True story: yesterday I stopped by to see Glenna at G&S Furniture about the photo of their new store posted on this website, and told her about the possible assistance offered by the Carbondale Main Street organization to put up a new sign. As I'm leaving, who should be walking up the street on his way to G&S but Larry Weatherford, the dean of Southern Illinois signsmiths. His timing couldn't have been better: If Glenna saw us shaking hands she might have thought we were "in cahoots." Anyway, it's good to see that empty, unused building in business again. Inside it looks like it was made to be a furniture store. Now, if they'll only consider a new name to put on the new sign. "Red Carpet" perhaps, since their previous location was in the old Red Carpet Car Wash, which itself is now an empty, unused building.

Speaking of empty, unused buildings (see yesterday's Dispatch below)...the city of Carbondale is purchasing half of the old Lincoln Junior High School property (approximately 4 acres) on Washington St (across from the Glove Factory) to build a new Police Station. The $200,000 purchase includes the old school building, which will presumably be torn down to make room for the cop shop. The School Board also hopes to sell the eastern portion of the tract to be developed as apartments, office space or other uses, according to Linda Rush's article in the Southern Illinoisan

Now that Ramadan and Hannukah are all but over, you might be looking for an unusual or unique Christmas gift. If so, today and tomorrow there's a big Craft Sale at the SIU Student Center.


Maybe Anita Hayden, the Southern Sisters weaver will be there--if she can get her truck out of her parking lot.

See you in th' e-hood.