Fast Dancing Guys and Similar Sissies

Like many teen boys growing up in '60s, I had no skills in the art of dating the feminine species. What I learned was largely gained through locker room talk and antiquated social behavior films in health class – both of which were horrible sources of valuable dating advice.

Somewhere along about the seventh grade, my active hormones planted me in the middle of a total fascination with girls. I began to love their lips, their eyes, and all the other more curvy parts of their anatomy. But I remained pretty much a fumbling idiot when it came to honing any swauve actions around girls.

This strange, new, adolescent urge baffled me. These same female classmates had been the "sissies with cooties" we boys had spent so much time avoiding, but now, suddenly, I wanted to hold a pretty girl's hand during the much-anticipated six weeks movie at the end of the grading term. And that tender appendage grasp was about as far as I knew how to take it in junior high.

Upon entering high school, my fascination turned into a total adoration of pretty girls. My young eyes continually confirmed the observation that girls matured so much quicker than most of us boys. Let's just say with each passing day old female playground companions were transforming into my favorite overdeveloped Mouseketeer, Annette Funicello.

By the time they were high school freshmen, not only did girls look more grown up, but they had mastered the talk, the body movements, and many other subtle methods of flirtation. I was very curious of their strange behaviors but their girlish skills left me more curious than ever about their intentions. I didn't have a sister, and my one older brother had long ago left our home since he was twelve years older than I was. I had been left to myself to figure out these overwhelming feminine ways and wiles.

I was pretty much clueless as to how I, a high school male sweating testosterone, was supposed to react with proper form and dignity. I decided to do more firsthand research, but, unfortunately, I found many pretty girls my age were beginning to date older guys, a more attractive source of companionship complete with hot transportation and "big time" experience. You know, the older guys had the wheels and the smooth lines.

Looking back now, it's no wonder so many young girls fell for upper classmen since classmates like me barely had the courage to talk with a “tuff” girl. I would say “hello” to a heartthrob upon which she immediately evoked her super powers to make me mutter, stammer and shake. With my nervous voice and jelly legs, my presence had the effect of a grey, wet blanket, and the friendly little chat of promise turned quickly to silence. 

But there were sports and music to keep me occupied.

Music was my passionate hobby in high school, and my friends and I played in a group that did gigs around town. Those were the days of the English Invasion when rock ruled the charts and when every high school had a garage band or two. Girls liked to watch us practice and play, but our little circle of high school groupies were more like sisters to me than serious dating material.

Still, I found that three chords and a backbeat had quite an effect on girls, often causing them to break into gyrations of glorious motion. The vibrations of rock music animated their bones. And, nothing looked better to me than pretty bones dancing to a fast rhythm. Music definitely helped my popularity and increased my social contacts.

After-game dances were very important events on the high school calendar, social mixers that could potentially lead to “makeout” sessions and steadies. Many of these events featured a local radio DJ and recorded music. Nothing was hotter than a dance featuring DJ Al Mann spinning the hits. There were no elaborate stereo sound systems employed then, just simple mono setups with a microphone and a turntable. But when Al was in the building, he always rocked the house. That meant girls were dancing -- dancing with guys. Sexy girls, hot girls, steamy girls! Oh, them bones!

Still, I, like so many other girl-retarded idiots, enjoyed dancing with the restriction, of course, of “never making a big fool out of myself fast dancing.”

So I spent time at dances watching beautiful girls in miniskirts swinging all their wonderful parts and slow dancing. I was even unsure about the exact commitment a slow dance was to signify, so each trip to the floor was a big deal. My stiff back-and-forth slow dance moves were anything but graceful-- one hand around my partner's waist with my other clasping her hand moving her with a simple sway. “Belly rubbing” that might offend a nice girl was out of the question. Besides, rules banning PDA (public displays of affection) were strictly enforced by the chaperone Nazis.

Fast dances – forget it. Many guys like me lived to watch girls fast dance -- jerk, monkey, skate, boog-a-loo, swim, pony – but we were petrified about shaking our own stuff. This is not to say some boys didn't dance. They did, and they looked as if they were having fun. I just never could get over my fear of possible embarrassment. Playing the guitar in front of a crowd was one thing, but shaking my booty for all to see was another.

High school went by far too quickly as I continued to enjoy playing music, going to dances, and delving deeper and deeper into the mysteries of girls. Just about the time I graduated, I started getting more comfortable with social graces and establishing connections with girls and with potential girlfriends. Still, I just could never work up the courage to fast dance. I began to think I never would.

But, a little later in life, fueled by copious amounts of brew and the arrival of disco fever, I broke the barrier and danced fast. I felt a little silly at first but my date confirmed my movements were “fine.” We danced all night, fast and slow, and I realized what I had been missing. She told me how much she loved to dance with me, and we agreed to go out again.

I think about my past ignorance and the fun I had missed in high school on the sidelines while watching others fast dance. Inhabitions over, I continued to practice my newly discovered means of communication with girls, and I am so glad I did.

To High School Males

Here is my pitch to guys in high school. Almost all girls love to dance fast. If you fast dance, you will actually gain their confidence and strengthen your own. Instead of sitting out the fast dances and feeling self-conscious, you should just ask a pretty girl to dance, walk her to the floor and do your best to keep the beat. She knows “the ropes” and will appreciate your gesture.

Watch your partner because she will lead you. And, make eye contact with her and others on the floor, but don't stare. Feel the movement and go with what people around you are doing. Smile, but don't act goofy. Many people dancing are just as self-conscious as you, so don't worry about people watching you. Even if someone teases you a little, don't worry because you are building your skills. If you don't participate, your girl may think something is wrong with her.

I finally learned to do this by saying to myself, “To me, no guy looks great fast dancing. We all look like amateurs. After all, we're all men in the same vulnerable “boat” with a potential for leaking when it comes to pleasing women. Most girls like to dance. So, we have to get over our self fear, get out there, and confidently move to the beat because we are expected to provide an opportunity for our pretty partners to be centers of attention. No one really cares what we look like when we fast dance anyway. Just remember, we should never make a spectacle of ourselves that takes away from our partner's attractive performance.”

Research For Non-Believers


Research confirms that if a man dances, no matter how good or bad, it tells a woman that he has a healthy amount of confidence. And, of course, the more a man dances, the more confident he becomes. This can be applied to pretty much any social skill. Practice makes perfect. Well, maybe not “perfect” in terms of dance prowess, but it makes a dancer apt to feel comfortable on the floor.

A man who dances tells women indirectly that he likes to try new things and have fun, which says a lot about his character. Most guys who can't dance aren't afraid to confess that they're bad dancers - in fact, it seems like a macho thing to be a guy who doesn't dance - but the “special” ones do something about it. They actually feel better about themselves by developing a little rhythm and movement.

Some research says that dancing for humans could signal whether a male is fit because it requires the expenditure of a lot of energy. These researchers think dance is an honest signal to women of a man's strength and health, just as it is in crabs and hummingbirds.

“It makes sense that women would care about men's ability to dance,” says Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. She continues, "For millions of years, a man with well-coordinated movements of the head, neck, and trunk (which he used when throwing weapons) probably signaled his ability to provide" According to women, the best dancers were those who had a wide range of dance moves and focused on the head, neck and torso (and not arm and leg movements).

Bernhard Fink, PhD., an anthropologist, states, “To ladies, good dancers seem to be more attractive and more masculine. They often see a man who dances well as confident, outgoing, social and conscientious.” On the other hand, some women view men who can't dance as uptight or neurotic. They are particularly turned off by small or slow movements, and by guys who repeat the same move over and over again.

The results from another survey taken from 500 women ages 25 through 60 years old, single and married, shows when a woman knows the pleasure of dancing in the arms of a man, it is next to impossible to settle for anything less. In fact 90% of the women said they could tell what kind of a lover a man would be by the way he danced with her and they could tell his level of sincerity towards her by observing the way he danced with other women. Either he is a player, shy, inhibited or uninhibited, aggressive or passive.

Dancing also shows a man has a certain level of refinement. If a man is masculine but also enjoys the arts as well, he indicates to women he is interested in becoming more than just his job and seeking more out of life than just eating, sleeping and working.

Yet another benefit relates to play. Music and dancing touch a woman in a very profound and unique way. They enable her to let the everyday problems of life seem less significant and help unlock the playful and sensuous side of her personality.

One last word or two of advice. Ask a woman to fast dance before you ask her to slow dance. Think of the intimacy involved and this advice will make some sense. Always be nice and ask her, “May I have this dance.” If she declines, politely thank her anyway. If she accepts, pay special attention to your partner's skill level and never attempt to “outdance” her. Above all, have fun and good luck with finding your Tiny Dancer. 

“Dance first. Think later. It's the natural order.”

-Samuel Beckett

Carol Hieneman Cares: Cleaning Up Messes

Carol Hieneman answered the call. She chose to take it upon herself to better problems in her neighborhood, thus improving conditions in her community and her county. By her actions, she proved her determination to make all our lives in Scioto County a little brighter. In doing so, Carol taught us lessons in civic duty and ethics.

What did Carol do that made an immediate improvement to her neighborhood? Of her own accord, she took on an arduous project of clearing tree branches, brush and vines that infested a lot on Armstrong Avenue, an eyesore two doors down from her home.

You see, Carol and her neighbors had witnessed illegal activity such as prostitution and drug deals on the lot for such a long time that she finally got fed up and took the matter into her own hands. The thick vegetation on the lot offered criminals a perfect shield for a convenient place to commit various crimes. After two weeks of working 8-10 hour days on the project, she cleared the debris that had served the criminals so well.

Carol is no stranger to providing human kindness. Josh Richardson, reporter for the Portsmouth Daily Times, wrote, "The Portsmouth mother of two grown children — known in the neighborhood as The Lawn Lady — typically mows the grass for her elderly neighbors. With such little rain recently she had some time on her hands."

Instead of resting until her neighbors' grass grew tall, Carol decided to do something else constructive – clear that dangerous, overgrown lot.

“When it was all brush, all kinds of illegal activity, you know: prostitution, drug deals. They’d walk up in here and stuff,” Hieneman said. “The kids in the alley could see it happening all the time. People would stop in their cars, get out and do their transactions. I said, by God, I want to see who’s over there.”

Let me pause here. Carol possesses some rare qualities – generosity and the brave, determined spirit of activism at the core of creating improvements to our county. Despite the possibility of retaliation, Carol did something very personal yet very positive for all her fellow neighbors. I believe her concern and her personal actions represent the best solution for bettering life in an area riddled with criminal activity. Let me repeat what she said so that the message is very clear:

Carol Hieneman said,

“I want to see who's over there."

So many people "talk the talk" but Carol did more: She found something she could do to make a difference, and she took it upon herself to do it. Carol Hieneman cleared the ugliness that had been suppressing and endangering those in her neighborhood. Even small children there had been held “captive witnesses” due to their proximity to the past illicit activity. Who knows how much good her relatively simple actions may bring?

Braving poison ivy, contaminated trash and vermin, Carol did the strenuous work herself. She moved the debris and trash to the driveway of a vacant home that sits next to the lot. That house was burned earlier this year in a suspected arson.

She admits she didn't know who owned the land, but that is not because she didn't try to find out. The Times reported: "...she has tried to contact the city for help, but no one responded to her emails. She said she wrote an email to the City of Portsmouth and asked for a dumpster."

Carol said, “They don’t even acknowledge my emails. So I thought, well, eventually they’re gonna have to demolish this (house); they can take all this trash with them."

Again let me pause. Did you understand what Carol said?

 

“Eventually...they (the city)

can take all this trash with time"

This is our civics lesson. No matter the obstacles we face, much like those that face Carol Hieneman, we can take it upon ourselves to help rid our neighborhoods of crime and ugly circumstances that endanger our citizens. If the appropriate officials do not satisfy our simple requests (in this case, a request that helped to relieve them of great hazard), we can still do something ourselves to further the needed improvement. “Eventually” the work will impact even more improvement, and “eventually” the “trash” will be cleaned up.

Trash. Isn't it fitting that Carol uses this term – sometimes the right word just flows perfectly when people are on a mission. “Trash” to Carol is not only the debris she cleared but also the drug activity and prostitution, all of the harmful elements in her environment.

Carol hopes the open space not only helps the crime problem, but also creates an area that may be productive for the city.

My Take

Carol Hieneman, you are no longer known as the "Lawn Lady." From now on, I think you should be addressed as the “True Action Hero” or, perhaps, “Miss Inspiration.” Imagine another 700 or 800 people in our county of 80,000 population doing something truly constructive of their own volition with the spirit of improving the lives of their fellow man.

That, by the way, would be a mere 1% of our folks. In a short time, the total improvement would be staggering. Clean it up, fix it up, make it better, work on it – people could search their mind for their contribution that would make the most meaningful improvement to them and, just as importantly, to their neighbors.

Instead of sitting back and griping in the face of “who wouldn't do what” (And don't we hear a boatload of that?), Carol decided to initiate her own sensible, constructive actions. It's just a pity some of us didn't know about her project so that we could have helped her with her commitment. Encouraging teamwork, supplying the engine, taking personal responsibility, caring for our neighbors, and acting promptly to reduce threats of future problems – Carol, thanks for all the lessons. We all owe you a great debt of gratitude.

 "God grants liberty only to those

who love it, and are always ready

to guard and defend it."

-Daniel Webster

Defending a Written Position and Writing Truths

I am used to defending my position on the prescription drug health epidemic that continues to devastate families in Scioto County. I believe that fighting drug abuse must be the number one concern here if residents hope to secure a better future. Statistics and numbers are readily available about the growth and the extent of the problem. I have posted these facts in many blog entries, and I am quite sure most Scioto residents already know the bitter truth.

I feel great progress has been made through the work of many dedicated local groups and individuals. So, when I say the problem continues, I do not discount the positive work and the great strides that have been made by those who have come to realize the need for prompt action. I am proud that these folks have answered the call and committed themselves to stopping the epidemic. Sometimes we stir up the populace, and I think that disturbance goes with the mission.

Now that all ten pill mills in the county are gone, some residents assume the work of the drug task force is done. It is not. Opiates, heroin, and other substances still plague our area. Those close to the problem knew taking down the pill mills was not going to solve all the maladies of drug abuse. And, certainly, these people understood much more work had to be accomplished in prevention, intervention, and enforcement.

The initial energy required to first expose the problem, then tackle its main strongholds caused some backlash. After awhile, a number of citizens felt a tide of "negative publicity" was bad and demeaning to the county. They had difficulty facing the truth that drug abuse had been responsible for crippling their once pleasant way of life. Others simply didn't believe doctors, pharmacists, and pain clinics could be so crooked.

Their view was understandable considering that most reports focused entirely on the most sensational aspects of drug abuse, namely destruction and death. Unfortunately, the age of yellow journalism has returned: Gore and violence sells, not straight news. One national broadcast actually labeled Portsmouth as "the town where everyone is addicted." I about choked with disbelief myself when I heard this description of my home.

I remember a local radio station fielding calls for a day to gauge whether another national broadcast on Scioto drug abuse had properly portrayed conditions in the county. The callers responded with mixed feelings and many gave reasons they believed the show had overestimated the extent of the epidemic. More than a few were outraged at the description and film of the county.

In other words, some felt that the directors of the broadcast over dramatized real conditions to get higher viewership while others believed people in Scioto purposely influenced the directors to make it appear as if all hope for a bright future had already been extinguished. I can assure you that no one here knew what the program was going to air and that the film crew spent weeks in Scioto filming content of positive work impacting the problem -- it just wasn't shown in the final cut.

I am still vigorously defending my position on drug abuse these days. I understand the constant reports and reminders begin to have a "broken record" effect after so much has been exposed and debated. I hope the "broken record" can be replaced with a "new recoding" of Phase II. The problem has already been exposed and initially met with strong resistance. Phase II calls for the people to amass and come to grips with creating long-term solutions. The so-called "easy work" is done, and now the county faces the "hard work" of continuing improvement and revitalizing resources. One of the biggest obstacles to this is indifference. Many see Scioto in terms of fragmented communities and remain resistant to putting together a cohesive singular group.

I have been accused of overreacting with strong emotion. Some believe I am too sensitive to the threat of destroying work that has been accomplished. Others simply believe my stance is wrong. Controversy and disagreement are partners to any movement worth joining. Anyone who knows me understands that my reactions are my views, and my opinions do not necessarily reflect the consensus of any group or the consensus of the people. I stand upon my right to express my opinion and to think for myself. I represent a single person's view even within the groups to which I have volunteered my service.

I stand guilty of showing emotion, sometimes being headstrong in my defense of what I believe in,
and occasionally playing "the devil's advocate." I do want people to think for themselves, but I also want people to put their interpretation of how to help solve this problem into use. I am not a threat to your contrary beliefs or to your exercise of them. If I rattle your tree, I am not doing so to steal your fruit. Sometimes I am more interesting in finding out how you react to my strong wind than I am in altering your state of being.

The power of the pen continues to amaze me. I don't think people want to admit it, but too many fear any controversy or opposing view the pen creates. Why? People, in general, do not like to acknowledge that the same words can evoke entirely different connotations and many underlying emotions. I am guilty of being a part of that group at times. Aren't you?

That does not deter me from investigating the truth when I write. In speech, people do this all the time. Speech is enriched by gesture, tone of voice, facial expressions, pause, and the chance for immediate correction and/or clarification. All of these things help a speaker make his meaning clear. Speech offers a lot of freedom of simple expression.

But, the written language is captured on the page in bare letters. It stands alone for all to see, ripe for varied connotations and a multitude of "between the lines" interpretations. No one is there to offer immediate clarification of the written word. I understand considering the audience is very important to a writer.

Some writers, however, believe they are so skilled that they write in terms that cannot be denied. I doubt if these people are foolproof when writing their thoughts. I might call your attention to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights for examples of multiple interpretations that are the very crux of our democracy. Writing, due to its conventions, is prone contain errors that can fog meaning.


I have no problem with writing even though some may misinterpret my meaning. I want to further my communications with those people who don't care for what I write. I want to wake some of them up. I want to tell some of them I do not understand their position. I simply want to begin a discussion with others. I don't care when others disagree with my position because I believe in written discourse and the need to clarify meanings on paper. Anyone who believes he or she possesses complete mastery of written thought does little to gain my respect. I have been taught to write with thorough detail to impart specific meaning, yet I am not egotistic enough to claim perfection of that trait of good writing.

So I (and the students I taught) concentrate on Ken Macrorie's dual obligation to truth. According to Macrorie, an honest writer must be true to the realities of the outside world, the real world around him or her, and to the inside world, his or her own thoughts and feelings derived largely from personal experience. To be false to either produces writing that is not "true."

As a teacher of writing, I always valued student writings that upheld this obligation, even those papers with which I disagreed. I learned that opposition opened my mind to the "real world" of a seventeen or eighteen year old. In addition, I found that offering students the freedom to make mistakes in thought and in interpretation produced fluency: The students were able to sustain their honest truths and not worry about conventions more than supported content.

Over and over, the students modified my thinking and over and over, I modified theirs. I refrained from using words like "wrong" and "bad" to describe their efforts. I allowed them freedom to use all language, even "blue" language in characterization and in accurate development of tone. (I became known as the English teacher who let them write "fuck" if the need be and the situation was accurate.)

Class members became brutally honest at times. We fought through disagreements and learned to love someone's mind-changing opposing viewpoint. The students even carried their new-found writing power into the halls of the school and into the homes of the community. We soon found most of our personal "truths" were vital to understanding the world in which we lived. We learned, together, that writing and revising could go on forever but must it stop to meet weekly assignments. I learned to look for the "great sentence" or the great "paragraph" instead of expecting perfection in a paper.

Oftentimes, I need to write much more than a single piece to make someone understand my position. I think I do that often. In fact, the more I write, the more I believe I have to further explain in Chapter Two, Chapter Three, etc. My words are inadequate at times, and I have learned to accept that failure also, no matter how much illustrative writing I do.

So, hey, just let the old fart express his ideas and keep banging on the keyboard. Please tell me how you disagree, agree, or don't give a hoot about what I say. (Do you have any idea about how false "hoot" is to my mood now? Sorry for the fake tone but I think some are recording every expletive I write these days.) Just like John Lennon, I want us all to live in harmony, love, and peace. I better cut this entry now before it sounds dated in '60s schmaltz.

Write, write, write, write... please! Put your words on paper and see what happens. It's something I do all the time. Get serious or lighten up or just write "u$h7&&gsji#@." I don't care. We can save your marks on paper to reread time and time again, and who knows, maybe you will encourage some thinking. I certainly hope so. I'll keep trying to be honest with those dual truths. All I ask is that you do the same. I like many different kinds of ice cream, but I prefer those natural flavors over imitation. To each his own -- just let everyone develop their own tastes.

Public Perception of Scioto County Law Enforcement

"You never change things

by fighting the existing reality...

To change something, build a new model that
makes the existing model obsolete."
              

 -R. Buckminster Fuller

People tend to have very strong feelings about law enforcement in Scioto County. What shapes the public attitude toward law enforcement?  Many things.

The law enforcement profession has always been a tough business. Over the course of a career, law enforcement officers see the best and the worst in humanity. They may be thanked for what they do and then be spit upon not an hour later. Sometimes this leaves officers confused as to how the public they serve feels about them—and consequently, how they feel about the public.

It seems that some stereotypes about the police are resistant to change. (Dennis Rosenbaum, Amie Schuck, Sandra Costello, Darnell Hawkins, and Marianne Ring. "Attitudes Toward the Police: The Effects of Direct and Vicarious Experience" Police Quarterly September 2005 8: 343-365)

But...

Discovering what shapes attitude

toward law enforcement

is crucial to addressing the problem of fixing it.

Some of the Attitude Shapers

1.  Direct encounters with the police.

Unpleasant contacts with the police tend to have a stronger effect than positive contacts. The former tend to lower opinions of the police, while the latter may or may not engender favorable views of the police. Positive contacts with officers do not necessarily translate into favorable attitudes. Newer studies, however, have found that pleasant experiences have a greater influence than researchers originally thought. (D.P. Rosembaum et al. “Attitudes Toward the Police: The Effects of Direct and Vicarious Experience,” Police Quarterly 8. September 2005)

The implication: Every encounter—both pleasant and unpleasant—with the public can greatly affect the community’s level of satisfaction with the police.

When people form opinions of the police based on their interactions, they tend to focus on the process more than the outcome. Impressions of police encounters are influenced by the demeanor as well as the actions of the officer. People pay close attention to the “neutrality of decision making, respectful and polite interpersonal treatment, and … opportunities for input into decisions,” says Tom Tyler of New York University. Researchers often refer to this as a person’s sense of “procedural justice.” (T.R. Tyler.“Policing in Black and White: Ethnic Group Differences in Trust and Confidence in the Police,” Police Quarterly 8. September 2005)

Researchers found that negative encounters have a greater tendency to erode satisfaction with the police when they are citizen-initiated.(D.P. Rosembaum et al. “Attitudes Toward the Police: The Effects of Direct and Vicarious Experience,” Police Quarterly 8. September 2005)

This finding raises the possibility that individuals’ unmet expectations of how the police could or should have assisted them during an encounter may be as influential in forming opinions as the experience itself, regardless of whether citizens or police initiate the contact


2.  Vicarious experience  (i.e., learning that someone else has had a good or bad encounter with the police).

Because most Americans do not directly interact with the police in any given year, they are forming their opinions on the basis of word-of-mouth accounts from others.

Some persons who have had no contact with officers still view police negatively. For example, far more people believe that police verbally and physically abuse citizens than the number who report a personal experience with these actions

An individual’s knowledge of other persons’ encounters with the police may be internalized and vicariously experienced by an individual and may be communicated to yet other friends, family members, and acquaintances amplifying the effect of a initial experience and perhaps reinforcing larger (neighborhood, subcultural) beliefs about the police.

Researchers have rarely explored the frequency and effects of such vicarious experience, but it is likely that minorities are more likely than whites to know someone who has had a negative interaction with the police. (Ronald Weitzer and Steven Tuch. "Rethinking Minority Attitudes toward the Police." National Institute of Justice. Final Technical Report. August 1 2001-October 31 2003)


3.  Residents' initial attitudes about the police

Some people who have had a good interaction with the police still hold very critical views of the police, and experiences themselves may be colored by preexisting opinions of the police (Brandl et al. "Global and specific attitudes toward the police." Justice Quarterly 11:119-134. 1994).

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago found that residents’ initial attitudes toward the police play a critical role in determining their judgments of subsequent experiences and in the formation of future attitudes toward police. (D.P. Rosembaum et al. “Attitudes Toward the Police: The Effects of Direct and Vicarious Experience,” Police Quarterly 8. September 2005)

The challenge for law enforcement officers is to treat each encounter—whether with a suspect, witness, or complainant—as if it is that person’s first contact with police. If he or she believes that the officer was fair and professional, then that person is more likely to have positive impressions of future encounters with police. Making this effort with each and every interaction is an important investment in building goodwill within the community. (Jake Horowitz. "Making Every Encounter Count: Building Trust and Confidence in the Police." NIJ Journal No. 256. January 2007)


4. Mass Media Reporting

Some research has found that attitudes toward police appear to be influenced by media coverage of incidents of police misconduct. These studies document an increase in negative views of the police immediately after news coverage of brutality incidents such as Rodney King or corruption scandals such as the Rampart Division scandal in Los Angeles. (Robert Kaminski and Eric Jefferis."The effect of a Violent Televised Arrest on Public Perceptions of the Police." Policing 21:683-706. 1998)

5. Neighborhood Crime Conditions

Neighborhood crime conditions may affect at least some types of citizen attitudes toward the police—such as overall satisfaction or assessments of the job performance of the police in one’s city and neighborhood. Such conditions include the amount or seriousness of crime, residents’ fear of crime, and personal victimization.

People in low-crime neighborhoods tend to credit police officers with securing and maintaining low crime rates. As a result, perceptions of the police in those neighborhoods are mostly positive.

Living in a high-crime community lowers residents’ approval of the police—whether the measure is residents’ perception of neighborhood crime. (Michael Reisig and Roger Parks.  "Experience,
Quality of Life, and Neighborhood Context." Justice Quarterly 17:607-29. 2000)

In high-crime neighborhoods people who believe that the police are performing their duties with professionalism and integrity are more likely to obey laws and support the system by acting as witnesses.

6. Juvenile Attitudes


Findings support predictions that juveniles’attitudes toward parents and teachers will accurately
forecast attitudes toward police. Understanding juvenile attitudes toward police is a very vital, yet often neglected, area of crime reduction strategy. If law enforcement agents better understood the causes and nature of juvenile attitudes toward police, they may be able to positively influence the outcome of interactions with youths more often and, subsequently, reduce the disproportionate amount of juveniles involved in the criminal justice system.


7. Integrating the "Thin Blue Line" Into General Society

In most parts of the United States, law enforcement officers tend to associate only with other law enforcement officers and their immediate families. Even their families associate mainly with other law enforcement families. The result is a unique societal group with its own norms and practices—one that is susceptible to the phenomenon described by social norms theory.

Knowing this fact gives police administrators the opportunity to take advantage of social science to improve morale within their departments, which in turn positively affects their service to the public.

Understanding that a nationwide misconception exists is the first step toward eliminating it and boosting morale within law enforcement agencies. One concept that can help this cause is called the “science of the positive,” the aim of which is to promote authentic community transformation through the adoption of a portfolio of applied strategies. This concept offers a new twist on social norms theory that may be appropriate for use in law enforcement agencies.

A social norms campaign challenges people’s commonly held perceptions about the environments in which they live and the behavior of their peers, as well as their beliefs about how problems should be confronted. A campaign of this sort informs line officers, supervisors, and administrators of the realities of their respective positions within their communities.

Agencies can improve the reception of such a campaign and reduce the inevitable criticisms of it if they educate key stakeholders and community members about social norms theory and win stakeholder and community support before the campaign begins.

My Bottom Line

The police cannot fully control some of determinants of public satisfaction, trust, and confidence. But, some of the factors are a direct consequence of an individual officer’s actions and demeanor. Therefore, officers should focus their efforts where they can have the most direct impact: in each day-to-day interaction with the public.
The first step in building good relations with the community is to understand and respond to the expectations of people across a range of possible police encounters. Departments might also consider tracking the level of satisfaction through community surveys. This feedback could be used to design police training and intervention programs. It behooves Scioto County police officers to pay close attention to developing what might be called their “bedside manner.”

Many people are dissatisfied with the operations of the Scioto County Sheriff's Office. I believe most of this dissatisfaction is based upon a serious lack of communication. This seemingly lackadaisical attitude permeates attempts to contact appropriate people at the office, then receive a prompt, courteous response to problems that plague our neighborhoods. Phone calls that are not returned and gruff treatment of those in need of help are unacceptable. For too long, citizens have faced frustration when simply asking questions, getting answers, and being served by the Sheriff's Department.

Public image for law enforcement is very important to reducing crime. Granted, nice words and receptive attitudes do not necessarily solve crimes; however, they encourage the public to join in efforts to support the department. Given the opportunity, the public will also become more active themselves with efforts to prevent crime. Citizens expect law enforcement to work with them as part of an important team, not to belittle them or ignore them.

Anyone who knows of Charles "Chief" Horner's activities and service in the Scioto Action Team's efforts to eliminate prescription drug abuse knows he is approachable, understanding, and extremely active. He wishes to create a responsive county law enforcement team, a team that is open and interested in listening to all concerns. He makes no outlandish promises of adding gigantic numbers of deputies or securing a magic means to end all crime because he understands being elected Sheriff as an Independent candidate puts him in a unique position of depending on public input.

I, for one, support Horner because he believes in the teamwork of the community to effectively fight crime. He is open to suggestion, and he listens to people. He understands how crucial interdependence between citizens and enforcement truly is. We can grow a new sheriff's department together that better serves the public and the common good.

A Brief Questionnaire

1. Have you been treated poorly in your direct encounters with the current sheriff's department? If yes, in what manner?

2. Do you hear stories by vicarious experience that the current sheriff's department is not doing its job? If so, what do people say?

3. In a few words, what is your initial attitude towards the current sheriff's department?

4. Have you ever had the current sheriff's department investigate a crime involving physical harm, theft, or property damage?  If yes, how do you evaluate their willingness to solve the crime?

5. We in Scioto County understand we face a serious crime problem. Have you seen a concerted effort over the last four years (not just the 9 months before election time) to solve the problem? If no, why do you think that is?

6. Do juveniles in Scioto hold a healthy anxiety of the current sheriff's department and respect their ability to control the actions of delinquents? If no, why not?

7. Do you feel "the blue line" or a "good old boy" mentality in the current sheriff's department? If yes, in what manner?

8. Do you believe the current sheriff's department does a good job improving conditions overall in our county or "barely enough to get by"? Why? 

9. Do you think its time for a change in the Scioto County Sheriff's Office? If yes, why?

When Will I Ever Learn To "Shut Up"?

If you think you are beaten, you are.
If you think you dare not, you don’t.
If you’d like to win but you think you can’t,
It’s almost a cinch you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost,
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a fellow’s will -
It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you’re outclassed, you are;
You’ve got to think high to rise;
You’ve got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battle doesn’t always go
To stronger or faster men;
But sooner or later the man who wins,
Is the one who thinks he can.

-Anonymous

My father gave me a paper copy of these untitled lines when I was very young. I carried it for decades in my wallet until it became torn and tattered beyond recognition. Every now and then when I was feeling defeated after a sports contest, an attitude adjustment, or a tough setback in my life, I read the words. They gave me hope and comfort, but most of all, the poem gave me determination, will power, and a character trait often assumed excessive and overbearing by many: With my voice and my pen I refuse to "shut up."

At an early age, I had friends who trusted me to speak out about things that were on our minds. They elected me president of my class from my freshman through my senior year in high school. By no means was I the smartest or most talented person in my class, but I accepted their vote of confidence and made a continuous effort to listen to others and voice their constructive opinions.

My friends gave me an opportunity to think and to respond. They allowed me to become a person who understands that dialogue within a team can lead to ironing out problems and putting a “voice” to possible solutions. My friends allowed me to lose some battles while they still trusted me to represent many other concerns. They didn't allow me to speak out because they, themselves, were inarticulate or indifferent. They did so because it merely became my role. We each had “a part to play” in our changing school days of the late '60s.

After high school graduation in 1969, I took this responsibility of “speaking out” into a different arena. I became the director of the West End Tutoring Center. Still dripping wet behind the ears, a church in the West End of Portsmouth hired me for the position because I spoke my mind with clarity. (I was told this later by one of the board members.) In this position I was given the opportunity of operating a program that required good links of communication between needy grade school children and much more affluent high school tutors. I loved the work, and I learned then that the tutors needed and loved the kids as much as the kids needed and loved the tutors.

After attending college and achieving my undergraduate degree in Secondary English Education, I landed a job at Valley High School. Mr. James A. Young, my high school principal, was then superintendent and recommended me for the position. I thought about my love for the man who had put up with my “loud mouth” in high school and who had helped me learn how to formulate my ideas with better sense. After all, our time together had been the days of counterculture and revolution. Mr. Young helped me understand the tremendous worth of morals, values, and correction directly applied when needed. Having him recommend me for the position made me glow.

Sometime later during my first year of teaching (Which, by the way, is a terrifying but essential step on the road to forgetting theory and becoming a good teacher in practice), I talked with Mr. Young about his confidence in me -- a teen more interested in rock and roll, sports, and high school fun than being an exceptional student (I never dreamed as a teen that I would become a teacher.)

Mr. Young related a story to me about when I had stood up for beliefs when a coach had taken me into the principal's office for quitting a high school team. I listened in disbelief as Mr. Young said, “I agreed with you but understood the position of the coach. I've always admired you for speaking your mind and sticking to your guns.” I will never forget him sharing that with me.

In my years of teaching, I encouraged my classes to express themselves and become better equipped at using language to give them power – power in college writings, power in confidently believing their “hillbilly” voices are every bit as intellectual as any other, power to use their language skills to gain income and position. They knew I couldn't keep my mouth shut as their teacher, and I confessed this fault to them many times. I begged them to believe in themselves.

Many of these same students have become everything better than I became, and they continue to amaze me. I love to hear about their lives and their continued accomplishments. They are loving friends of mine, and they have learned far more than I ever have.

You see, I still talk too much about those things of which I am passionate. I tend to be loud and openly emotional. I have broken into other people's conversations, spoken out of turn, and stuck my foot in my large mouth far too many times to count. My hard head has been wrong, and many others have witnessed my stupid actions and deeds. I know I should learn to be quieter, and, ironically, I most respect those who like the character of lawyer Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird speak softly with a few wise words.

But “quiet” is not me. It is not my role on the team. I simply never shut up. I still often spill the wrong words, make a big mess, and then come back to modify my position with the help of a caring group of friendly teammates. I still try to modify these behaviors; however, my mouth and, sometimes, my pen feel useless unless I let my words escape. It's a habit close to 50 years in the making.

Today, I feel the urge to speak about a complicated story expressed to me by uncounted individuals. My voice is getting older, rather ragged and rough at times, yet I know some value exists in strident tones. A clamorous voice can wake people up, make them move, and cause them to consider “just what that racket is all about.” I can't shut up. It's a big part of what I am about. Sometimes it gets me into a lot of trouble and sometimes it seems to help. I will continue to seek refinement, but I'm just not too good at practicing it.

"First learn the meaning of what you say, and then speak."

 -Epictetus, Greek philosopher

What is the CRAVE Crusade? You must be present to win.

CRAVE Crusade is coming into Portsmouth, Ohio Spartan Stadium on June 23, 2012. The event, with its theme "Breaking the Chains of Addiction," will start at 7:00 P.M. Admission is free.

The schedule includes the following:

Evangelist Danny VanGundy, with "To Hell and Back: One Man's Story,"
Special Musical Guest: God's Dirt, and
$500 Giveaway on the night of the event

Christians Reviving America's ValuEs (CRAVE) is a National Not-for-Profit (501c3) Organization founded by Pastor Don Swarthout, who likes to say "We CRAVE Revival in our Churches and the Restoration of Godly Principles in America." Swarthout is president of The Gospel Truth Center,
and founder and president of a gospel radio show on VOTL Radio. He resides in Lexington, Kentucky.

According to Swarthout, CRAVE's goal is to defend the Constitution both in the court system and the everyday lives of the American people. He claims to be responsible for all important decisions of the organization.

CRAVE reportedly writes 1.5 Million letters to Christians in America every year to keep them informed about  the ACLU, abortionists and homosexuals.   The cost of the program is about $600,000 per year.


Pastor Swarthout says CRAVE writes these Christians to inform them about how the Supreme Court and others are stealing their American rights.

The ACLU

Swarthout believes the ACLU is confused. "Let's get it right, you are either for the criminals or you are for the law abiding citizens of America. Terrorists are criminals and so are illegal aliens for that matter," claims Swarthout. He continues, "Apparently the ACLU is more interested in protecting the rights of terrorists and illegal aliens than they are in protecting the rights of law abiding citizens."

CRAVE has called on Congress to hold immediate hearings to expose the ACLU's use of taxpayer money to fund its extremist agenda, and pass legislation to stop this practice at once.

Abortion

Christians Reviving America's Values has also long been a supporter of the Pro Life Movement. The organization cites Genesis 1:28 for support: "God's command to Adam and Eve was to 'be fruitful and multiply; to fill the earth and subdue it.'"

Swarthout says, "It is very clear that God's design for procreation demanded the marriage of one man and one woman. From this sanctified marriage come children who are born into a secure home with a father and a mother to love and teach them how to become healthy, productive and responsible citizens."

Homosexuality

Christians Reviving America's Values supports "Godly marriage as being between one man and one woman. The organization believes American society has also been based upon that belief. CRAVE says, "In the early days of America the Biblical view for God's intentions  are found in Genesis 2:24."

Explaining its stance, CRAVE explains, "Genesis 2:24 says, 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.' Jesus also told us that marriage is an institution designed by God to be a lifelong covenant between a man and a woman."

Terrorism

Don Swarthout says,"With the current, very real, terrorist threat to the New York Subway System, the truth could not be any more obvious. Terrorists and all others who do not respect the American way of life must be stopped in order to protect the life styles of law abiding American citizens."


Swarthout continues, "We also need to wake up to the fact that Islamic Muslims want to come into our nation and to kill us. People keep talking about the peaceful Muslims, but so far I have not met any of Muslims who are peaceful. The Muslims are involved in every war being fought anywhere in the world right now. It is time for America to wake up to the GRAVE DANGER that the Muslim World is presenting to the United States of America and to the world in general."

Illegal Immigration


CRAVE contacted every Senator in the United States to inform them that it stands for the completion of a wall, the fining of employers and the closing of American borders to illegal aliens and to terrorists.

Christians Reviving America's ValuEs  has been active in fighting the continuation of a policy of amnesty and disinterest toward the southern border of the United States by the government. Don Swarthout has been making the case that "if we don't stop this illegal immigration, the cost of welfare, the prison system, education and hospitalization for illegal aliens will continue to erode away the financial well being of the United States."

Oprah Winfrey

Swarthout claims on her television show Oprah Winfrey has been pushing a new book by Eckhart Tolle called A New Earth and taken up preaching as a new pastime. Swarthout believes Oprah has determined in her own "mixed-up mind" there are millions of ways to get to heaven.

Swarthout says, "Oprah Winfrey has in reality just exposed her own lack of understanding about the God of Christianity. God may be a God of love, but he is also a God of justice and judgment."

Swarthout warns,"The point is there are millions upon millions of Christians in the United States who thoroughly believe what Jesus taught in the Bible and for Oprah to come out against that teaching so strongly is simply appalling. Oprah should really stop to think before she goes off preaching her own unfounded beliefs to the world on her show."

Rebecca Chadwick, a news contributor for CRAVE says, "All cults share the same premise; they misrepresent the nature of God. Let's pray for Oprah and Tolle... and all those who are lost."

My Bottom Line

Swarthout on the Portsmouth "Breaking the Chains of Addiction" event: 

"I am proud to announce the first CRAVE Crusade will be held in Spartan Stadium in Portsmouth, Ohio, on June 23, 2012. I have put in place a very strong team to go into Portsmouth to give this city hope with the gospel. CRAVE Crusade will go into Spartan Stadium on June 23rd with the potential to minister to eight thousand people in one night of hope. And our goal will be to hold numerous Crusades in different locations across the nation."

Is Pastor Don Swarthout coming to town to help deliver the area from drug abuse? Or, is Swarthout coming to town to deliver his own agenda? Although I hope Danny VanGundy helps the movement of eliminating drug abuse, I fear a guise, a larger agenda by Swarthout.

I agree with some things Swarthout preaches; however, I cannot commit to his total platform. It bothers me he is the sole policymaker of CRAVE. His interpretations of the Bible and all its principles rule his organization. To me, he seems extremely judgmental, and, at times, illogical.

The finest Christian ministers I have ever met do not claim to be masters of politics, the law, and sensitive societal issues. Instead, they continually pray and seek guidance from God in most temporal matters. Muslims, the Supreme Court, the ACLU, and Oprah occupy very little of my Christian concerns. I do believe Christians should get involved in correcting earthly wrongs, but I respect their personal views as it relates to their different political and social beliefs.

I have adjusted many of my views with the times, and I don't think God is damning me to hell for learning new understandings of peace and love. I do not hate Muslims. I am not against gay marriage. I believe abortion, in certain circumstances, is the right of the mother. I continue to have faith in our laws, in our court system and in our judges. I think many illegal aliens seek freedom because of horrible corruption and conditions across the border. (And, I'm pretty sure I would try to leave too.) And, I certainly, with all my heart, believe that Oprah Winfrey has done more good for humankind in her life than a legion of Pastor Don Swarthouts will ever do.

One last comment -- Why is there a $500 giveaway on the night of the crusade? Could it be that CRAVE has to offer a bribe or an enticement to attract a crowd seeking salvation? I certainly hope some nonCRAVER doesn't win the cash and spend it on unholy material possessions. Why not give the money to local drug prevention efforts or to rehabilitation groups in the county? I guess I'm just not at the right stage of my spiritual life to understand the salvation monetary door prize.

Class Reunion Funnies

It's summer and time for alumni gatherings and class reunions. Many can't wait to renew old high school relationships and find out what other classmates have been doing with their lives. Reunions are intended to be happy social occasions, yet sometimes bitter-sweet memories seem to flood the gatherings.

As a graduating class ages, more and more classmates are lost. And, as the class size dwindles over the years, class reunions represent a time for recollections of people forever gone. Of course, most remember the good times and avoid dwelling upon sad realities. But attendees should be prepared to shed a tear or two.

Of course, the homecomings stimulate human minds ripe to recapture old experiences and strong emotions. Many times, people, giddy and nervous, just bumble conversations as their overstimulated brains send unintended words to their loose mouths. Classmates can fall victim to memories of old vendettas, hopes of renewing personal connections, and inexplicable comments that may be greatly misconstrued.

I thought the post today may be helpful to those who are attending alumni events and class reunions this year. Remember, emotions and memories and alcohol provide a cocktail that breaks down inhibitions. Caution should rule the day. Above all, people must remember how greatly things change.

Here are the Top Ten Things you should never say to someone at your reunion:


10. "So what exactly qualifies as “good behavior” in prison?"

9. "Great! You're a Doctor! Would you mind looking at this rash on my behind?"

8. "Does that grey hair in your ears constrict your hearing?"

7. "Whoa! what happened? You were really hot in school!"

6. "So...like after the reunion....could I crash on your couch?"

5. "OK, really! Your husband/wife never told you about me?"

4. "How sweet of you to bring your dad/mom!"

3. "Really?? That's your real hair?"

2. "My husband/wife is out of town! How about dinner and breakfast!"

1. "Your daughter/son is sooooooo smokin' hot! Did you say she/he is over eighteen?"

Here are the Top Ten Definite Don'ts for the reunion:


10. Don't eat beans before or during the banquet unless you intend on causing a “big stink.”


9. Don't stand next to the drunk guy/girl who lusted over you in high school unless you want a brutal butt massage.


8. Ladies, never attend without wearing a pushup bra so it doesn't look as if life has weighed you down.


7. Show your classmates only 1 or 2 pictures of your kids because after that, they start to drink.


6. Don't ask the principal you called Mr. Dingleberry to write you a letter for your prison probation board.


5. Don't stuff your 40 year old body into the outfit you wore on your first formal high school date.  An exploding button can be a missile that puts a person's eye out.


4. Don't think your old boyfriend/girlfriend still craves your body because he/she told you at the 9th Grade Dance, “Let's make like fabric softener and Snuggle.”


3. Never, ever, ask your circle of friends “Where is our little homecoming queen?” because she is the frumpy little lady standing in earshot right beside you.


2. Don't pole dance, lap dance, streak, or strip unless you want to be arrested for indecent exposure and creating a panic.


1. Don't tell raunchy jokes about sex changes or transvestites even if you've met everyone at the reunion. Looks can be deceiving, and everyone will look better to you after you've had a few drinks.


I think class reunions can be great fun; however, my experience is that they have very little to do about the past and everything to do about the present. Fighting temptations to dwell on times long ago, a wise attendee shares details of his/her life today. The old photos and old memories are good for a laugh but they represent so many different things to different people. We all are guilty of holding some judgments about “the good old days.” But, let's face it, we all change, so chances are who we were in high school is not who we are today. Accepting all changes, we should attend with one guiding purpose -- to show each other love.

A Laugh Is Good

My wife and I were sitting at a table at my 30th high school reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her drink as she sat alone at a nearby table. My wife asked, "Do you know her?"
 
"Yes," I sighed. "She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many years ago and I hear she hasn't been sober since."

 "Oh my goodness!" said my wife. "Who'd think a person could go on celebrating that long?"...see, there really are two ways to look at everything!"

City Relief: Open the Restrooms At Tracy Park!

Portsmouth, Ohio
My Hometown

We have a lovely park in my town utilized by scores of people every day. With its beautiful trees, its stately memorials, its well-constructed stage, and its people friendly features such as a modern playground, comfortable benches, and useful walking paths, Tracy Park is simply one of the best blocks within the city limits. It is the town green for the city of Portsmouth.

I love Tracy Park. I love that it sits in the middle of my town as an open refuge for those seeking a quiet moment, a shaded place to consume a meal, a fun place to play (featuring a"riverboat" playground built by the Portsmouth Kiwanis Club), and a small but useful area to exercise.

A natural gem in an area full of empty businesses and urban decline, the park attracts many weekend gatherings. On Saturdays and Sundays, people meet there for events sponsored by non-profit organizations, musical productions, rallies, and other forms of family entertainment.

The City of Portsmouth offers the use of the park to civic organizations at a very reasonable price. Tracy Park with its electricity, its stage, and all its other amenities is available to citizens on a first come-first serve basis. The organization to which I belong, the Scioto Drug Abuse Action Team, has helped with many events at Tracy such as SOLACE candlelight ceremonies and National Day of Prayer observances. The facilities are outstanding.

I have one concern about Tracy Park. I think someone needs to address the subject of the restrooms there. As with any argument, my position will draw considerable opposition. I am fully aware of some problems that will inevitable result from a change in policy; however, this can be another simple measure, easily taken, that may benefit the common good.

At this time, the public restrooms in the park are locked and unusable during park hours. Promoters of paid special events do receive a restroom key, but the restroom is not open to the public for common use.

With no facilities available to the many men, women, and children who use the park, these people constantly wander to Krogers, Stakers and other nearby businesses looking for relief. Many of these businesses do not have public restrooms, so, naturally, confrontations occur between employees and people using the park. This causes undue problems for retailers.

I think the public restrooms in Tracy Park should be open to the public during designated hours.

OK, let's get all of the cons out of the way first.

(1) Vandalism

I am fully aware of the vandalism that has occurred in the park, particularly the destruction of features of the memorials. I hate vandalism and view it as senseless crime that begs for retribution.
I am certain the city worries about vandalism to the nice restroom facilities at Tracy. The restrooms are locked to prevent damage to these facilities.

(2) Supervision

Who would unlock, maintain, and lock the restrooms after hours? I know the city departments have a "full plate" of responsibilities with very little money to accomplish their work. A city worker would have to be responsible for maintaining the "open" restrooms. This work would be somewhat taxing.

(3) Cost of Operation

Considering the cost of keeping sanitary conditions and items like toilet paper and soap on hand in the restrooms, the city does not want to take on any additional expenses at Tracy Park. Some irresponsible people will surely waste some supplies and dirty the restrooms.

(4) The Bottom Line

Many folks feel too many "undesirables" people Tracy Park. They feel these miscreants cannot be trusted because they are prostitutes, drug addicts, and lowlifes. They would surely spoil the restroom privileges of the responsible citizens by using the restrooms to their advantage. "Bad" people simply do not need a place, paid for by the taxpayers, to relieve themselves.

I will answer these arguments.

(1) How much is vandalism at Tracy Park costing the taxpayers? Does anyone know? Agreed, any cost is too much when crime is involved. Yet, let's be reasonable about the potential loss. It has been my experience that areas decently maintained usually receive a high degree of mutual respect from the public. Vandalism occurs most often at night.


A vandal's greatest threats are the three natural enemies of crime: noise, time, and visibility. With restrooms open only during hours of park operations, the threat of crime decreases. With its proximity to Krogers, Stakers, and several other highly used businesses, the threat decreases even more. Perhaps city law enforcement could help just a few minutes a day with a "presence." They could park in one of the spaces provided there or do a drive-by.

(2) Supervision of the restrooms would not require a full-time commitment by a city employee. The time required to open and close the facilities would be minimal. A trusted person, possibly even a Shawnee student, could handle such responsibilities -- a business or a fine arts major, perhaps? It might be possible to help advance the education of a local citizen with a very small investment in community relations.

(3) Even considering necessary cleaning, the time and money commitment for opening and operating the restrooms would not be excessive. Most park users are considerate, well-behaved people who simply enjoy spending time there. Consider the children who play in Tracy. Opening the restrooms would accommodate parents with small children and with babies. I feel the city should provide facilities for such necessities as changing diapers and cleaning up unexpected "messes" we all know kids make. And, of course, all of us find ourselves in need of restrooms during extended outings.

(4) The public should have restroom facilities as a matter of courtesy. To have the facilities available but locked is pretty offensive. This denial of privileges creates distrust and ill will. Again, please understand that most restrooms in private businesses are closed to the public. I see no problem with that in a business. But, by locking the restroom, the city is essentially saying to its good citizens and to its tourist guests "Welcome to Tracy Park, one of the finest areas we offer downtown, but we DON'T TRUST YOU in the restroom facilities we built for your convenience." Isn't that pretty silly?

I remember some cases of people actually defecating and urinating in public at the park. If my memory serves me well, the fire department actually had to use water hoses to clean the grounds after some of these unsanitary situations that happened not too long ago. Open restrooms would surely have prevented these nasty acts. I'm sure some people still "go to the bathroom" in the natural setting. They continue to create a health hazard.

Reportedly, the Tracy restrooms were even locked during the 2012 TOSRV biking event held there. It is my understanding that some people were allowed to use the restrooms by a person in charge of a key on an individual "unlock-lock back" basis . Preferential? Didn't most bikers have to use the portable "potties" then? Is this the image we should present in a town in desperate need of a positive public image? Gosh, I can still remember our old motto: "Portsmouth -- where Southern hospitality begins." Time changes nearly everything, I guess.

The last question under "Bottom Line" is simply this: Should Krogers continue to be the business with a restroom that accommodates all the people using Tracy Park? I see no reason to put this burden on Krogers, especially when people may not be purchasing items in their store. I give kudos to Krogers for their generosity, but considering the mud and dirt (and maybe... well, you figure it out) that people naturally accumulate in the park, does Krogers (or you) really want shoppers in direct contact with park people when restrooms already exist on the premises of Tracy? I know I don't.

Let's kick the stigma of those in Tracy as hookers, abusers, and losers. Considering compromises that reduce risks, the city should open the restrooms at Tracy Park. To do so would be healthy, sanitary public policy. I think we should take pride in the park, offer all people its amenities for proper use, and maintain its beautiful appearance.

Link to Tracy Park Restrooms

http://howertoneng.com/profiles/2010%20Profiles/City%20of%20Portsmouth%20Tracy%20Park%20Restroom.pdf

"Due to high volume of people visiting Tracy Park in Portsmouth, OH; The City of Portsmouth
contracted Howerton Engineering & Surveying’s professional services to provide site design fora restroom to serve the park. Then the utilities to serve it along with a new concrete sidewalk to access it needed to be designed. Sewer, water, and electric lines were ran from the new restroom and tied into the existing city lines. The scope of the project consisted of mapping out Tracy Park’s existing features: trees, lights, sidewalks, stage, other concrete features, and any other features." Are we getting our money's worth?

Kiwanis Community Playground - Tracy Park

Portsmouth and the Wonderful World of Rotating Trash

Portsmouth, Ohio.
My hometown.

I got tired of playing the "wonder what day is trash pickup" game, so I decided to call the Portsmouth Service Department to find out how to know what day to set out my trash. Due to my apparent ignorance, I had been leaving my trash container on the curb over the last four weekends since I had determined my trash pickup day had changed from Thursday to Friday. I was through with letting it sit there until Monday, sweltering and stinking in the hot weekend sun. I hadn't received any notice from the Service Department about any changes at all.

After the phone calls I made (I relate them later.), I discovered the schedule online. First, let me share the online schedule and some changes I might make in the actual post. Then, I will relate my experience when contacting the Service Department.

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Posted on: January 5, 2012 http://portsmouthoh.org/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=49

Rotating Trash Schedule

                                                                 (cap)          (omission - "is")   

Effective, Monday, January 2, 2012, the city of Portsmouth instituting a new rotating schedule for

                                                                     (unnecessary preposition)
garbage pick-up city-wide which will be in effect through the rest of the year. This change

 (passive voice verb)                                               (wordy)
will be implemented by the Service Department in an effort to maintain current weekly pick-up (as
                                                    
                                                 (parallel structure - infinitive)
per City charter) while, at the same time, bringing some relief to budgetary matters by eliminating

holiday/overtime pay opportunities.

City recognized holidays are as follows:

Jan 2 New Year's Day

                                  (comma omission)
Jan 16 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
May 28 Memorial Day

              (spelling)
July 4 Independance Day
September 3 Labor Day

                (no singular possessive)
November 12 Veteran's Day
November 22 Thanksgiving Day
December 25 Christmas Day

                                (comma omission)       ("pickup" moves, not "day")      (illogical possession)
After each city observed holiday your pickup day will move to one day later. For example: Monday's

        (passive voice verb)                 (no apostrophe?)
trash will be picked up on Tuesday, Tuesdays trash will then be picked up on Wednesday, so on and

(wordy)
so on. This schedule will remain in effect until the next city observed holiday at which time your

pickup day will again be one day later. (No mention made about "No trash pickup on city holidays")

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I live at 2810 Brant Avenue. I think this is my pickup schedule for the rest of 2012.

May 28 - July 4                                Monday
July 4 - September 3                        Tuesday
September  3  - November 12         Wednesday
November 12 - November 22          Thursday
November 22 - December 25           Friday
December 25 - January 2 or 3 or ?   Monday

First of all, I don't see how this schedule satisfies the requirement of "weekly pick-up" (as per City charter). Eight days is longer than a week, and each time the schedule changes, the prior pickup occurs eight days earlier.

Secondly, I called the city service department twice and left messages for a return call (promised by the answering device). I did not get a return call. I am upset that a service agency refuses to return calls promptly. I feel I deserve this courtesy.

Days later, I made a third call to enquire about my trash pickup. The department spokesperson looked up my route and reported "your trash pickup is Monday, but the pickup will change July 4."

"Change again?" I asked incredulously.

She then told me the correct pickup information had been reported by the "Portsmouth Daily Times and by the 'radio.'" I told her I didn't subscribe to the paper and seldom listened to the radio. The person to whom I spoke told me there was "no way" to inform taxpayers of the scheduled changes except through these means.

I asked to speak to a supervisor. He answered and told me pretty much the same information. I asked him why the department couldn't include a pickup schedule, something that would reach all customers, in their earlier mailed billings. He assured me "everybody" knew about the new schedule." I replied that I and many of my neighbors did not know about it, and I asked him if he thought I was a liar. After the second time I asked, he retracted his statement and said, "Well, not everybody knows." I assume he was implying only "idiots" don't know of the changes.

I told him how disgusted I was that better lines of communication did not exist. I explained that I understood budget cuts and money problems but not a lack of responsible concern. Soon, I could sense my feelings were being filed under "troublemaker." Not once in the conversation did the department acknowledge a need to better serve and to be more receptive. I ended the conversation with a plea that all service agencies should be more communicative and more responsive in future endeavors.

Here is my bottom line:

(1) I want the employees of the Service Department to enjoy their hard-earned time off for holidays.

(2) I can adjust to the changing trash pickup schedule.

(3) I appreciate the Service Department's efforts to save money.

(4) BUT, I am sick as hell of asking pertinent questions of public servants and being ignored or treated as if my opinion doesn't count.

(5) AND, I am doubly sick by being uninformed of important matters and left to rely upon word of mouth or upon selective media to give me information.

(6) FINALLY, I am very disappointed that many of our city and county officials do not respond to my concerns with more open minds and receptive voices. I feel "you" work for "me," and that "work" includes learning how to listen and how to resolve problems.

"Another way to lose control is to ignore something when you should address it."  -Jim Evans