Say Happy Birthday to Jack Brandt tomorrow . . . Received a letter from Mayor Thompson today. She is asking all of us to contribute to the $20,000 "fire-works fund" for her Jazz and Multi-Cultural Festival over the Fourth of July. The request is divided into categories and recommended amounts. Surrounding municipalities: $5,000; Elected Officials: $2,500-$5,000; Businesses and Clubs: $1,000-$5,000; Non-profits and Churches: $500-$1,000; Individuals: $100-$500. I'm not so hot at math, but I figure that if everyone comes across for the mayor she could pay off half the incinerator debt and redecorate her office . . . Remember when the banks and radio stations coughed up the cash for this extravaganza? I am afraid she hasn't the clout that Mayor Reed had . . . It has been almost two years since he left us, but people still ask for "the big dog" that used to lounge on our doorstep every evening. "Bear," owned by Larry Kirkhuff and Jon Carfagno, was the neighborhood's dog, more or less (a crown now shared by Cooper and Luna). Despite his size (which occasionally caused some to cross the street "just in case") he was very gentle if you didn't grasp his front paws--he was touchy about that for some reason. He would let a very little JJ crawl all over him without complaint. He enjoyed the attention that everyone gave him and some evenings he would refuse to leave when Jon called; Bear would simply stretch out and close his eyes. He never left an uneaten treat behind; he carried it home himself and had quite a stash of half-gnawed ham bones scattered around the house . . . A few weeks ago JJ was curled up on my lap on the stoop when Jon dropped by to say hello. JJ looked at him strangely as if he could not quite place him. "You know Jon," I said. "He brought his dog to see you several times a week. Remember?" JJ asked where the dog was and I told him that Bear had gone away. JJ thought a moment and then, leaning very close to my ear, he whispered "Did he go to Heaven?" I nodded, and I think we both got a little teary-eyed . . .
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