Cordially Yours

If anybody's wondering who to nominate for the Chamber's Man of the Year in 2012, I suggest someone with the initials M.M. who works at the CAPC. ...The man has figured out that the CAPC was not created to take tax money and leave it sitting in a bank collecting a tiny interest. MM is spending it wisely, promoting and digitalizing and preserving our town. ...It doesn't sting so bad to pay an extra quarter on a sauteéd salmon lunch to reach almost seven billion people on the planet who aren't yet familiar with our fair city.

This just in from the Galloping Gossip: I've heard tell of some thievery recently ... from people's desks, cars, homes and tool sheds ...and I want it stopped. Somebody who will steal will do anything, so knock it off.

Christmas Parade Friday night, and, yes, I've been obsessed with old hard candy being thrown from fancy cars. ... People who can put Lucas oil in their engines and drive down Spring Street doing the Queen's wave, can certainly provide our 50-year-old children with soft, denture-friendly, tasty cordials.

Speaking of cordial, are city meetings getting more civilized? I'm not one to expose anything nice, but meetings seem to trotting rather than plodding lately, and attitudes have improved.

There seem to be dirty dealings elsewhere, though. An anonymous caller told me a certain accountant was "caught" shredding documents that could pertain to taxpayer money ... but alas, we haven't got Erin Hayes on staff. She was offered $10 an hour to be an investigative reporter here, and given plenty of time to serve notice to ABC, but, as I said ...Alas, Alas, Alas.

... Just so you know, it wasn't the new City Finance Director whose name has not yet been announced, but Ollie's two loonies (dollars to you Yanks) say it's Lonnie Clark.

Don't know about you but I'm heading to the community meeting on Dec. 5 at the Aud. Anything that will improve my economy is a plus.

Meanwhile, if you get dazzled by the Christmas lights and innumerable fundraisers, stay home ... or go see a high school basketball game followed by a glass of unpronounceable wine at the Stonehouse. In fact, have a few.

Then email me at oliverdeplace@hotmail.com.