November 3, VOTING DAY, finally came. You know the results, but what a day it was as far as turnout. I went to vote at 6:55 am, as I usually do, and I just kept on driving as the line was back to the first house west of the Fire Station. I went back at around 8 am and joined the line that was still out the door. It went fast so it really was no inconvenience to vote. And I felt good casting my vote as all Americans should do. Apparently, 989 Stanley voters felt the same way. *** I trust everyone set their clocks back one hour last Saturday night. Another reminder – Don’t forget that starting November 15 and ending April 1, parking on all Stanley streets is prohibited between 3-6 am to allow the city crew to clear local streets after snowstorms. Vehicles on the streets during these hours may be ticketed. City workers were seen this fall cutting back trees that hang over the streets and were in the way of the city snowplow. Good job guys. *** Researchers at Marshfield Clinic Research Institute recently received a $4 million grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study the occurrence and impact of COVID-19 in rural communities. The study will help them understand how the corona virus affected people in the Marshfield area. The findings are expected to contribute a more effective public health response in Central Wisconsin and rural communities in general. With Thorp reported as a hot spot for COVID-19, I would guess they would be a good community for this study. Marshfield Clinic has also received a grant that will fund their studying the occurrence of coronavirus infections and learn more about how long people can spread the virus after they are infected. Marshfield Clinic is also offering expanded access to investigational convalescent plasma treatment for COVID-19 patients. The novel approach treats patients with COVID-19 by transfusing plasma from people that have recovered from COVID-19. Aren’t we fortunate to be so close to such high level treatment and research. *** Did you know? The popular Halloween treat “candy corn” was first made in 1889 and called “chicken feed.” +++ There are only 37 women CEOs in the Fortune 500. +++ Stanley’s newest store, Dollar General, is the fastest growing deep discount chain. They now have 16,300 stores across the U. S. Dollar General is now a larger retailer than Macy’s by sales, and has been a big winner during the pandemic, with shoppers drawn to it by low prices for essentials like toilet paper and cleaning products. +++ This is worrisome: “According to the National Federation of Independent Business, “If economic trends continue at this rate one in five business owners anticipates they won’t make it until the end of the year.” +++ The NBA has had a total hit of $1.5 billion as a result of the disruption of their season. *** Recently, one of the former Corner Booth guys turned 75. He gave me a call and lamented the fact that he still has so many unanswered questions at this point in his life. Tell me about it, I replied. “I still haven't gotten a satisfactory answer when I asked my mother where babies came from.” He went on to say he doesn’t know the way to Santa Fe and asked why do all the flavors of fruit loops taste the same, and how many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop. “Did you ever think about counting them I asked?” “Don’t make fun of me,” he said. When a man gets to be my age and still doesn't know which end is up, it’s a serious problem. He continued. “Why are eggs sold in a paper carton, but batteries are encased in plastic so tough you can’t get them out of the package with an ax?” “Why is abbreviated such a long word and why do the grand kids question me every time I ask them to get me a beer out of the Ice Box?” He was on a roll and I let him run. “Lemon juice is made with artificial flavoring and liquid dish washing soap is made with real lemons. What’s up with that? Do you know why they sterilize needles used for lethal injections? And why do you have to put two cents worth in, but you only get a penny for your thoughts. And just what is Victoria’s secret? And don’t get me started on whether there is intelligent life on another planet. After Checking Facebook this morning, I don’t even think there is intelligent life on Earth!” I didn’t even bring up the big questions: “What do women want, or will the Vikings ever win the Super Bowl? “I didn't want his head to explode.” I hung up when he asked me if I thought it was better to have loved and lost, than not loved at all.” *** For your considerations – Dr. Seuss has this advice: Life is to short to wake up in the morning with regrets. So, love the people who treat you right, forgive the ones who don’t and believe that everything happens for a reason. If you get the chance, take it. If it changes your life, let it. Nobody said it would be easy, they just promised it would be worth it. *** If you haven't done so recently, take a ride down to Chapman Park and check out the hundreds of Canadian geese who are in residence on the lake. Also, check out the progress being made on the new Stanley Community Building. *** Smile time. Some of Phyllis Diller’s best wisdom: As beauty fades, so will the eyesight. +++ Housework won’t kill you, but why take the chance. +++ Cleaning your house while your kids are still growing up is like shoveling the sidewalk before it stops snowing. +++ The reason women don’t play football is because 11 of them would never wear the same outfit in public. +++ The best way to get rid of kitchen odors: Eat out! +++ A bachelor is a guy who never made the same mistake once. +++ Most children threaten at times to run away from home. This is the only thing that keeps some parents going. +++ What I don’t like about Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day. +++ The only time I ever enjoyed ironing was the day I accidentally put gin in the steam iron. +++ Old age is when liver spots show through your gloves. +++ Tranquilizers work only if you follow the directions on the bottle – Keep away from children. +++ The reason the golf pro tells you to keep your head down is so you don’t see him laughing. +++ You know you’re old if they have discontinued your blood type. +++ I want my children to have the things I couldn’t afford. Then I want to move in with them. +++ Any time three New Yorkers get into a cab without an argument a bank has just been robbed.