point of view

The lighthouse is called La Jument & is one of the most spectacular lanterns on the French coast. It is inside the island of Ouessant & was built between 1904-1911 to signal dangerous lows in which a multitude of shipwrecks had occurred. The photo takes place on 12/21/1989. French lighthouse photographer Jean Guichard flew over La Jument by helicopter on a day of heavy storm looking for the perfect shot of those gigantic waves of the Atlantic crashing against the lighthouse structure. Inside, the lairman Theophile Malgorn, heard the helicopter & thought perhaps the pilot was trying to contact him about a wreck or an accident. And in a full-fledged maneuver he opened the door to see what was happening.

The full action only lasted a few seconds. Guichard saw that man at the doorway & his photographer instinct told him there was a perfect composition there: man & the force of nature. At that very moment, lighthouse Malgorn – heard dry thunder, like a brutal stampede (the impact of the wave against the head of the lighthouse) & knew he had made a tremendous mistake. As fast as he opened he closed the door again, just a thousandth of a second before the wave swept everything away. He was alive on a miracle. Farmer Theophile Malgorn still lives on this island of Ouessant.

Wednesday, Farmer's Market (morning at Community Center; afternoon at Hitch Lot)

Thursday, 11:30am - SAFE

Friday, 7:30am - Council Work Session

Saturday, WINE FEST

Celebrating work anniversaries this week - Brent Bishop, Assistant Public Works Director - 30 years; Steve Farris, Utilities Foreman - 27 years; Bill Tuck, Parks Laborer - 19 years; Chris Samborski, Construction Services Maintenance - 6 years; Starla Yarbrough, Group Fitness Instructor - 6 years; Ryen Louderback, Center Front Desk Clerk - 1 year.

Highlighting community leaders serving on Capital Improvement Authority - Lyndsey Baxter, Jason Cole, Mike Edwards, Laurie Gerht, Mary Lou Greim, Mayor Mark Spohn, & Stephen Stubbs. Thank you for your leadership in considering the best allocations from the Capital Improvement & Transportation Trust Sales Tax Funds for community investments.

Appreciation to Tim Frie, Cemtery Sexton, who was assisted by 3 other public works employees to place American flags at headstones in Crownhill & Hillcrest Cemteries to honor veterans over the Memorial Day holiday. Thank you for for elevating recognition for their contribution.

City Council items under development include Proclamation for World Elder Abuse Awareness Day; Excelsior Hospital Annual Report; Park & Recreation Board appointments; Eastern Clay Ambulance District Annual Contract renewal to provide services [Revenue to General Fund]; MOU with ESSD for School Resource Officers [Revenue to General Fund]; Property/Casualty Insurance Proposals; boiler replacement for Hall of Waters [Expense from CIP Sales Tax]; Agreement with Army Corps of Engineers to accept WRDA funding to reline sewerlines; ordinance to amend parameters for owning chickens in residential districts.

Two businesses in Excelsior Springs will be the recipient of grant funds from the Paul Bruhn Grant for Historic Preservation. $600,000 was awarded to Missouri Main Street with $95,000 to be distributed to assist with the replacement of windows in the Colonial on Broadway & Salty Swine under development on Thompson Ave.

The Community Center has been successful in assisting residents who are recovering from physical ailments & surgeries. By using the center to follow up after physical therapy concludes provides an opportunity to continue to strengthen recovery efforts. We look forward to learning the ways the outdoor pool can support gain physical strength.

This past week, several downtown businesses were hosting live music/shows. Live music provided by Atlas Saloon, Dubious Claims Brewing; theatre preformances provided by Slightly Off Broadway and Firefly. DEP had planned to start their Lyrics on the Lawn Summer Series, but the threat of rain has postponed the first show until 6/14.

Visitors love to look at the light fixtures hanging in the Hall of Springs visitor center when they come. Did you know these are the original light fixtures?! Pretty neat! Read it on Facebook