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Make It Quick
Justin McDowell sent me the following about Ignite Lincoln. It’s a nifty idea, and I’m sure I’ll have more to say about it in the future. For now, though, I’ll let Justin take the microphone.
Ignite Lincoln is now looking for people who have a passion and love to talk about it. The event features fast-paced, 5-minute presentations, and is turning to the community to provide some enlightened local entertainment.
Lincoln residents are invited to submit presentations about any topic in which they are enthusiastic. Chosen proposals will be presented on stage in front of an audience on April 29 at the Bourbon Theatre.
The Ignite format consists of giving each of the 16 presenters 20 slides that auto-advance every 15 seconds following the motto of “enlighten us, but make it quick.” Speakers can come from all backgrounds, including entrepreneurs, technologists, do-it-yourselfers, creative professionals, and enthusiastic knowledge-seekers.
Past participants have discussed such topics as how to use the local library, saving the whales, and running a business the Mario Brothers way.
Ignite Lincoln is part of a series of global events. Ignite started in Seattle in December, 2006 as a way for people to share their ideas with their local community. Since then, over 200 Ignite events have been shared all over the world. Talks range from playing dirty in Scrabble to being a refugee. This will be Lincoln’s first Ignite.
Presentation topics are due March 1. The event will take place at the Bourbon Theatre, 1415 O Street from 6 to 8 PM. Tickets are free. Full details about Lincoln’s 1st semi-annual event are available at http://ignitelincoln.org/.
If You’re Not Already Sick of Hearing About the Arena…
If you aren’t already sick of hearing about the arena you may want to check out today’s City Council public hearing on the topic. The relevant items from the agenda:
Authorizing the execution and delivery of the Lincoln Haymarket Joint Public Agency Agreement and related documents.
Directing submittal to the qualified electors of the City a proposed general obligation bond issue in an amount not to exceed $25 million for construction of a new Lincoln Haymarket Arena and related improvements at the May 11, 2010 primary election.
Approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Lincoln and the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska with respect to construction of the Lincoln Haymarket Arena, utilizing the JPA for financing and other financial agreements related to Premium Seating, and the subsequent lease of the Leased Improvements to Athletics for the use of its basketball teams for a 30 year term to commence September 1, 2013.
Way to Go, Curt!
With the Winter Olympics fast approaching I’ve been really wondering if a former colleague of mine would be making his second appearance. Sure enough, 10/11 reported yesterday that Curt Tomasevicz will compete in bobsledding in Vancouver. Curt is from Shelby and is a former Husker football player. I met Curt several years ago through our local baseball umpire association.
Curt will compete in the 4-man competition on February 26 and 27. I have no idea how much coverage NBC is going to give to the bobsledding competitions. My guess is they will show a portion of the February 27th events, but that’s only a guess.
Are there any other Olympians with whom you have ties, or who have ties to Lincoln?
Mayor Beutler Speaks
Mayor Chris Beutler has responded to some of Deena Winter’s comments in her Wednesday column. The Mayor’s piece is worth a read. Unfortunately he doesn’t address something I’m curious about, which is the matter of how the joint public agency’s liabilities could affect local property taxes. Maybe next time.
So Long, Toney
Toney the harbor seal is moving out, headed to a salt water swimming hole in Louisville, Kentucky. This leaves the Lincoln Children’s Zoo without a seal for the first time since 1990. I never fell in love with the seals, but I know many Lincolnites grew up with them.
I, on the other hand, grew up with a certain grizzly that many of you will remember. (Quiz: Do you remember his name and where he came from?) I still miss that old fella.
I’m sure the zoo already has plans, or at least ideas, but I wonder what you all would put in the seal location. More aquatic animals? Penguins, perhaps? How about a large prairie dog village? Let’s brainstorm!
Assault With a Deadly Reptile
I had high hopes for the story headlined Assault Charges for Man With Asp. I envisioned a goofy confrontation between two men and a snake. The truth was disappointing:
Fehringer says the suspect took a weapon known as an Asp, a collapsible steel baton, hit one of the victims and threatened the other.
Nuts.
Keep Your Laws Off My Street Repair Contracts
I’m all for the swift completion of roadwork, but is it the state’s job to define the specifics of local street repair contracts? Omaha Sen. Scott Lautenbaugh thinks so. His LB 838 would require counties, cities, and villages to include incentive and disincentive provisions in road construction contracts; and it would require “minimum” lane closures with penalties of $1,000 per day for “improperly closed” lanes.
I have no problem with the state mandating these sorts of things for contracts involving state roads. But what business is it of the state how Lincoln—or any other locality—manages these matters in its own contracts? This bill sounds like the punitive project of a guy who thinks he could build a road in a day. I picture Sen. Lautenbaugh sitting in traffic, hands tightly gripping the steering wheel in anger and frustration, sweat beaded upon his brow, swearing under his breath at those good-for-nothing road crews. “I know!”, he exclaims one day. “I’ll pass a one-size-fits-all law. That will fix everything!”
But I digress. Yea or nay on this one, folks?
ESPN Votes Yes on the Arena
ESPN doesn’t care for Devaney:
Speaking of horses … some might say they would be the easiest form of transportation for getting anywhere close to the Devaney Center when so many people converge here. In the midst of the former state fairgrounds, Devaney is surrounded by bottleneck-creating obstacles: overpasses, drainage ditches, buildings, houses and fences. It’s too cold up here for an alligator-filled moat, or they might have that, too.
Built in 1976, Devaney isn’t going to win any arena beauty contests. However, it’s what’s inside that counts. And Saturday, that was a whole lot of red-clad fans—just a couple hundred short of a complete sellout—and a so-far unflappable team led by those six seniors.
And speaking of the arena, here’s the ballot language:
Shall the city of Lincoln, Neb., issue its arena bonds in a principal amount not to exceed $25 million for the purpose of paying a portion of the costs incident to acquiring, constructing, equipping and furnishing the Lincoln Haymarket Arena and related facilities and improvements, such bonds to be dated at the time of their issuance, to become due and payable on such dates, to bear interest at such rates and to have such other terms as may be fixed by the city at the time of their issuance, and to be payable from the income, proceeds and revenue of the Lincoln Haymarket Arena and related facilities and improvements, from state appropriations under the Convention Center Facility Financing Assistance Act and/or other state sources and from other available revenue, income and receipts of the city, including certain city sales, use, occupation and/or property tax revenue, fees or receipts, sufficient to pay the principal of and the interest on said bonds as they become due and payable, provided, however, that approval of this bond issue will not cause any increase in the property tax levy millage limit of the city?
Bleh. Legalese is lame enough as it is, but do they have to add insult to injury by pretending there’s no such thing as a semicolon? What an unreadable mess. Here’s Mr. Wilson’s abridged version:
If you vote yes, the City is on the hook for $25 million. But don’t worry! We won’t use property taxes to cover that amount. Please ignore the remaining $300+ million—which could affect your property taxes—which shall remain hidden behind this curtain over here.
One last thing: Surely I’m not the only one who thinks the initial arena designs are kind of funky (in a good way). Does anybody out there agree with me?
Hat tip: Deena Winter.
Gambling is Bad, Except This Gambling, Which is Good
Nebraska’s gambling hypocrisy continues with the announcement that Mega Millions is coming to the state on March 20. For those of you keeping score:
- Gambling on sports: bad.
- Gambling on horses: good.
- Bingo: bad.
- Scratch-off cards: good.
- Poker: bad.
- Keno: good.
- Slots: bad.
- Multi-state lotteries: good.
If you are looking for a textbook example of “do as I say, not as I do” in state government, this is it.
Time To Get Out the Paint Brushes
it is now legal—with City approval, of course—for neighborhoods to paint pretty pictures in the middle of their intersections. It’s kind of a cheesy gimmick, but I suppose it could turn out well in the hands of some good artistry and an appropriate location. Actually, I would be much more supportive if I knew that these works would age well. I have found photos of this sort of work in new condition, but I haven’t really come across any photos after, say, three to five years. It would be a shame if these works were a gem for a neighborhood for a year or two only to have them become an eyesore (or a maintenance liability) over the long haul. Then again, that’s true of lots of these sorts of projects. I’m not sure there’s a good way around it.
Vision Problems? Low IQ? We Want You!
It’s that time of year again! Soccer season fires up just six or seven weeks from now, so it’s time for me to put out the word that we are always looking for new soccer referees. Whether you want to ref youth, high school, college, or adult amateur games (or better yet, all of the above), we would love to have you on board. You don’t need soccer experience and you don’t need to know the rules to apply. We’ll get you all trained up and ready to go. if you are interested or if you would like more information.
Fireworks’ New Spark
Ever since Fireworks opened in its new east Lincoln location on 84th and Old Cheney, I have heard grumbles of discontent from customers. Most of the complaints focused on the service, but food would show up now and then as well.
The Missus wanted to go to Fireworks last week. I nearly protested, but then I thought better of it. I wanted to give the restaurant a try for myself. I’m glad I did. We had a delightful experience early on Friday evening. Service was prompt and friendly, and the food was very good to excellent. Apparently others thought the same; the main dining room, bar, and waiting area were all full when we left.
That means that after a couple years of iffy experiences, both Fireworks and Lazlo’s (owned by the same parent company) are on my good side again. I’m glad. I don’t like being frustrated with local businesses that really ought to know better.
Hmm, perhaps the Fireworks and/or Lazlo’s folks can help some local Mexican restaurant chains (*cough* amigosd’leon’stacoinn *cough*) figure out how to regain their footings. A guy can hope.
I Need An Excuse to Go to Bethany
Quick, somebody give me an excuse to go to Bethany so I can sneak over to the new Bethany Cafe. It is being run by Norma Chapman, formerly of Mexicali Bullfrog fame. I was pretty bummed to see the frog bite the dust, so I’m eager to see what Chapman has cooking this time.
Have any of you been to Bethany Cafe since it opened in December? How was it?
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