While winter is still holding on to our community, I must admit that I am beginning to get the spring bug. This happens every year to me. Perhaps you catch the “spring bug” too. If you are a student, I am sure you are starting the countdown to summer vacation. I know I always started the countdown in mid-March. But there are several other things that also say spring to me.

We get warmer for a day here or there, days are getting longer and it is sunnier. I start looking at my yard to figure out a plan for cleaning up all the sticks. I hear the birds chirping as I leave for work in the morning.

A key indicator for springing forward is when daylight savings time begins. This year daylight savings time starts on March 8. For me, the “loss” of an hour’s sleep is balanced out by the knowledge that spring is around the corner. Another thing for me is spring training in Major League Baseball. Maybe you are not a baseball fan but I am. During spring training, baseball fans like me have the optimism that we could win the World Series this year if things go according to plan.

To quote Andrew Pope, “hope springs eternal.” Unfortunately, I happen to be a Pittsburgh Pirates fan. What can I say, Roberto Clemente was my favorite player growing up. So, for me, each year as I watch the season unfold, I quickly lose hope and conclude that a World Series is not going to happen… AGAIN!

Along with spring comes the construction season. There has been a lot of information provided about the closure of Monroe Street bridge as it goes over US 23. However, you cannot have too many reminders of something that is this impactful to our community. The closure is scheduled for 9 pm on Sunday, March 8, so if you use this road as you travel throughout our community, please plan accordingly. That construction is projected to last for 150 days. To get up to date information on this project you can visit this link from the Ohio Department of Transportation:

transportation.ohio.gov/projects/projects/105889

Another project underway is the burial of the utility lines in the second block of Main Street, but the main construction on that block is not expected to materially impact our community for a couple more months. If you want to know more about the project status, please visit the Sylvania Chamber’s “Sylvania Strong” link:

sylvaniachamber.org/sylvania-strong/

As the weather warms and coats are shed, I look forward to seeing people around town. If you see me and want to share your thoughts, feel free to do so. However, if you have something else you want to share with me or if you have a question on other city services, please call my office at 419-885-8926 or email lsmith@cityofsylvania.com.