I was leery as I believe a lot of people were when I first saw the sign that a new daycare was coming to the same facility that was run by people who not only had no business sense but also didn’t have a clue about children.  It was hard getting no notice that Kids Casa was closing and  I know a lot of families were put in a tough position finding a new daycare with no time to look.  This was a blessing in disguise.

 Growing Step by Step has gone above and beyond any expectation I have ever had.  It is NOT an institution setting, it does not employ inexperienced people who have no interest in children, and it is run by a director who is educated and deeply cares about every child and every employee that she puts in place.  This daycare is a true blessing to my family and to the community.  My son who is now 2 1/2 spends his days learning and having fun.  There is no TV in his room with movies continuously playing and only simple toys to play with.  He walks into a fun classroom filled with toys that are not only fun, but also have meaning, and a teacher - who is a certified Montessori school teacher - that loves children.  Each day he learns something new, each Friday he comes home with a bag full of the arts and crafts and worksheets that he has done.  He talks about his day and what he has learned with enthusiasm and pride. 

The greatest thing I did with my oldest son when he was younger was to send him to a 3 year preschool.  It helped prepare him for interacting with other kids and gave him learning that at that time was not present in his daycare.  For my youngest there is no need for me to think about this.  Growing Step by Step is a learning center and I can’t put into words how wonderful it is to walk out the door and know that my son is not only in great hands, but is also learning and having fun at the same time.

The daycare is run on heart, love of children, and an attitude not only by the director but by ALL employees that kids should have fun and can have fun while learning.  If anyone is looking for a quality daycare for their children they should check into this facility.  The staff includes an RN, a Certified Montessori teacher, and educated and experienced women who are smart and love children.  I know that talking to another parent means more than talking to someone who is affiliated with a daycare so please call me if you have any questions, I am happy to share my experiences and answer any questions that I can, 214.831.0965.  The daycare is directed by Krystal Street, 972.924.3435. 

 Sarah Jones

In light of that, one of the major factors I take into consideration when supporting or voting for a candidate is my perception of their stance on paternalism in government.  I do not wish to support someone who feels that it is their place as a legislator to act as a parent towards their constituency.

Given that, and given that everyone who walks into a smoking establishment does so with informed consent to expose themselves to second-hand smoke, I think the health argument is specious.

Practically speaking, 30 years ago it was nearly impossible to find an establishment that even had a non-smoking section.  Today, the opposite is true.  More and more restaurants are choosing to not allow smoking in their at all.  In Anna I count seven dine-in restaurants that disallow smoking to one that does. The issue of non-smokers not having dining choices is off the table. This is yet another example of the market self-regulating without government intervention.

Choice is good.  Choice is great for business.  Where Liberty is concerned, Choice is essential.

The city council has an astonishing power at their fingertips:  The power to take away choice.  I urge them to exercise that power judiciously and with great restraint.

John served the city selflessly for 6 years without pay while sacrificing time with his family and friends.  We’ve organized this little get together as a way for the citizens to show their appreciation for all HonJohn has done for our fine city.

Come one, come all.  Everyone’s invited.  The event will take place this Friday,  5/16 at 6pm in John’s field (3 houses north of the Malt Shop on Hwy. 5)

BYOB.  Lawn chairs and bug spray might be a good idea.

See you there!

This agenda is prepared by the city staff, with the final responsibility for the agenda items resting on the city manger.

Until recently, each City Council meeting contained a standing agenda item for “Future Agenda Consideration” — each council member would be asked in turn if there were any items that they would like to discuss at the following meeting. If a majority of the other council members felt that they did not want to see a proposed item at the next meeting, they could vote to dismiss the request and the proposed item would simply go away.

Now, I don’t think that the city manager was legally bound to honor the request for the future agenda item, but considering that the body requesting the topic is the same body that does his annual review and has the power to fire him, I reckon that agenda items officially requested by the council as a body found their way into the next meeting with stunning regularity.

That brings me to the topic at hand.

A few months ago, a new city manager was hired. Once he got spun up on the whos, wheres, and whyfores of city business, he began to implement some changes to the way city council agendas were built. He did an admirable job of streamlining the flow of the agenda, resulting in much shorter, and presumably more efficient, meetings.

One of items that is now missing from the regular agenda, however, is the one for “Future Agenda Consideration”

Unless I’m missing something (and please let me know if I am,) this is a troubling development that is not getting nearly the attention it deserves.

My reasoning goes like this:

An individual council member has no authority. The council as a body is limited to acting on items on the agenda. The city manager controls the agenda. Therefore, the city manager (a city employee) controls the city council (his boss.)

Not their votes, of course. Just what they are allowed to vote on.

Imagine if you will this scenario:

Councilman: “Mr. Manager, I have some concerns and I’d like to discuss your job performance. Please make an agenda item to discuss these issues at the next city council meeting.”

City Manager: “No.”

Councilman: “Um, ok.”

Am I missing something, or is this A Bad Thing(tm)?

“As the city attorney so nicely pointed out at the Council Meeting in March. The City Council does not need to have the citizen’s approval to change trash services.”

I thought this was worth blogging about because it reflects an attitude that has become far too prevalent at all levels of government.

The city attorney is, of course, absolutely right. The city council certainly doesn’t need (and shouldn’t have) every decision they make subject to citizen approval. That’s part of the process — we elect them and extend to them our trust to make decisions in a manner consistent with our values and needs.

Unfortunately, and at all levels, this is often taken too far. It’s a fine line to walk, to be sure, but I think that when the elected fail to hear the will of the people, or worse, ignore it, it becomes a clear breach of this extended trust.

We put people in office to work for us.

I know that if I did things that weren’t in line with my boss’ expectations I would expect to be fired.

If the People feel that our government is not working for us, they will certainly be fired at the earliest electoral opportunity.

Brave new world

We live in a new world — a world that puts two very powerful tools in the hands of each of us. Those tools are information and the means to be heard.

The internet has brought about a massive societal change. More than ever, the common person has the ability to publish their thoughts, feelings, knowledge, insight, and opinions and have them read.

Gone are the days when, for example, the Anna City Council presides over virtually empty chambers when only a couple of hardcore citizens are in attendance. Gone are the days of the government operating in a black hole.

The past year has brought about not only an increased level of awareness and interest in city business, measured in attendance at Council meetings, but also a platform for those people to report to a wider audience actions taken or proposed that they feel the citizens might have an interest in.

In the past two weeks the Anna Texas Online Forum has received 3,014 visits. Those visitors have viewed 59,231 pages. They spend on average 18 minutes perusing the site.

The People are talking.

The People are watching.

Anna’s Fire Department is holding it’s first annual fundraiser banquet on Saturday, April 19th at the Lone Star Party Barn.

These guys work countless hours a year training and responding to fire and medical emergencies throughout the area - most of them with no pay.

Often they find themselves performing these duties with equipment that is badly in need of repair or replacement. The funds raised at this event will be used to help bolster the coffers of a department whose operating costs extend beyond its relatively small budget.

Dinner, which begins at 5pm, will be catered by The Rib Joint.

Several items will be auctioned off, including a fire helmet painted by artist Paul Zurawski of http://www.firepaintings.com

Tickets are $10 and are available at the fire station, Anna Chiropractic, Texas Star Bank, and Farm Bureau Insurance. Children under 5 are free.

All money raised is tax-deductible, so please come out and help our local volunteer fire department.

For all they do for our city, they deserve the appreciation, admiration, and support of the community.

I think this sentiment is something we can all relate to on some level — those who have been here for generations are hesitant to see the town they’ve grown up in succumb to the ever expanding urban sprawl. Many of those who have moved here in recent years did so because they like the small-town character Anna represents.

Unfortunately, I’ve got some bad news for those who prefer an Anna with more cornfields than developed land: The growth is coming.

(more…)

For those unfamiliar, the “Hackberry Slalom” is the fast and furious dodging of deep, wide potholes in the unpaved section between the old city road and the newer section paved by the developer of West Crossing.

Why, oh why, do we have a 30 foot section of a relatively major road that is effectively nothing more than a pockmarked dirt and gravel road?

The developer paved quite a bit to the west - more than I would expect, really - but why stop 10 yards from the paved section? Why hasn’t the city done more than occasionally toss another truck load of rocks on the ground?

I know that the city isn’t swimming in cash, but really — this is embarrassing, unappealing, and unsafe.

Given that we’ve collected record sales tax payments lately and the fact that the budget was estimated low to account for the possibility that alcohol revenue would be gone, it seems reasonable to assume that there’s a budget windfall that should allow for some road work to be done.

Perhaps the City of Anna should take some of that cash and invest it in laying down some new blacktop.

My vehicle’s suspension would sure appreciate it.

Mr Gaidzunas extols the virtues of My Estrella, Angel Wings, The Malt Shop, Grandys, and the rest — all fine restaurants, to be sure, but one of Anna’s hidden treasures is missing from his list.

I knew there was a little place out on 121 at the edge of town. I had heard people talk about it. I had even met the owner - a charming woman named Mary Valverde. I had not, however, thought to venture out her way — at least until tonight.

The Circle V Country Restaurant played host to KAG’s City Council Candidate Rally where the Valverde family served up an enchilada buffet that was nothing short of fantastic. After only a few bites I was chastising myself for never having been there before.

Each of the several types of enchiladas, the rice, and the phenomenal bean soup were so good they made me want to, as my grandmother was fond of saying, “Jump up and slap my mamma.”*

Looking over the menu I find myself surprised at the variety of cuisine available at Circle V. Their breakfasts include standard American fare such as sausage, eggs, pancakes, and French toast as well as Mexican specialties like chorizo and migas.

Similarly, their lunch and dinner items include a wide cross-cultural variety ranging from grilled cheese sandwiches to fajitas. I’m inclined to try them all.

After dinner or after work you can saddle up to the bar and enjoy an ice cold beer or frosty margarita with friends or peruse the (admittedly somewhat kitsch) items in the country store.

If you’re like me, you may never have ventured out north on 121 to the Valverde family restaurant, but trust me - once you do, your first time won’t be your last.

*Please note: I in no way endorse the slapping of mammas. Or really jumping, for that matter.

Darren R. Driskell
Seat 4
&
Jeff Caponera
Seat 6

Friday March 28, 2008
7:30pm
Circle V Restaurant
12546 State Highway 121 N
Anna, TX 75409
(972) 924-2202

Come meet Darren & Jeff and have an opportunity to hear about their view on issues.

To preview information visit:
www.VoteForDriskell.us
or
www.CaponeraCampaign.com