Where is he now?

This morning, Professor 50's was in front of the back of the Public Library. Also known as Harry Klein, the aging hipster ruled the music scene before Nightlife began publishing, and Harry opened "Second Chance" records, which is now the Verizon cellular phone outlet, next door to Rosetta News. I "hooked him up" with an email address, so if you appreciated his work in the old days, or want to encourage an old fogey to get "with it," send him an email message. Maybe he'll make a comeback as "Assistant Professor 80's". To contact Harry click here.

She's no Chauncey Gardner*

But new City Council rep Sheila Simon (no relation to Art Garfunkel) will do her best to weed out wasteful programs in the city budget, while her daughter rakes in the profits from a lemonade stand in front of the new Carbondale Community Swimming Pool**.

*The name of the main character of Jerzy Kozinski's novel and subsequent film Being There, which paved the way for Forrest Gump, but that's another story.

**The part about the lemonade stand and the pool is just a pleasant fantasy--so far.

Ready for Rental

The old "Charley Pickles" restaurant and Southern Illinois Gem Company building on Walnut St. (across the street from City Hall) has been repainted a wonderfully warm brown, and refurbished inside by the new owners. There have already been inquiries and will be rented in a jiffy, no doubt. I'm thinking law office. I wonder what other businesses have been located here since it was built. This would be an interesting research project.