Editorials

About four years ago, I bought and installed two new "smart" thermostats. They were supposed to be far superior to my 20-plus year-old dumb thermostats. The old ones did not have wifi or an app or a touch screen. And regardless of whether we were sweating or had ice particles on our chins, they insisted it was 72 degrees in the house.
The power company who sold me the new, smarter generation -- this is starting to sound like some kind of metaphor for today's society -- insisted these things were easy to install. All I had to do was follow some "simple" online directions.

Old towns have old sidewalks. I have visited many towns where the old sidewalks in their historic areas are actually part of the town's character.
Most recently visiting Swansboro, I recall having to climb steep and narrow steps to reach a storefront. Sidewalks were narrow with pedestrian and vehicles competing in the nooks and crannies of the downtown.
However, sidewalks also must remain safe for pedestrians. Especially if your hope is to increase pedestrian traffic in your downtown.
I agree with our town leaders that some of our sidewalks are in need of a lot attention.

This photo was published in The Nashville Graphic on February 29, 1968. The ladies pictured took part in a mattress-making demonstration given at W.L. Greene Elementary School by Nash County home agents. There were no names listed in the caption of the photo.