EXPANDING THE FIELD … we heard the other day that Sheila Allen has decided not to run for another term on the Davis school board after serving ably throughout her tenure … what we didn’t hear is that Sheila has decided to take a stab at a seat on the Davis City Council … yes, it may seem a bit early to be discussing City Council candidates, but for those of us in the business of occasionally writing about such things, let’s just call this an early Christmas present … as far as I’m concerned, the more candidates, the merrier …

Without question, based on her solid service on the school board, plus her name identification and her proven ability to work with a wide range of sometimes competing constituents, Sheila Allen will be a serious candidate straight out of the chute … besides her long record of public service, Sheila brings a small-town, common-sense, neighbor-next-door kind of appeal that makes her formidable in any sort of local race …

SUPER SUNDAY SING-A-LONG … many thanks to a number of kind-hearted folks, many of whom could actually carry a tune, who showed up outside the East Covell Nugget late Sunday afternoon to sing a few Christmas carols and raise money for a deserving STEAC family as part of the third annual Sing for STEAC fundraiser… a good time was had by all and a tidy sum was raised to make the holidays a bit brighter for a local family … among those participating were City Council members Lucas Frerichs and Dan Wolk, along with the aforementioned Sheila Allen, which means there was almost a quorum present that could have conducted city business on the spot …

NAME THAT STREET … my friend Tony, taking note of our town’s debate over naming streets, writes “There are probably people who wouldn’t want a street named after them.” … amen to that, Tony … in fact, some of those world-famous folks we’ve named streets after, like Picasso, must be wondering what they did wrong in their lives … adds Tony: “Julie Partansky would probably roll over in her grave knowing her name was associated with growth.” … an interesting point …

If anyone deserves a street name, it’s Julie, but you’re right, she might very well have opposed The Cannery project and all the new streets — and new street names — it will produce … adds Tony: “My nomination goes to Herb Bauer, but if it’s a Cannery, John Steinbeck seems to be appropriate, too.” … certainly can’t argue with that one …

EVEN MORE READERS WRITING … Rich at yahoo.com, who knows a thing or two about Davis history, says he is in favor of “honoring the living” with street names, an approach I oppose because of the distinct possibility the person so honored might later in life screw up and embarrass the city we all love …

Writes Rich: “I don’t believe waiting until someone dies in order to honor him gives the honoree any satisfaction in the honor.” … I’m not sure that giving the honoree satisfaction should be the prime reason we name a street after someone … besides, we already have enough big egos walking around town without adding a bunch more … adds Rich: “Even if he is 95 and will be dead in a year or two, I’d rather make the old goat happy while he is still breathing.” …. I’ll say it right now, Rich, I’m against naming streets after goats …

“Most past councils have decided that no one alive should have anything named for him, even if he is in hospice care. However, there are a few exceptions. The Howard Reese Bike path was named for Howard when he was alive; same with the Dave Pelz Overpass and the Tim Spencer Alley.” … true enough, but all three are such solid citizens I understand why the council made the exception … but I can think of few others who are in that category …

— Reach Bob Dunning at [email protected]

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