Members of the council?

"I've got the most experience as a candy operator, the best selection of anyone in the area, schoolchildren like candy and you can never have too many candy stores," Rea said during his video presentation.

"I'll have nice trees, flowers and parking for bicycles," Rea said. "And free candy on Tuesdays."

Trista Roller, who was seated in Fourth District council member Marsha McClure's seat, wanted to know how many people he would employ.

Playing the role of council president Gregg Hixenbaugh, Kelly Kemp asked Rea what his hours would be. Kemp then asked those in the audience if anyone wanted to speak against the candy store.

Audience members in the mock public hearing included Jennifer Waite and Jessica Brock's third-grade classes. The students played the role of some of the city's 22 different departments and 511 employees.

And then there was "Jim Brewster," a fictional character played by Andy West, program coordinator for the City of Misha! waka's Redevelopment Department.

"I don't like candy," Brewster said gruffly. "I don't like kids and cleaning up after them."

The video presentation turned to Brewster's home next door to the proposed candy store. It was a falling down shack with "No Candy" painted on an awning. Posted "No Candy Store" signs peppered the yard.

"Candy makes you fat and rots your teeth!" Brewster grumbled to an audience laughing in hysterics. "To sum it up, I don't like candy!"

After a vote of the council, the candy store won, but only by one vote, 5 to 4.

As president Hixenbaugh, Kemp was the first to vote "No," sympathizing with Brewster.

"It's a bad area to put a candy store," she said.

"Candy is bad for you," said Tyler Miller, who also voted "No" to Rea's candy store while seated in sixth district council member Ron Banicki's seat.

"I like candy," said Sarah Brock who voted "Yes" from the seat of first district council member Dale! "Woody" Emmons.

With adjournment, the youthful bunch h! ad their first introduction to the legislative branch of city government. They'll be using that experience as part of a state standard social studies requirement in local government and history.

The walls of city hall breathe history, once serving as Bingham School. The council chambers are located where the lunchroom stood.

Cutouts in the wall, now painted orange and decorated with art, had housed lunch tables pulled down from the walls.

Students also got an inside view of the mayor's offices, along with a lesson on the executive branch. More area history filled the walls.

Several models of Hummers got thumbs up from the boys, and a circus-style ad for The Kamm & Schellinger Brewery prompted giggles when the children were told the brick building at 100 Center once made beer.

Jack Spalding's favorite part of the trip was touring the employee lounge.

Called "The Shiojiri Room" by the staff, the room is decorated with Japanese accents tha! t were gifts from Shiojiri.

"I think it's cool how we have a sister city in Japan," Spalding said.

While there were plenty of little finger- and nose-prints left behind on glass display cases, there was also another impression left behind.

"It's amazing to see where these kids will be in 20 years," whispered City Clerk Debbie Ladyga-Block from the sidelines.

"They could end up there," she said, nodding toward the council seats.

Staff writer Virginia Ransbottom:

(574) 235-6344

By: David L. Feinstein

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David L. Feinstein, noted business coach and home business entrepreneur, is the author of various and many articles that help ! to empower individuals. To get the real innovative marketing k! nowledge and training, so you can be at the cutting edge of using technology to build your internet network marketing business correctly, visit our website.

Source: http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071120/News04/711200461/1051/News04
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