DIY
My old buddy John Cronin, the Hudson Riverkeeper, used to always say you could change the world from your own backyard. Politicians can’t get it done. All they do is fight each other. But when friends, neighbors and local businesses team up, they get it done, Jack.
I think the worst of times is bringing out the best in some of us. Here is a humdinger for ya. Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, got tired of government officials imposing restrictions that made it difficult for small businesses to operate during COVID-19. He said, “Politicians are stealing the basic right to earn a living.” So he started the Barstool Fund. So far, they've raised more than $35 million and helped nearly 300 small businesses. Let’s send Portnoy to D.C. He’ll show those lunkheads how to do it.
Like a lot of towns, Cherry Valley in upstate New York has seen a lot of closed business and empty storefronts over the past year. But this depressed town fought back. The longtime artists’ haven created the “Light Up Cherry Valley” campaign, filling those bleak storefronts with colorful art and light installations. Really snapped ‘em up. So now people are strolling the classic downtown again to see the windows and pop-up boutiques. The awareness is attracting some new start-ups. One local artist made the comment, “If you’re going to have a heart in the community, you need to make sure it keeps going.” Damn right.
The Boston Globe has kicked off a program called “Project Takeout.” They are plugging local independent restaurants who are on the ropes. They show great photos of mouthwatering meals and sizzling copy about food for takeout. The Globe’s slogan is “When you take out, you help out.” We all know the local favorites are key to a neighborhood's character and personality. Gotta keep ‘em going. MassLive should do the same thing. If they did, we’d brand it and do a logo pro bono.
Another fun thing going on is Booze Fairies. Women across the country have staked out friends’ houses and are trying to raise spirits by giving spirits anonymously. So they’ll drop a basket of wine and liquor and goodies on your front steps and run. They say it reminds them of the childhood thrill of Ding Dong Dash.
That’s a much nicer gesture than what we used to pull. We called it Ring The Bell And Run Like Hell. We’d fill a brown shopping bag with a hefty pile of dog doo, put it on a grouchy neighbor’s front porch, light it on fire, ring the doorbell and skedaddle. We always had an observation post at a distance and laughed like hell when the old grouch jumped on the bag. I gotta admit I always went to confession the next week and asked Father Hennessy for forgiveness. Five Hail Marys and five Our Fathers.
I got a lot of response last week about Doc Mandel and his skating rink. People thought I should move to Newton and run for mayor. I’ll tell ya what. Besides straightening out the Doc’s skating rink issue, when it snows like it did this week and we have all these kids and teachers cooped up and remote since last March, I’d give ‘em a snow day. Give ‘em a break, for Christ’s sake. Get ‘em outdoors and have some fun. What the hell is wrong with us? Keep your dukes up