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| Fast Talk |
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| Written by Ron Swift / Fast Talk | |
| Friday, 29 August 2008 | |
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Bypass discussion has a familiar ring to it  Ron Swift / Fast Talk To be more specific, a new bridge was to be built over the San Joaquin River, and the debate was about its location. The county supervisors got their way, as you might have predicted. The new bridge linking East Las Palmas Avenue with West Main was constructed where it is today, routing traffic from the Turlock area through the heart of Patterson’s downtown. The interesting circumstance is that we are again about to have the same argument. Only this time, the argument will be about a bypass to the south side of Patterson or the north side. County voters might soon be asked to decide on Measure S. That’s a half-cent sales tax initiative that would raise a projected $750 million over the next 20 years to improve county roadways. That would finance major road-building in Stanislaus County. The plan calls for a four-lane road linking the Turlock area to the West Side. The exact route hasn’t been determined and could be either West Main or Fulkerth Road. When the routing reaches the river, that’s where the argument is expected to begin. Would the four lanes of new roadway swing to the north, possibly tying into Zacharias Road, or to the south to meet either Elfers Road or through the projected West Park industrial site? Either way, a new interchange Interstate 5 would be required. City officials generally favor the northern bypass route. At least one county supervisor has publicly stated that the southern route makes more sense to him. Fifty years ago, Supervisor Jim Franzen, who represented the West Side, moved to consider a routing to the south, following the Patterson Irrigation District lateral to the area of Fig Avenue. His motion died for lack of a second. In all probability, Patterson’s 400-plus palm trees are the only obstacle that has kept Las Palmas Avenue from being widened in recent years to four lanes. Traffic has increased dramatically in the past decade, and the intersections of Sycamore and Elm will soon have four-way traffic signals. But back to the issue: Will it be the north side or south side for a four-lane bypass around Patterson? OLYMPIC WITHDRAWAL If your household is like mine, it’s been calm and quiet this week, with the Olympic Games now behind us. In fact, some have admitted Olympic withdrawal problems. But no sooner than they were over, I picked up the Modesto Bee and read a story by Gina Kolata of the New York Times Service. This was the opening paragraph: “At age 41, Dara Torres seems to have broken new ground, showing that it is possible for athletes to continue to compete at the highest levels, even making Olympic teams, at advanced ages.” Whoa there, Ms. Kolata. Rein it in. What’s this bit about 41-year-old swimmer Torres being of “advanced age”? That terminology applies only after a Person of Maturity has passed through the “coot, geezer and/or codger” stage. Let’s not be loose with the words. A number of years ago, many of us marveled at the late Frankie Hicks of Patterson, who competed in senior track and field events up and down the West Coast. And when he did, Frankie hadn’t yet reached the “advanced age” category. And he would have told you so rather pointedly. If I had to guess, I’d say that Mrs. Kolata is younger than 30, an age grouping that many of us refer to as “young whippersnappers.” GOVERNMENT SUPPORT? After host China won the race for the most gold medals, the debate surfaced about our government sinking big bucks into the Olympic program, as do many countries. Remember back two or three decades, when government sponsorship was considered unethical? It was also unethical at that time to send our basketball millionaires off to the Olympics. I’m old school and favor keeping the Olympics as amateur as possible. And the United States wins enough medals, so let’s keep the government out of it. FROM OUR READERS One reader passes along her sentiments when she writes: Being “over the hill” is much better than being under it. I’ll have to agree. Another asks this question on the same subject: Once you’re in heaven, do you get stuck wearing the clothes you were buried in for eternity? Ask your mortician. A TIDBIT Ohio has not one single natural lake. All are man-made Thought you’d want to know. AND FINALLY … Last week’s Fast Talk mentioned that school has started and summer is about over. Little did we realize the lateness of the year. Costco, we have noticed, now has Christmas supplies in its aisles. On the Costco subject, it has been observed that some customers actually make a meal out of those give-away samples, trudging back and forth from one to another. Is there no shame? Ron Swift is editor/publisher emeritus of the Patterson Irrigator. His column appears weekly in this space.
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