This Just In...

I will say this about former FranklinNOW blogger Greg Kowalski. He’s consistent.

A few weeks ago, just before the opening of the Sendik’s at the Shoppes of Wyndham Village, I blogged about Kowalski’s fault-finding mission with the development, even as Franklin was joyously celebrating the opening of a quality retailer.

Today, as the long-awaited Target opens at the Shoppes of Wyndham Village, guess what? Kowalski is back with another inane, clueless whine about Target. He starts out taking potshots at young FranklinNOW intern Alisha Fischer’s fine video report previewing the new Target.

C’mon, Greg. She’s just a kid. You're familiar with that pout and cry routine. You used it every day when you were blogging over here.

Kowalski says he was “astonished” (Oh my!!) that FranklinNOW “openly embraces shopping at Target for food items!”

Well, yes, Target does sell food items. Ms. Fischer correctly emphasized some of the unique offerings at this particular Target. That’s called news, Greg. What was Ms. Fischer supposed to do, Greg? Target doesn’t sell cars, or trucks, or widgets.

Kowalski then mentions Target’s selection of fine wines and in a tone that has some truth to its desperate sound asks, “can someone please tell me why I'm shopping at Sendik's Fine Foods?” The title of his blog also insinuated that the FranklinNOW video basically gave people reason not to shop at Sendik’s. It did no such thing. The video gave viewers a brief, informative inside look at Target before its opening.

Kowalski, the biz whiz that he is, seriously thinks that because Target sells food and fine wine that it will force next-door Sendik’s out of business.  Is he for real? Sadly, he is. He really thinks that.

Sorry, Greg. You referred to me in your blog, even though you didn’t mention me by name. (By the way, I’m a Senate aide, not a Senatorial aide. Might want to make note of that for your next cheap shot). So as they say on “Law and Order,” you opened the door, counselor, so I’m responding to your second attack in as many weeks on a new store opening.

Competition is good for everyone. The more shopping options for Franklin residents, the better. To suggest that people won’t shop at Sendik’s because Target now has Merlot is, well, pretty dumb.

Besides, the food offerings aren’t the same at Sendik’s and Target, as was pointed out in a blog I did last year.

In his blog today, just hours before the Target ribbon-cutting, Kowalski does what he does best: engage in conjecture and wild speculation.

“If Sendik's closes that strip mall could be solely anchored by a Super Target, which is very scary to Franklin residents who have fought long and hard against massive big boxes in the community.” He then ripped the developer.

And he’s studying business at MATC? Gee, there’s tuition money well spent. 

The main point is that Kowalski likes to prop himself up as the best thing that ever happened to Franklin. I did this and I did that. And yet, in the past two weeks, when Franklin has rightly celebrated the opening of long-awaited community developments, Kowalski didn’t cheer.  He reached for the mud bucket.

Funny how he and others can rip a development that is actually up and running, but when I question one that’s been stuck in neutral for ages, I’m such a bad boy. But that’s another issue for another day.

Congratulations, Mark Carstensen for seeing another dream become reality. Keep in mind that you’ll never win with some folks who will constantly moan and groan and cry that there aren’t enough flowers and there aren’t enough bike stands and there aren’t enough places for them to park their butts to sit by a fountain and have coffee and a bagel and there aren’t enough walkways for the droves of people who want to walk to Target (that’s my favorite). 

You done good, Mark. (By the way, was that your car parked at Wal-Mart? Oh my God, the apocalypse is at hand!).

Congratulations, Franklin. You’ve waited a long time for these developments to take shape and they’re finally here. I have every confidence you’ll be loyal in your support.

Shame on Greg Kowalski who continues his attacks on everyone from the Mayor on down, even an intern, a young intern. He totally mischaracterizes her report but he’s done that his entire blogging career, twisting and distorting, and rarely having facts to back up his wacky assertions.

Oh, and Dave Hintzman, if you’re reading, if and when Fountains of Franklin ever opens, and I certainly hope it does, I’d be real leery of your hand-picked press agent, Mr. Kowalski because he just might bad-mouth your place, too.