Published Saturday November 21, 2009

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. — Grand Island’s CNH plant announced Friday that the plant was laying off 128 workers because of the downturn in the world economy.  Baasch said the 128 people include 40 temporary employees and 88 hourly employees. The temporary employees will be laid off Dec. 21, the hourly employees Jan. 15.  According to CNH plant manager Bill Baasch, sales in the company’s combine business have dropped.  (read World-Herald article)

But that is only part of the problem.  According to the Farm Equipment magazine, the Italian automaker Fiat, the parent company, is strapped with $6.43 billion of debt that will come due this year.  It is putting pressure on its agricultural equipment unit, CNH Global, to repay a $5.2 billion loan it took from its parent company last year. CNH took the loan from Fiat because of declining business volumes for its products when the U.S. economy slumped.  There will probably be more lay offs unless their global business picks up.  (read Farm Equipment magazine report)

Yesterday I briefly shared an idea with the local arts and humanities council, Moonshell, at their monthly meeting. I didn’t have much time (and wasn’t too coherent still recovering from a weekend cold), but the chair had already conveyed most of my thoughts after our phone conversation of three weeks ago.

Even though I wasn’t asking for anything specific yesterday, there seems to be interest from a number of people on the council in the idea of an arts festival to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Night of the Twisters. My hope is for an exhibit of the plastic arts that focuses on severe prairie weather and the community building that follows devastating storms such as the one in Grand Island, Nebraska on 3 June 1980. Ideally, the entire community would be involved in some way and film, drama and music would also be involved. Maybe we could even get the Dominator to stop by if it’s a slow chase day and involve the National Weather Service out of Hastings.

In all likelihood I won’t be able to move much on the idea until January, but I’m glad the ball is rolling in the right direction.

These days we are consumed with catching H1N1 and various other contagions. I would like to share with you some joy I caught recently.

I was born and raised in Niagara Falls, Ontario. I’m a “border kid”. This means I have spent my entire life crossing the border to the US, back and forth, paying tolls on the US highways. Border kids have spent their entire lives with their mothers dragging them to the US half naked and returning home with so many clothes on we resembled the little boy in A Christmas Story who couldn’t put his arms down, or get up when he fell because his mom had him dressed like the Michelin Man. Yes, we were born and raised smugglers!

I still travel to the US on a regular basis. No, of course I would never smuggle! My sister lives there, my niece lives there and believe it or not I get my hair done there. I have been crossing the Grand Island bridge for as long as I can remember. Paying the toll and getting to the other side. Seldom have I ever heard a peep from anyone taking my $1.00 US. I make it a point to always say “hello” wait for a response and then say “thank you” when they raise the barrier. (I know, it is just bred into my Canadian genes to be polite.) I don’t believe I can remember a time when anyone even met my eyes. There was one time when I hesitated, ever so slightly, and the guy screamed at me “GO!” My passenger was shocked, and asked, “Did that guy just yell at you?” Yes, yes he did. I have always thought this must be one of the worst jobs in the world. These people must really hate their jobs. When I was little I thought these tiny buildings were where they housed all the unhappy people in the United States of America. I was always concerned that if I complained too much about my layers of clothes I would be put in one of these little houses for punishment.

A few weeks back my lovely niece, Hinda, and I went for a run to the US. I wasn’t really paying attention as I pulled up to the booth entering Grand Island so I was really caught off guard when this great big, shiny grin greeted me with a “Hiiiiyaaaa Baaaaabeeeeee!”. I had no control, I grinned back like an idiot in shock. My niece looked a little like a deer caught in headlights and she had a big grin on her face as well. I greeted this friendly woman, and thanked her. “You both have a wonderful day now,” she said as she raised the gate. I hesitantly moved on. I said hesitantly, because I did not want to leave this wonderful woman that could spread such joy. Hinda, who is not a border kid but her mother is, exclaimed “Wow”, and asked if that had ever happened before. Honestly, never! Absolutely never! We had caught it, though. The joy had entered my little Honda Civic and it stayed all day. We laughed, smiled and talked about that lady all day. We told my other niece and my sister. We told pretty much anyone who would listen. For a few days I thought of that woman who obviously loved her job, loved her life, loved people and was just full of joy.

Weeks went by, I crossed the bridge several times…same old, same old. I forgot about my person of “joy”.
This past Monday, my husband and I ventured that way, as we approached the toll I realized I had never told him about the “Joy” lady and started to as he pulled up to the booth, and this face came in the window with a big grin and said, “Hiiiiyaaaa Baaaaabeeeeee!”. He grinned. I grinned. I leaned forward and waved, she leaned forward and waved, and gave me another “Hiiiiyaaaa Baaaaabeeeeee!” My husband pulled away. He said, “Do you know her?”, I said, “no, but doesn’t she make you feel like you are old friends she hasn’t seen in awhile?” We grinned and giggled the rest of the night about it. I phoned Hinda, and told her we had just encountered the “Joy” lady, and she started laughing and talking about her, too.

Other than calling her the “Joy” lady, I have no idea who this woman is. In my opinion she is the best asset the Grand Island Bridge Authority has and she should probably be training all their employees. I will look for her every time I cross that bridge, and next time I will stop long enough to thank her for spreading the “joy”.

-30-

. . . work in retail at some point in time?

I (thankfully) have a part-time job at Kohl’s — after two interviews and a background check — starting tomorrow. I’m also continuing this morning to work on a resume and cover letter for a part-time position with the local homeless shelter. And, if you recall, I’m still working 12 hours a week for Mission Data International.

I don’t know much about the job with the homeless shelter, Hope Harbor. The feasibility of that position in addition to two other part-time commitments will depend on the number and flexibility of hours they have in mind. It does seem like a position I’d be interested in though, one that I’m qualified for and that uses my experience and knowledge for the greater good.

Having three part-time jobs would severely curtail, needless to say, the time I have to devote to my sculpturing. It may be for the best though if we’re able to save up a lot of money quickly, assuming this will benefit long-term goals related to our artistic aspirations — sculpture and being a creative catalyst for me, creative writing and fiber arts for my wife.

Four days of amour not fully embraced:

Swingers event stirs unease on Grand Isle

News of the swingers’ event has sparked controversy on Grand Island, with some residents expressing concern about possible unsanitary activities and public displays of indecency.

UNSANITARY ACTIVITIES? (Laughing…really?)

The “Entice the Falls” swingers event promises “Four Days of Wicked Temptation” for the hundreds of couples from around the world expected to attend, its Web site says.

Wicked temptation? Man, if I only had a partner to swing with, everyone could use some wicked temptation in their life, right?

A member of the Badd Kitty Club, a swingers’ club in Chautauqua County, said people who swing — they prefer to say they engage in “the lifestyle” — are just like everyone else.

“It’s all walks of life. It’s a lot of professional people — teachers, nurses, doctors, lawyers, law enforcement,” said the member, who asked not to be named. “Again, it’s just a lifestyle. People prefer to keep it discreet. It’s not done in front of children.”

I just wanted to mention the Badd Kitty Club on the blog again. And remind people, it’s NOT done in front of children…

A few things going on in downtown Grand Island, Nebraska — other than my father moving his Milestone Gallery to 301 West 3rd Street. First off, Grand Island is getting its very own chocolate bar (website, TheChocolatebarGI.com, not up yet). From what I understand it’s going to be more of a dessert factory than a martini bar, and the chocolates will be more than — thankfully — sugarfied fudge.

A bakery called Just Desserts is also in the works for downtown.

The building two doors down from the upcoming chocolate bar is getting a facelift thanks to grant money. The second and third floors of this building were recently remodeled, turned into lofts.

A new series exploring the clay bodies (namely, bricks) of downtown Grand Island, Nebraska. This building is on Walnut Street.

A beautiful day to be on the golf course – The full gallery is here: http://bmjohnsonphoto.com/giinvite

Last year, I wrote a piece about a Somali worker fired from the JBS Swift Co. in Grand Island. He was fired following a series of disputes in which Muslim Workers at the meatpacking plant sought prayer breaks during Ramadan. You can view my story by clicking HERE.

Below I have reproduced a story updating the situation as this year’s Ramadan approaches.

COMPROMISE SOUGHT ON PRAYER DISPUTE AT US PLANT

by JEAN ORTIZ, Associate Press Writer

Officials at a Grand Island meatpacking plant say they’re taking steps to prevent a repeat of last year when a Muslim prayer dispute set off protests that led to mass firings.

With the Muslim holy month of Ramadan beginning on Saturday, Aug. 22, JBS Swift & Co. officials, Muslim Somali advocates and union representatives say they’re trying to accommodate workers who want to pray at sunset. The plan also is focused on minimizing disruption at the plant.

“We have come to a place where Somalians are better off,” said Yasin Ali, who leads the recently organized Nebraska Somali Community Association, based in Grand Island.

Hundreds of Muslim workers walked off the job and picketed in protest last September, saying they wanted time to pray at sunset and break a daylong fast. Plant management responded the next day by adjusting the work schedule to accommodate them. That fueled a counterprotest in which other workers walked off the job, arguing that Muslim workers were given preferential treatment. Management then ended the accommodations, which sent Muslim workers back to the picket lines.

The company fired 86 workers for walking off the job. It eventually hired back about a dozen.

“I think a lot of people went in last year sort of flying a little blind,” JBS spokesman Chandler Keys said. “Everyone got their eyes opened.”

Talks have been under way since last year to understand what the workers want and need, Keys said. The company remains committed to continuing that dialogue, he added.

He declined to discuss details of any arrangement.

(Published Aug. 17, 2009 – Copyright © 2009 The Independent)

For all of you on the coasts who think there’s nothing to see on the plains:

Took this with my cameraphone this morning on my bike ride. These flowers were all over the banks and bed of the Wood River. The church in the background is part of Stuhr Museum. A church I used to attend held an Easter Morning service in the building some years back.

I also scared up a grouse this morning and had to shoo about 15 turkey off of the trail, near these barns.

I’m getting back into my morning cycling routine, thankfully. Today I took the leg of the Grand Island trail system east from Hall County Park; before today I’d turned around at the park and retraced my pedals back to the loft.

The trail east, the Riverway Trail, basically cuts across the prairie. The ride was great as the morning sun seeped through a dry fog, although the trail ended sooner than I’d hoped. The map suggests Riverway goes another 2.5 miles east as crushed rock. In reality, it ends in a field off of South Locust Street.

Anywho, about halfway in between Hall County Park and South Locust lay this collection of barns.

There are at least three of them — on behind the tree on the left — all wood and concrete block in decent repair. They’re probably being used, but my mind immediately went to how well they would work as a Christian artist retreat.

Central Nebraska has another art farm, although it’s not faith-based like my idea, about 20 miles east of Grand Island. I’ve never been, but I hope to get out to Art Farm Nebraska soon. Some of the residents are preforming and showing off new installations August 15th.

It’s already on my calendar.

One of the recurring topics on this blog has been downtown Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Now that we’ve moved up to Grand Island, Nebraska and are actually living downtown it only makes sense, in my mind, to continue in this same vein in this new (to us) community.

This is the view looking east on Third Street from our living room window. I thought it a bit ironic that just one of the buildings in this block lacks the apparently original(-ish) second-floor facade, and that that building houses an antique mall.

Antique stores are a staple of downtown Grand Island. My father’s business, the Milestone Gallery, joined the cadre of retailers selling old and used items about a year ago. Downtown Grand Island seems to be going in the right direction, although the revivification doesn’t appear as dramatic as in Siloam Springs on account of being a much larger area with many more buildings. More living spaces would help, as would a restaurant that isn’t focused on selling alcohol. A thai place is supposed to be going into the building labeled “Alley Cat” in the photo above. Others have come and gone in the past decade.

More will follow as I meet more of the people living and working in this part of the community.

The building my wife and I moved into the second story of last week was built in 1885, with an addition that basically doubled its size in 1895. We’ve been tearing up some nasty carpet upstairs, and underneath some of it lies this ~115 year old gem:

My father found something he believes to be this same flooring, or a description of this flooring, in a copy of an 1896 Sears catalog he has in his possession. Apparently it’s a handmade precursor to linoleum. Some sort of oil was applied to burlap — I caught a glimpse of the burlap when pulling up carpet in a different room today — and then the flooring is hand-painted. This particular design, in a building that was originally a bank, reminds me of a Piet Mondrian painting.

The photo above was taken in the only room the flooring seems salvageable. At some point it was painted brown and covered with carpet, but that paint seems to be coming off easily enough. We’ll see.

Everything’s out of the truck (and kitchen) and into the basement studio.

Half of the stuff in the photo isn’t mine. The stained glass studio that has occupied the building (since 1995 if I recall correctly) is still in the process of clearing out. It’s made for a somewhat complicated moving situation, but the owners are very personable and we’re all fine with working around each others junk for the time being.

In the very back of the photo you can see a kiln against the wall. My electric kiln will probably sit in the same place, although I might like to put it in the sandblasting room on the left side of the photograph which has some ventilation (even though it isn’t to the outside of the building at this point). That would require moving the 220v outlet, however, and we can’t modify any part of the building in such a way that requires us — or a hired professional — to pull a permit or the city will require us to install sprinklers. I don’t think moving that outlet would require a permit, but I’m not certain. Sprinklers for this building would probably be in the neighborhood of $35,000 based on my previous research. I hope the white cabinet on the right side of the image is left with the building; it will make a nice glaze-crafting station.

My father bought the 19th century building — and will be living upstairs (where we’re temporarily dwelling as well) — for his antique shop.

Our temporary living situation has yet to become very situated — it’s complicated — and we realized tonight we didn’t really have anything to make supper with even though the [small] fridge in the kitchen looked full.

So we went out to Ruby Tuesday’s, one of the few places in Grand Island with a gluten free menu for my wife. There were a couple of little cumulus towers trying to muster up an anvil when we left, but nothing to be really excited about. There were no warnings, or even watches, that I knew of.

The meal went a little long; the kitchen messed up the first plate of my wife’s food (added breaded onions which she can’t eat), and by the time we were halfway through the storms had mustered up a little umph. Another tower built very rapidly behind the stalled out first. As we ate, though there wasn’t must to be seen but the gray underbelly of a supercell. A few bolts of lightning zinged the countryside, but that was about it.

As I waited for the wife to finish her corrected meal I stared out the windows to the north. I saw a tail what was probably 3-5 miles north of us, though didn’t pay it much attention at first. There wasn’t anything that seemed to resemble a wall cloud from our vantage point. However, when I looked back it was more defined, and after staring at it for a minute was pretty convinced it was rotating.

As we watched it became more obvious it was a funnel. It never made it to the ground, but for about ten minutes became longer and more defined. My cameraphone didn’t record enough contrast for it to show up in a capture, but I’d called my sister (another storm fanatic, who had yet to see a twister) and from the south side of town she was able to get this video:

When it comes to my wannabe storm chasing tendencies, I’m not really all that interested in tornadoes. I’d much rather be fifty miles off of a cell, able to watch it grow, catch the light, pierce the cornfields with lightning. But tornadoes played an oddly significant role in my upbringing, and that does come through in my sculpture from time to time.

It’s that time of the year for the summer memories to start – and that may be a little harder this year. It’s getting closer to the 4th weekend and with the economy, everyone is going back to the family parks and avoiding the big-box parks like Disney. even Kennywood is going past the ticket price for most Pittsburghers.

There are a few cool parks out there, three in PA (one struggling and could use the business) and one up in New York that I’d like to mention.

• The first one is Waldameer Park in Erie, PA – There are many perks to this park: Free Parking, Free Entry, Very Reasonable ride all day tickets, separate ride tickets, good prices on food …. and it’s right next to the Lake Erie beaches and Sarah’s and Sally’s. It’s a very cool, traditional, family picnic park with a great new wooden rollercoaster.
• The second one is Lakemont Park (where I’ll probably end up for the 4th of July). Lakemont is another park opened in 1894 with a a great trolley park history. The deals here are amazing ($9.95 ride and slide all day ticket), on the 4th, I believe is $5 all day, etc. The other promotions they do make it well worth the 2.5 hour drive from Pittsburgh.
• The third one in PA is Conneaut Lake Park - Conneaut was once the place I spend every weekend at. Now, and since 1992 it has been struggling hard. That doesn’t mean don’t go there – but go there, volunteer to get some work done, and tell the management you want it the way it was. You can be park of reviving a park that can give families years of great vacations. The town of Conneaut is a wonderful visit also with a well established winery, great antiques store (say ‘Hi” to Bernie if you go there), and of course food and and abundance of weekend yard sales.
• The last one, not in PA, but in Grand Island, NY is Martin’s Fantasy Island. Martin’s isn’t the only attraction. If you don’t know, Grand Island, NY sits right in the middle of the Niagara river … 15 minutes from the American side of Niagara falls. You are on an island with some very scenic bike trails, boating, fishing spots, riverside hotels (many pet friendly), and a short distance from the falls. It’s easy to make a week vacation on Grand Island. The four hour drive is well worth it. You’ll spend half the price here for a week family vacation, and still be able to make everyone in the family happy.

-SWB

PS – Big box is great ….. but ma and pa have the hot sausage sandwiches everyone loves (along with grandmas sitting on benchs with extra ride tickets).