Each month, the President of CMERA, Chuck Cullen, publishes his account of the universe we live in. His post may include information, news of interest to retirees, and/or opinions of the world around us.
Contents of The CMERA Chronicles are those of Chuck Cullen solely, and may or may not reflect the views of the Governing Board.
President’s Perspective – August 2026
General Meeting
Only two months until the Fall General Meeting of CMERA. All members are invited to share donuts, renew friendships, listen to a few reports, and get information about our health care insurance. The date is Saturday October 10 at the First Unitarian Church of Cincinnati located at the corner of Reading Road and Linton Avenue. There’s parking across the street. Coffee and donuts will be served from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. when the meeting starts. This is also a great time to join CMERA, renew your membership, or update your contact information. If you have some ideas for CMERA, the Board members and Officers will be there to listen. A Notary will also be present to provide those services at no cost to CMERA members. And yes, we will once again raffle a $25 Kroger gift card to two members in attendance. Don’t forget – Saturday October 10th.
A Time to Live…..A Time To…
I was traveling on I-275 approaching southbound I-71 on a Thursday afternoon. The electronic message board above flashed that OH-562, the Norwood Lateral, was closed 18 miles ahead. Fortunately, my destination would not require me to use that roadway. It was only when I got home that I heard the news that the death of a City worker was the cause of that closure. It was an accident that involved two City pick-up trucks and a Metro bus. To me, the details of the accident don’t matter. The death of the City worker does matter. The accident made me pause for a moment and be thankful for years of working for the City without any serious injuries or accidents.
Of course, my prayers to the family of Jonathan Young, the deceased worker. My heart also goes out to the unnamed City worker who was injured. How does one go back to work after being present when a co-worker is killed? I would suspect that this afternoon accident will haunt that worker for the rest of his/her life. I’ll think about them next time I pass that message board on I-275. Rest in peace, Mr. Young.
Signs before Doomsday
Is the end of the world coming? On a Tuesday, the sky opened up particularly on the eastern communities of Oakley, Evanston, Mt. Lookout, and Hyde Park. The resulting flooding caused damage to many homes and businesses and one death. A man was electrocuted when using a pump to remove the water. The flood gate on Madison Road did not function. The City was quick to point out that had the flood gate worked, it may not have prevented the flood in some areas. Then why have the gate? They certainly would have reduced the water. Maybe they would have prevented just enough flooding to negate the need for that resident from using a sump pump.
Then came the tornadoes a few days later. Several appeared in the late afternoon. One twister landed about three miles from my house. More physical damage to homes and more emotional damage to residents. As the storm clouds passed, I was reminded of an EF0 tornado I had the pleasure of encountering at a conference in Temecula, California. There, I saw rain fall horizontally, not vertically. The trees were bent downward and I began reciting litany of silent prayers. There was only minor damage to the community and no injuries but every time the sirens wail, I remember my tornado experience.
These recent disasters in the Cincinnati area may not be a sign of impending doom, but I bet my homeowner insurance will increase because of these weather-related occurrences.
Customer Service
There was a time when going to a gas station involved interaction with a human. The attendant would fill the tank, check the oil level, and clean the windshield. Today, the attendant is locked in a booth. Gasoline is via self-serve pumps. To clean the windshield, one removes the squeegee from the reservoir then smears the brownish water across the windshield. Except in New Jersey where self-serve gas pumps are illegal! I quickly learned this on my first trip to Hoboken, New Jersey, that only a gas station employee could pump gas into my rental. It was nice not worrying about gas getting on my pants as I pumped. To the residents of New Jersey, it was an accepted practice, but to me, it was great customer service.
Member Resources
The updated website has a listing of contacts for services for our members. If you have any suggestions, send them to: hello@cmera.org
Until next month…