The muscians were from Bellflower and were very good. The lead singer was a Methodist minister and was accompanied by various members of his extended family. Unfortunately, the concert was marred by an intermittent failure of the electrical system which was due to an old circuit breaker mounted on the electrical pole near the shelter where the musicians were performing.

Behind the shelter where the musicians were performing was a port-a-jonnie that was very visible. The musicans themselves stood on top of a hayrack underneath the shelter which looks like a bombed out airplane hangar. On top of all that, the grass in the park was about 4 inches tall and sorely needed to be cut.

Are you getting the picture? This was not a hoedown being held in Gaptooth, Mississippi. This was the best that the city of Minonk could provide for a concert in the park.

This observation made me feel more than ever the necessity for an adequate facility to provide a place for entertainment, reunions, picnics, and restrooms for the public. I scanned the crowd of 120 people and determined that about 6 families had given money so far to the Westside Park pavilion fund drive. I wondered how many of them were thinking about how nice it would be to have better facilities for a concert.

So far about 90 people have donated to the Westside Park Pavilion fund drive. In 1922 over 550 women donated money to build the old bandstand in the park . I wondered why there is not as many giving money this time around. Perhaps, it is because in 1922 a memorial to World War I veterans struck the emotions much more. After all, the soldiers had died to end the war that was supposed to end all wars. Now we know that wars will never end and I think we are becoming a little bit jaded about the past and cynical about the future.

It is so ingrained in our culture to leave everything to our family in our wills. However, I feel that every person should leave something behind to their local community when they die, especially in small communities. It is one way to make sure that your children will continue to enjoy a strong and vibrant community. I think it would be a good idea for the city of Minonk to set up a special memorial fund that could be the repository of bequests from estates.

The other point to consider is why should we wait until we die before we give our money away? Especially for those who are financially confortable, wouldn't it be preferable to give away some of your estate to a cause in which you can see the results before you die?

The last point I would like to make concerning the Westside Park is the lack of landscaping and the need for new trees. The park has many old elm and soft maple trees that will be coming down in the near future. The city needs to plant new trees in the park so that future generations can enjoy the mature shade trees that we now enjoy.

A month ago I gave Mayor Spencer the application forms for Minonk to become a member of Tree City USA, a program sponsored by the National Abor Day Society. All it requires is that the city set up a tree board and have a tree care ordinance. In addition, the city would have to spend $2 per resident in a tree planting program and have an Arbor Day Observance each year.

I hope that the mayor presents the council with a Tree City USA program. Placing a Tree City USA plaque at the entrance to Minonk will tell visitors a lot about our city. The Westside Park will be a good place to start in planting trees for the future. In addition, Sutton's Park can also use some new trees on the east and south border. I think people found the existing trees at Sutton's Park to be a welcome respite from the heat during the Fourth of July celebration.

I feel that Sutton's Park is a good place to hold the Fourth of July celebration. As previously mentioned, there are more trees for shade than at Veterans Park. Also, it is more accessible to the public and has more space than Veterans Park.

Again, I want to congratulate the Fourth of July committee for their dedication and hard work in putting on a very successful celebration. To see a picture of some Fourth of July volunteers, click here.