Greeks Pizzeria moved into the East Side of Evansville over one year ago, but I still don't think to eat there very often.  Not because the food is bad or the service rude and certainly not because of the location, but it's just not at the top of my eat-out choices.  Monday night I met with some friends and I realized why.

First of all there is no atmosphere, where other Greeks Pizzeria locations seem to have flavor, a buzz, a reason to want to be there.  Every time I go into the Evansville Greeks I half way expect to see batteries on the wall, thanks to the previous tenant.

Next, it took forever to get our food.  This becomes less of a problem when there is atmosphere to enjoy, but with a lack of entertainment and general frivolity I was left staring at my watch.  It took 1 hour to get our food after ordering.  This is waaaaaaay too long, especially without an explanation.

Once I did receive my food it was hot, tasty, and sat just fine on top of the adult beverages I had consumed while waiting.  In my opinion Greeks is good, not great, so it seems to live in a restaurant-choosing purgatory.  Greeks Pizzeria's are independently owned, but is there a reason Evansville is still not listed on the official website?

Traditions are extremely important to me and my family.  Looking back at my childhood, the events that stand out are those traditions that we did as a family each and every year.  One of the first traditions that my husband and I started was to attend the annual Ritzy's Fantasy of Lights.  I will never forget the first year we went, we rode in a mustang convertible with the top down, bundled up in winter clothes, hot chocolate in hand during a snowy evening between Thanksgiving and Christmas.  It was magical.

This year they are hoping to find new sponsors for their huge light show.  I hope they receive all the help they need to maintain their 16th year.  The admission has always been reasonable and the proceeds benefit the Easter Seals organization.

We will be fitting the Fantasy of Lights into our family's busy holiday schedule in a few months.  I can not wait to see the reaction from my 2 year old daughter's face!  One day I will tell her all about mommy and daddy's first visit.  Until then I'll make new family memories by keeping up with our annual visit to Ritzy's Fantasy of Lights, because traditions are what holidays are made of.

It's a biased opinion, but I think our current public servants are dropping the ball big time.  Not all of them, all the time, but enough to make an embarrassment of our fine city.  There has been a lawsuit filed against the city of Evansville for excessive pollution of the Ohio River.  I say excessive because the state permits a small amount of pollution, it's alleged that we've over stepped those boundaries.

What this means for the city of Evansville are extremely steep fines.  According to the Courier and Press these fines can reach up to $37,500, per day!  Weinzapfel replied in a statement that this was bullying by the federal government to exert control.  Sounds familiar.

My opinion is that there have been way too many pet projects over the past 10 years, spending money that should have been put toward sewer and drainage upgrades.  The huge downpour in Evansville on Sept 5th, 2009 is cited as one example of how our sewers lack the volume to handle a lot of rain, thus dumping sewage into the Ohio.  I know the residents of the South Side of Evansville know a little something about down pours and no where for the water to go.

I really don't know if the money being spent on the stadium comes from the same purse as what's used for our Sewers, but it should.  There should be some way to dip into allotted budgets to take care of emergencies, like our sewer problems, to keep Evansville homes and businesses from flooding.

The beginning of fall is always marked by the closing of Holiday World and Splashin' Safari for me. This is my favorite time of year to visit Holiday World. There is just something about going during the cooler weather, when the crowds are gone and the lines are non-existent, that makes it so much fun.

I've had a season pass my entire life and have spent every summer there during the busiest and hottest times. This summer was no exception. I took my daughter almost every week, usually through the week but we did brave a few Saturdays. Holiday World will once again welcome more than a million visitors this year and are on track to set a new attendance record sometime in the next few weeks. However, as the cold weather slowly comes in and their seasons end approaches, for me, the best memories are made. We can ride any ride, over and over again. We can pose in all the "touristy" spots for dozens of pictures. We can be kids and take our time to enjoy the food, weather, entertainment and fun without the stress of crowds and lines.

We are planning on attending on the last day for Splashin' Safari this weekend and then later on the last day for Holiday World to be open. Hopefully the weather will become even more fall-like. We will say good-bye to the last of our summer traditions until the next year by screaming our heads off on the Voyage, posing one more time by the Santa statue, clapping along to one last show all while hopefully wearing a hoodie.

It's really starting to make me sick, reading comments off the Courier Press website and now even WFIE is running a story on the topic.  Are there residents of Evansville really blaming the Evansville Police department for the death of Kyle Parker?

Again the masses are subjected to the out cry of a few hypocrites that can't seem to understand split second decisions.  A police officer choose to pursue a suspect and the suspect decided to try and out run the law.  Unfortunately it ended with the death of Kyle Parker, because of the suspect, Samuel Manley, not because of the actions of the officer.

Manley's vehicle ran into Parker's car at an intersection, a mere 30 seconds after EPD attempted to pull Manley over.  Kyle Parker was killed and Manley apprehended, but now a few Evansville residents are questioning the validity of pursuing suspects.  It's suggested that it's better to let a suspect get away and try to apprehend them later, rather than risk dangering others in a high speed chase.  I don't agree.

Oh sure, it's easy to criticize and make 'what if's' from the comfort and safety from the couch, but law enforcement have to make real split second decisions and live with them.  Would we be having a discussion on how the EPD did not act had the officer not pursued?  Say Samuel Manley simply drove off and had an accident with someone else or shot someone in another crime?

I may not always agree with the EPD, but in these types of situations, they should have our full support.  There should be no 'Questions Raised' simply because an officer was doing what his job dictates, to serve and protect.  Let's support those that deserve it and condemn those that break the law.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Kyle Parker.

I was shocked today to see the announcement of a production for Lord of The Flies, in the Chicago Tribune.  Furthermore, I was even more shocked to find out that the Evansville Civic Theater was going to be putting on a production of Lord of The Flies.

Visions of blood, gore, and regret is all I can imagine when thinking about the 1954 Novel.  However, it's not the book I envision, but the ultimately disturbing movie from 1990.  Keep in mind I was at a very impressionable age when the movie first came out and honestly it left a lasting impression on me.

The new production will be put on in Mesker Park over areas of the Disc Golf course.  I am truly anxious to see how it plays out, no pun intended.  Also, I shall come in costume, complete with war paint and spear.

Links:

Evansville Civic Theater Website

Mention In The Chicago Tribune

Sign A Rama of Evansville, IN is offering a great promotion to local civic and charitable organizations.  This program aims to provide new signage at little to no cost for the institutions that qualify.  Only local businesses need apply, but even if you don't qualify for this special promotion, Sign A Rama can still take care of your signage needs.

Just a few ideas that Sign A Rama can do for your organization:

• Vehicle Decals or the full vehicle wraps. (These are especially eye catching, even just parked out fron. -ed.)
• Identification Signage
• Event Signage

The goal of the Signs of Support program is to ensure that those who need help the most, will get it.  It's obvious that Sign A Rama is dedicated to the city of Evansville and being a resident I appreciate their efforts.  It's not clear exactly how much grant money they have to offer, but I'll imagine demand will be high.

From the Sign-A-Rama website.

Please consider your level of need prior to applying. We have limited funding and hope we can provide help to those of the greatest need and most powerful impact. It is not our intent that organizations who already have funding for their signage needs apply for assistance.

An application can be downloaded from their website or by clicking here.  Remember, this opportunity for free or little to no cost signage provided by Sign A Rama is for the following only.

• Local Non-Profit
• Local Affiliates of Registered Charities
• Local Non-Government Civic Organizations
• Vanderburgh Co. Public Schools
• Warrick Co. Public Schools

This post was provided at no cost to Sign A Rama.