Though a Rock Hall resident, I have frequent reasons to go to…or through…Chestertown.
And, of course, I enter via the new roundabout. I am a supporter of roundabouts, and I am sure that on completion sometime in 2015, this one will be a great success.
Many people complain about the three to five-minute backups which occur at each of the three entrance routes to the roundabout. I don’t complain; I find the three to five minutes restful moments. But, I do think that the Chestertown “powers-that- be” are missing a real business growth opportunity! We all know that some stores downtown are vacant and that all possible ideas are being explored to revitalize High Street. So what I propose here is meant to help…not criticize.
How about this: at the roadside shoulders of each of the approaches to the roundabout the town might rent booths to creative vendors. Each booth would have to offer a service that could be offered and completed in between three and five minutes. Here are some of my ideas:
–blood pressure monitoring. The operator would jump into your passenger seat, slap on the cuff, and get a read out on his or her iPod connection. You might consider tipping. A really fast operator could also do a flu shot perhaps.
—doggie nails on the quick. Equipped with a Dremel tool grinder, and a muzzle if needed, the operator enters the car, gives a quick grind down to those long dog nails or cat nails, and leaves a brochure. Tipping for sure.
—SULTANA could watch for cars with kids, and sign them up for FREE sails with John Swain passing out the brochure. The “free sails” would refer (in fine print) to old actual sails cut in patches, which normally sell for $5 for use as picnic napkins.
—oysters on the half. Jamie White, Rock Hall waterman, can shuck three oysters in two and one-half minutes, and present them, for the low cost of $3.75. Included in this would be his card and a “Visit Chestertown, The Gateway to Rock Hall” brochure.
…donuts from Dunkin’ could be purchased and resold through car windows, thus freeing up parking spaces downtown. In conjunction with this, a raffle could be held, the prize being one of those parking meter covers.
–proponents of a more formal use of a town park could not only pass out literature, but also give away one square foot of artificial turf.
And I could go on.
Of course, this effort would require leadership and supervision. Perhaps Town Manager Ingersoll might use some of his spare time to handle this effort.
I don’t think Rock Hall plans a roundabout. We just love our one blinking light.
Roger D Brown says
Tom
Are you going to compete with Taylor Buckley?
Annie Lavin says
First good chuckle of the weekend. Thanks, Tom!
Billie Beck says
In my opinion the 3 way stop signs worked a whole lot better. Traffic flow went a bit quicker as people took turns. With all 3 yielding you don’t know if the car is going straight or making a turn so you kinda have to sit till you figure out which way the the car is going to go. I agree with others I’ve heard say, that roundabout is an accident waiting to happen. I agree with Mr. McHugh also.
Lynn Hilfiker says
I love the oysters on the half idea. It might even get me out of Rock Hall more often, just for the experience.
Betty Libertini says
I have little need to use the round-about in CT but I think I shall “take a trip” to experience
the “wait” and visit the latest novelty. Munching a donut while cruising down to Rock Hall
would be special, especially if the coffee is hot and strong, cream please, no sugar.
Bravo Mr. McHugh. I do love a man with a good sense of humor.
Joe Lill says
…I’ve heard that the State Highway Administration is contemplating reversing the flow of traffic from counter-clockwise to clockwise on an alternating day schedule. It will all depend on an odd or even calendar day schedule taking into account bank holidays and abnormal high tides.
Steve Payne says
The town could buy WCTR and just play Roundabout by Yes on a loop. (pun intended)