..

Things to Do In Carbondale

 While I don't think the 9 things listed are "fantastic", it is nice to see someone writing appreciatively of things Carbondale has to offer. I was bemused to see visiting the downtown Dairy Queen left off the list as that is the quintessential  summertime Carbondale experience.

Car Accidents

 A surprising number of accidents yesterday. I saw a two car accident on East Main right in front of Woodlawn Cemetery about 4 p.m. and another one car accident at the intersection of East Walnut and Lewis Lane a few minutes later.

Just before that, the fire department got called out to Univeristy mall and had to use its crane to access the top of the newer entrance.

Best Buy Closing

 Carbondale Best Buy will be closing on March 6th. Not all of the retailer's stores are closing  but the company decided not to renew the lease on the Carbondale store.

Covid 19 Numbers

 Sunday Jan. 3 Jackson County 3747 infected, 59 dead, 3418 recovered, Randolph County 3367 infected 53 dead 3149 recovered, Union County1627 infected, 25 dead 1047 recovered and Williamson county 5580 infected 99 dead 3144 recovered

Friday Jan. 9 Jackson County 3934 infected, 63 dead, 3578 recovered, Randolph County 3555 infected 60 dead 3262 recovered, Union County1820 infected, 25 dead 1202 recovered and Williamson county 6024 infected 100 dead 3349 recovered.

Barrett Rochman

 Barrett Rochman, one time owner of the SIUC Sandwich Truck and Fred's Dance Barn, as well as the builder of Jeremy  "Boo" Rochman Memorial Park, better known locally as Castle Park, has passed away at age 77 

DMV

 Expect to wait if you have to visit the Carbondale Department of Motor Vehicles office. Every time I have passed by this week, the line to get in has extended out the door.

Family Video Closing

 Family Video closing all stores. No idea yet when the Carbondale location will shutter and the article does not give any specific dates. It appears going heavily into CBD oil was not enough enough to save the company.

DMV

 DMV reopened today for the first time in over a month. Of course, given that this is the first day in over a month, expect quite a line if you need to visit there.

COVID-19 Numbers

 Friday Dec 25 Jackson County 3517 infected, 54 dead, 3086 recovered, Randolph County 3126 infected 43 dead 2837 recovered, Union County1518 infected, 24 dead 975recovered and Williamson county 5107 infected 99 dead 2952 recovered.

Sunday Jan. 3 Jackson County 3747 infected, 59 dead, 3418 recovered, Randolph County 3367 infected 53 dead 3149 recovered, Union County1627 infected, 25 dead 1047 recovered and Williamson county 5580 infected 99 dead 3144 recovered.

Rep. Bost on Texas Lawsuit

 I got curious as to Rep. Mike Bost's reasoning for signing on to the Amicus Curiae brief in regard to Texas vs. Pennsylvania. so sent his office an email.  In case you want to know, here is his response in full.

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding an Amicus Curiae brief to the Supreme Court in the case of Texas v. Pennsylvania, et al . I signed on in support of this brief, along with 125 of my House colleagues.

     The U.S. Constitution makes it clear in Article II that the Electoral College is to be appointed according to the rules established by each state’s legislature. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, a number of states changed the way that their election was conducted based upon decisions made by governors, secretaries of state, election officials, judges, and private parties. Because of these changes, many Americans have had questions regarding the security of the election. 

     For that reason, I signed onto the amicus brief supporting a call for the U.S. Supreme Court to ensure that this was a fair election and that every legally casted vote was counted. Our republic has been the standard for other nations to follow when holding their own elections. I want to maintain that standard of leadership on the global stage, and in order to do so, we must do everything we can to ensure that the American people have confidence in the system. The Supreme Court decided to not hear the court case, which ended the legal battle in Texas v. Pennsylvania, et al . Rest assured that, as your elected official in Washington, I will do everything I can to ensure our elections are conducted in a fair and secure manner.

    Once again, thank you for contacting me. If I can be of further assistance to you on this or any other matter, please do not hesitate to contact me. I also invite you to visit my website at www.bost.house.gov  or follow me on Facebook (Facebook.com/RepBost) and Twitter (@RepBost). 

Confluence Books

 Nice article on Confluence books in the weekend Southern.  Here is a link to their online catalog if you want to brouse their selection

Restaurants Ticketed

 According to this, 5 restaurants in Carbondale got ticketed this week for allowing inside dining, although Mary Lou's is the only one cited in the story.  Why single out restaurants and not Wal-mart, Lowe's etc? 

Well, as I understand it, and if you know more about the subject than I, please correct me, when you go shopping at Wal-mart, you do not plan to stay there for a long period of time. You go in, shop, moving around as you do so, make your purchases and leave. When you go to a restaurant, bar or gym, you plan on staying there for an hour or two. It is a closed environment and a lot of them do not have great filtration systems. As you sit there or work out, if you are infected, you are breathing the virus into the air. While wearing a mask cuts down the movement significantly, it does not stop movement of the virus completely and, of course, when eating, you take the mask off to eat.

That is why places where we sit or stay for  long periods of time are subject to stricter restrictions than other places.  Outside seating mitigates the concentration of the virus and, of course, with take out and delivery, you do not have to worry about it at all.