Black Rock Station: Wish for the New Year

I wonder if Fairfield will get its wish?
Or more accurately will the clicks of the 1,221 citizens who took the time to fill out the online survey to help name the town's third train station (currently referred to as the Metro Center) be answered.

I went on line to take the survey on Monday but alas it was removed from the town's web site as of Dec. 31, 2010. My only consolation was that some variation of the name Black Rock was requested 769 times by the survey responders and I heartly agree with that choice.

Even at the risk of having to pay more money to change the current signing, 1,002 voters felt the name should be changed from Metro Center to some form of Black Rock. In fact only 4 voters were in favor of keeping the current name for the station.

The State Department of Transportation will have the final say but we can only hope that this survey will make it easier for the state to decide. Listening to the will of the people is common sense and good government; knowing what part of Fairfield you are in when you get off the train makes good sense too.

Happy New Year.

On the subject of bows

Christmas is my favorite holiday. This is the time to remember good fellowship, gift giving for friends and family and decorating the house for the holidays.
What better time than now to wish our readers a ‘Merry Christmas’ and invite you to join me in our new pursuit of blogging.
Although new to the medium, I thought I would begin by sharing some of my more enjoyable moments walking around my Fairfield neighborhood.
As the days grow colder, only the dog walkers are out these mornings; with fewer people to chat with, I find myself passing the time by enjoying the outdoor decorations. Christmas wreaths hang on many doors and windows but where the bow is placed, is as varied as the homeowners who hang them up. Should the bow be tied on top of the wreath, or on the side? How about the bottom? There are all manners of ribbon colors and bow placement to be found in a two mile walk. Is there some written or unwritten rule about this tradition?
This year I choose a burgundy colored bow — a change from my traditional red ribbon. I asked the staff at Ganim’s Garden Center when I ordered my wreath, if there was a traditional placement for the bow. Wherever you want us to put it is where it should go they advised me. I choose the top this year, time for a change. I thought of my mother, who always hung the bow on the right side of the wreath. That’s how it’s done in New York City, she told me many wreaths ago.
When I first moved to Fairfield, over thirty years ago, there were few lighted decorations, other than the traditional candles in the windows that twinkled reassurance on a dark evening on the drive home. Now the town is lit up big and bright. I like it better this way; Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.