Litzenberg Memorial Long Term Care

This Thursday, as our newspaper, hopefully, hits your mailbox, I’ll be celebrating my 33rd birthday. Yes, that’s right—33 trips around the sun, and I still can’t figure out how to properly fold a fitted sheet. But let’s not dwell on my domestic shortcomings. Instead, let’s talk about something that’s been on all our minds lately: the future of Litzenberg Memorial Long Term Care.

Now, I know what you’re thinking—Ryan, it’s your birthday, shouldn’t you be wishing for something fun, like a new grill or a day off? Well, sure, those things sound great, but there’s something else that’s been occupying my thoughts lately. I’m talking about the recent decision by the Merrick County Board of Supervisors to not put the bond for a new long-term care facility on the November ballot. It’s a topic that’s been a bit like that piece of cake you know you shouldn’t eat, but you can’t help but go back for just one more bite.

I’ve spent more time in board meetings than I care to admit, and let me tell you, there have been moments when I’ve sat there scratching my head, wondering if I accidentally wandered into a debate on quantum physics instead of a discussion about the future of our long-term care facility. And no, I didn’t expect to spend the week of my birthday thinking about bond proposals, but here we are.

I’ve watched Tyson Benner and the Long-Term Care Board pour their hearts into this project. They’ve invested more time into it than I’ve spent agonizing over whether to go for seconds at my birthday dinner (the answer is always yes, by the way). And now, after all that hard work, it feels like we’re back to square one—like when you blow out all the candles on your birthday cake only to realize you didn’t make a wish. (And no, I’m not saying that happened to me last year… but I’m not saying it didn’t either.)

In all seriousness, though, I have to commend Supervisor Kreachbaum for understanding that the people deserve the chance to have their say. We’re at a crossroads here, folks. Do we move forward with a plan to secure the future of long-term care in our community, or do we risk losing it altogether? It’s like deciding whether to save the last slice of birthday cake for later or just go ahead and eat it now. Spoiler alert: you should probably just eat the cake.

My heart goes out to the residents and employees at Litzenberg. I know how tough this must be for them, and there have been times when I’ve dreaded reporting on this topic because I can’t help but think about them reading it. It’s not an easy situation, and that’s why the Board of Supervisors initially voted to support the project—because they wanted to show that they’re committed to our community. It was like lighting a candle on a cake, a little spark of hope in a sea of uncertainty.

So, what’s my birthday wish this year? Well, besides the usual hopes for good health and happiness, I’m wishing that this story isn’t over yet. I’m hoping that all the hard work and dedication from those behind the scenes won’t be for nothing. And most importantly, I’m hoping that the people of Merrick County will continue to let their voices be heard.

And if there’s a slice of cake left after all this, well, that wouldn’t hurt either.

As always, thank you for reading.