WINTER UPS, WINTER DOWNS
Short days, cold temperatures, and the absence of sparkling holiday lights always slows me down on writing. I’ve never been one of those people who make New Year’s resolutions to write daily. Well, at least not since high school when I realized that I didn’t have the gift for consistency and patience.

But life goes on, even with too little daylight! We’re dealing with the aftermath of a weak Christmas shopping season, and national recession woes. And life in Uptown goes on. At USA’s office we’re getting ready for spring and summer with planning for things like the Easter Egg Hunt and Alive After Five concerts. The artist members of Buffalo Creek are readying the return of Arts On The Square, their festival of fine art and craft in late April.

Lots of other things are in the works, from plans to celebrate the progress of Destination Cleveland County and the Don Gibson Theater, to the Fall Festival and Livermush Expo in October.

Folks are working to get the construction begun on Warren Square, two new retail shops are getting ready to open their doors in the coming weeks, and the rhythm continues.

Yes, we have a few hiccups or disruptions to that rhythm. Education Station and 5 East are closing after good runs. Even though I’ve only been here for about 5 months now, I can honestly say that these two businesses and their teams have been very important to Uptown Shelby.

Trish Butler has been a strong supporter of Uptown and has served as an officer and director for some time. She made me welcome on arriving here and I thank her for all the hard work she’s done. At least she’s staying connected and continues to share in the stewardship of a good Uptown.

Hunt(er) Naman may have been back in the kitchen most of the time, but I must express my gratitude for serving up some excellent and exciting tastes when I cam here to Shelby. I’d just left a town to the north of here that seemed to only understand barbecue as an adjective to modify the noun restaurant. Man, thanks for reigniting the taste buds!

No doubt there will be more new businesses opening, new restaurants, just as there will probably be a few more to close with either changing times or retirement plans bearing fruit for some lucky soul. I’ve already heard from a couple of brothers who want to create a restaurant centered around music and want it to be in Uptown.

Watch this space, and watch those spaces along the streets of Uptown. You really never know when Uptown will prove its ability to still surprise and delight.