I received a call one evening last week informing me that Village Manager Charlie Lynn is retiring in January.

Taken by surprise by this news, and after a few days of reflection, I come to find I'm saddened to hear this. I have known Charlie for quite a few years due to my involvement with the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. In my experiences, he has always been a gentleman and worked to get the best for the Village.

He has been accused of many things. But one thing I don't think you can argue with is the fact that Charlie has always done what he thought best for the Village.

So now what does the Village do?

Charlie has said the January date will help ease his successor through the difficult budget season. So, who should be the next Village manager?

In my opinion, there is only one choice -- Paul Schofield. With the Village engineer leaving in November and the manager leaving in January, this choice makes the most sense.

Critical to the budget work that will be continuing for the next few years, continuity will be the key to success. Mr. Schofield is the one person on the Village staff that can provide this.

I think the one of the biggest things Mr. Schofield will bring is cooperation among the staff. Many times in the past few years, a silo mentality has crept into the Village senior staff. Everyone is worried about thier turf. No interaction between the key staff members.

The end result has been that decisions have been made with common sense apparently kicked to the curb. I don't want to detail what I consider to be some inane decisions, but suffice it to say many things could have worked out better.

While your at it Village Council ... promote Jim Barnes to Community Services Director, Mr. Schofield's current position when you make Mr. Schofield the Village Manager. What he has been able to do with some limited resources at the Leisure Services Department has been incredible. We need to keep people like this.

By the way Mr. Schofield, when you get that promotion I know you will do the right things for the residents of the Village.

And you know, I'll be watching.

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In my travels these past few weeks, I have noted the explosion of "tips welcome" jars. At places where I don't think they belong. It's not that I don't feel generous, but come on!

Yes, I do tend to overtip people who serve us as waiters in breakfast places. After all they tend to see us at our worst -- first thing in the morning. When we're grumpy and just harumph at people in general.

Car wash workers also deserve a little more since we are too lazy to wash our own cars. But I check the coin tray first just to make sure no "liberation" of coinage took place.

A few recent places I have seen these jars that I really think are out of place are --

the coffee shop/cafe/whatever you call it.
the ice cream shoppe/shop
the bagel store
the donut shop

I'm sure the workers where these places are out will argue that we give waiters and servers tips and they are no different. Let me tell you why that just isn't true.

Waiters and servers aren't just a one-time "what can I get you" type of crew. They come to your table several times, take those special orders or get the extra stuff you want.

After all, didn't we all hear that tips meant "to insure proper service"? Although this assumes the wrong version of "insure", it should be "ensure". But I digress.

Besides, waiters and servers do not earn minimum wage ... the bulk of their income comes from tips. You know, its the merit-based part of their income. If the service isn't up to par, you only have to tip what you feel is appropriate.

I have to wonder what these people are thinking. After all, they are doing their job.

You go to the ice cream joint and get a single scoop in a dish. Stay with me now ... and it costs more than a half-gallon of ice cream at the red or blue super centers. And you want a tip?!? Puh-leeze.

Stop by for that twice daily latte or other fru-fru coffee (me, just a regular cup o' joe, thank you very much). Total up the cost of those two lattes and it seems they cost as much as a whole bag of coffee. But then they do shout out your name and your order. Yikes.

I'm not against giving tips to those that deserve it. The key word here is deserve. If it's your job to give me that cup of ice cream, or that cup of coffee that I willingly pay for, and you make minimum wage or more, don't insult me with a tip jar.

At least lie to me and tell me it's for your college fund. Or your boy/girl friend's birthday present. Perhaps a needed car repair.

Please, just don't call it a "tip".

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I know you've driven by St. Peter's and said to yourself, "I really need to get a pumpkin this year." All those great orange hued pumpkins just laying all over the place. You know, down deep, there is one in there with your name written all over it.

Then the cell phone rings. Or something else pops up. And you forget.

Take a moment and let me share with you why I think it is important to stop and buy that pumpkin. Today. I am.

Halloween marks the beginning of my favorite part of the year. Halloween until the first Monday in January. When you think about it, this time of year just shouts family.

Trick-or-treaters constantly ringing the doorbell. The family gathered around the Thanksgiving table. Working so hard wrapping gifts on Christmas Eve to see it all undone in about 60 seconds on Christmas Day (I really think the movie "Gone in 60 Seconds" should have been about this).

Then the celebrations begin on New Year's Eve and celebrating the beginning of the New Year with a traditional dinner. And finally, the kids go back to school! Oh yeah, my birthday is somewhere in there as well.

But I digress, back to the Pumpkin Patch.

The joy on our children's faces is really what makes the Pumpkin Patch shine. Look at this picture from the Sun-Sentinel:

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Isn't this what the season is all about? Bringing joy to others ... putting a smile on someone else's face. There's nothing better.

I remember doing this when I was a child. It was colder, much colder. But we sat out on the patio and carved those pumpkins up. Yup, the three of us (my brothers and me) had a blast. I think my parents did too.

What about you? Share a little about your memories of the fall.

And then, go out and get yourself a pumpkin.

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I know what you're thinking and no, I wasn't on the side of the road working with a bunch of other guys, chained at the ankle. I was, however, chained to a guy 10 yards down the field.

That's right, we work the sideline of the Wellington High School football game manning the down and distance markers. What a great new experience.

These times on the sideline bring back some memories ... really good ones. I remember high school football and the promise it brought each fall. Yes, my high school days in Indiana, PA, just northeast of Pittsburgh, were great.

The leaves started to change colors, there was a cool nip in the air that brought out some amazing sweaters! And, the ski season was just around the corner.

There were some other memories, too: that crush I had on one of those really cute cheerleaders, the players dressed in a shirt and tie (yes, in school) wearing their varsity jackets, the pep rally on Friday afternoon, trying to find a parking place at the school Friday night and the sheer joy of the game and the experience.

It really didn't matter if we won or lost. Afterwards, we just went and hung out at McDonald's. In our cars that we thought were oh so cool. Of course, we spent almost every cent we made on those cars.

It was a right of passage, these high school football nights.

So when was the last time you went to a high school football game?

The reason I ask is because looking at the stands I can see they are only about one-third full. Yep, just one-third full. So, just who are these folks? Looking around I see the team, cheerleaders, the band, dancers and the majorettes. Must be their parents.

Where's the rest of the community?

I looked up "community" on dictionary.com and it spelled it out: "a social group of any size whose members reside in a specific locality, share government, and often have a common cultural and historical heritage."

Since its our community, we share a responsibiltiy to build it and keep it going. It really doesn't matter which high school we support, we just need to go out and support these young people and cheer them on. They really give their all out there, whether they play, cheer, march, dance or twirl. We need to help them build memories as wonderful as ours.

Come out this weekend, its homecoming and, oh, those memories I have! Should be a great time.

I'll see you there. I'll be on the sideline wearing a funny looking vest and holding up a stick with a big circle on the top. Chained to a guy 10 yards downfield. That would be Scott. In the middle are Tom and Mark. Volunteers all ... Thanks guys!

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