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There are a lot of people who helped serve and distribute the 400 and some Community Christmas meals that came out of the Culver's building in Dodgeville on Christmas Day - most went to people who probably wouldn't have had a Christmas meal if it weren't for those dedicated people who gave up their "noon" Christmas meal to help out. In past years I have delivered in rural Dodgeville, to Linden and to Cobb. I understand this year's meal went as far as Hollandale and Avoca for the first time. Here are two of the dedicated workers, who are behind the scenes most of the time preparing the food - Willie Aurit and Tyler Horton. You wouldn't believe the families who line up to take carryouts to the people!
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In our last "Small Town Living" that featured on Hollandale, we inadvertently ommitted a big piece of the Hollandale "puzzle" in John Carr and his sons - Hollandale Freight. They are one of the bigger employers in Hollandale and have a moving business that does a great job for those who employ them. John and I go back to (and before) when a great Mexican Restaurant in downtown Dodgeville called Las Maria's was in business. He and I both (along with his wife) loved to eat there and enjoyed the company of Carlos, Maria, Laura, Marcella and their families. Pretty much every time John and I talk, we bring up how much we miss that restaurant and wish it was still here! Anyway, John, we are sorry we missed you in the Hollandale feature!
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Last Friday around noon I received a phone call that invited me to the "soft" opening of the new Cobblestone Coffee Shop in downtown Dodgeville inside the same building as Bob's BBQ and Our Front Porch Gift Shop - the former Courthouse Inn building. I must admit the food was pretty darn good as was the cappuccino that I ordered. It should be a nice compliment to Bob's and be a nice spot to stop for coffee and some pastry in the morning and a sandwich/salad (and more) at noon. Since Bob's is closed on Mondays they will be open until 7:30 p.m. on Mondays.
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Several times the past few days I crossed the main street in Dodgeville with someone else accompanying me. Each time the person with me was amazed that people stopped for me - even some just short of the crosswalk. I told them that most people tell me they stop because they DON'T want their name in the paper (in this column) - others stop because I walk right out in front of them and they don't want to be party to an accident. Then there are those who just drive around and look for me to walk out just so they can hit me!
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There are people out there who tell me they miss my "comments" about my late buddy - Mike Crubaugh. He was definitely one of a kind and someone I wish everyone would have had the chance to know. His son, Chris, wished me a Happy Thanksgiving awhile back and also a Merry Christmas. Both of those greetings came with the "Mike" flavor - the famous one fingered wave! If Brian had seen me, it would've been some of the same!