Orchids to …
• Kristen Brown for her thoughtful letter on city officials’ motivations for purchasing the FairOaks boondoggle.
• Kristen Brown for her insightful letter, shining a bright light where it needs to be shown, as usual.
• Kristen Brown for an eye-opening letter.
• City councilman Frank Miller, city engineer Dave Hayward and Department of Public Works director Bryan Burton for strip-paving a bad section of North Street, which will save a lot of tires and suspensions.
• neighbor Sean Deak on North Riverside Drive who removed the tall, dead pine tree from his property which overhung into mine.
• Kristen Brown for her letter and caring about the other 97 percent of Columbus.
• Beth’s Dancenter for a wonderful recital — your staff is so positive with all of us, from Caitlyn Koons.
• Barkes, Weaver & Glick Funeral Home for the special memorial service honoring our loved ones, from the Retz family.
• Hotel Indigo for hosting a memorable holiday celebration, from members of the Columbus Chamber and Columbus Young Professionals.
• the people at Kay Jewelers for making me an early Christmas present.
• the wonderful, generous man at Kroger who paid for me and my family’s groceries on Wednesday — Merry Christmas
• Maggie Fox and your beautiful girls — Miley, Abby and Olivia — for the wonderful cinnamon rolls; such a surprise, what a blessing.
• Dylan Patterjew for helping me paint, from Bub.
• everyone involved with the Presidential Parks North Christmas Dinner — the food was delicious and thanks to everyone who worked on it.
Onions to …
• a president who would shut down the government because Americans won’t pay for a wall he promised would be paid for by Mexico.
• supporters who conveniently forget the president who is promising to shut down the government over funding for his ill-conceived border wall previously promised Mexico alone was going to pay for it.
• former elected official who apparently believes it would be good for our community to let FairOaks Mall become another abandoned retail storefront, only much bigger.
• the corporate group that invites union office workers to the Christmas party while not inviting union shop workers during working hours.
• our president for failing to realize that if we build a wall, then the desperate refugees will simply go by boat around either end of our border with Mexico.
• people who are against the wall; I guess they would have no problem leaving their front door open when they’re not at home.
Happy Birthday to …
• Sandra Burton.
• Toshia Burton.
• Susan Kloss, from friends at the Moravian Church.
• Tillie Beier, from your friends at St. Bartholomew Catholic Parish.
Belated Wishes to …
• Carletta White, on No. 62, from Mark, Mom, son, daughter-in-law and the grandkids.
Happy Anniversary to …
• John and Nancy Stivers on No. 55, from John.
• ANOTHER beautiful morning
