Hometown Matters

By Pauline Masson – Pacific officials are looking at the idea of a skatepark in the city. But as president Joe Biden would say, “Here’s the deal:” Some seed money is going to be needed to move the project forward. A group organized as the Pacific Skatepark Committee wants to build a skatepark as a memorial to their friend, the late Jeffrey White who was a star skateboarder among pre teens and teens. A tentative location would place the skatepark … Continue reading “Is the Time Right for a Skatepark in Pacific? Some People Think So”

By Pauline Masson – Two people who want to be Pacific mayor for the next four years are asking for your vote in the April 5 election. The difference in the focus of the two officials provides clues on how the city would be managed under their leadership. Herb Adams, Ward Two alderman and acting mayor says the city is in the throes of growth and progress. If re-elected mayor, he has a list of projects that he will focus … Continue reading “Mayor Race Offers Two Choices on How City Government Would Work For Next Four Years”

By Pauline Masson – Pacific has a temporary resident who has a moving story to tell. The power of story telling changed Gail Barber’s life, but not the way you might think. She was persuaded to tell the story of childhood trauma as a way to heal. And it worked. A horrendous beating by a relative when she was seven years old plagued her life with recurring nightmares and fainting spells. Through teen years, college and early adulthood, she never … Continue reading “Interim Pacific Resident Shares a Healing Story that Inspires Others to Reveal Their Personal Experiences”

By Pauline Masson First in a series – Change is in the air. Two candidates’ names will be on the ballot for the Ward Two seat in the April 5 municipal election.  The seat is empty after Herb Adams, who occupied it for the past two years, filed to to run for mayor. Ward Two candidates Stephen Flannery III and James Cleeve are on opposite ends of opinions on a new residential development in progress that has created a rift … Continue reading “Ward Two Race Will Bring a New Voice to the Board of Aldermen”

By Pauline Masson – Local Knights of Columbus members got more than they anticipated January 18 when they presented a check for $1,000 to 15-year-old girl who is hearing impaired. The money was collected from Father Berry Council Knights of Columbus members and friends of Knights in lieu of the annual Tootsie Roll drive. “Usually we stand in front of stores and hand out Tootsie Rolls and ask for donations, said Bruce Johnson, 2022 Tootsie Roll drive chair. “But this … Continue reading “Tootsie Roll Drive Recipient Wins Hearts of Knights of Columbus / and Educators”

On January 29, the Pacific community will pay tribute to a hometown hero and simultaneously help a lot of people who have fallen on hard times. The Pacific Area Chamber of Commerce will dedicate its annual community charity benefit, “Piano’s for a Purpose,” to the memory of the late Al Baldwin, by sharing the profits from the gala with one of Al’s favorite causes, the Safety Net program that benefits students and families that have been displaced from their homes. … Continue reading “Al Baldwin, Hometown Hero to be Honored for Commitment to Displaced Families”

Eleven candidates’ name will be on the ballot for six city offices in the April 5, 2022 Pacific municipal election. Six are new to elective office in Pacific but none are completely new to city government activities. Candidates include three incumbents, one acting incumbent, one former alderman, one former police officer, one current reserve police officer, two veteran city committee members and civic leaders and two political activists. There are races in four of the seats. The seats of marshal/police … Continue reading “Here Are the Candidates Who Are Asking for Your Vote in the April 5 Municipal Election”

For more than 40 years he operated a popular florist and gift shop at 404 South First Street, hosted an annual Christmas Open House, and turned a small 1957s bungalow on South First Street into a historic showplace. Through it all, he never saw a beautiful piece of home decor, China, crystal, statuary, mirror or art that he didn’t like. And he collected, EVERYTHING. For the past ten years he and his wife Angie have lived in a two-story, four … Continue reading “After Surviving COVID, Local Collector to Sell 50-Year Cache of China, Crystal, Porcelain, Silver and Art”

By Pauline Masson If you look up in the southwest sky this evening you’ll see a very bright star just above the horizon. That’s the planet Venus. And at this time of year it is the brightest star in the evening sky that can be seen with the naked eye. Venus keeps blinking at me each evening, as a teaser, a reminder of another star that we celebrate every December. The star of Bethlehem: The star that told the Wise … Continue reading “What Was the Star of Bethlehem?”

Some fourteen individuals were recognized for their contribution to the community in 2021 at the Pacific Area Chamber of Commerce / Pacific Partnership Christmas Party December 15 at the Pacific Eagles hall. A lively crowd of celebrants gathered for the event that was cancelled last year due to COVID. Among those honored were business leaders, civic volunteers, community supporters, one government official, and four first responders. Two individuals who passed away recently, Al Baldwin and Don Hazelwood (1948-2021) were remembered … Continue reading “Citizen of the Year and Other Luminaries Honored at Annual Christmas Gala”