"Back to the Future" could save clock tower

Some ideas are so crazy they just might work.
As I was writing a story for last week’s paper about efforts to finish the clock tower in front of the Waller County Courthouse, I kept thinking about the old clock tower in the “Back to the Future” trilogy. The old courthouse clock played a subtle but important role in the adventures of Marty McFly and Emmett “Doc” Brown.
In the original movie, Marty is given a fundraising flyer by a woman who rudely thrusts a collection can at him in an effort to save the clock tower.
In many ways that symbolically resembles the effort here. The county and the Waller County Historical Commission have taken a “build it and they will pay for it” approach to finishing the tower and installing the historic Seth Thomas clock that is currently collecting dust inside the courthouse.
The commission needs about another $100,000 to complete the job. The plan now calls for the $101,000 it has on hand to be used to jump-start construction in hopes that people will once again donate if they see work is finally being done. That’s basically thrusting the can in people’s faces in hopes their nickels and dimes will eventually add up.
I like the idea of having a little fun with it. How about throwing a “Back to the Future” bash one weekend? Just think of the possibilities.
In addition to having the usual food and vendor booths, games, dunk tanks and such, you could do a lot that is unique to a “Back to the Future” theme. You could have an “Enchantment Under the Sea” street dance with music from the ’50s and ’80s – or even a battle of the bands competition.
Perhaps the Hempstead Theater could arrange showings of the three movies. You could have a look-alike costume contest. People could pose for photos with the old clock like they did in the third movie.
If anyone has good Hollywood connections, perhaps invitations could be extended to some of the actors who played in the films to attend. Of course, if anyone knew where to find the old DeLorean, that would make a great centerpiece to an awesome car show. In fact, any props from the movies would make for a fun and fascinating display.
Who knows, maybe Huey Lewis and the News could be booked for a concert (or for the dance).
The potential for a lot of fun and funds is there, not to mention all the publicity Hempstead and Waller County would generate from such an event. Next year will be the 25th anniversary of the first film. Wouldn’t it be fun to reunite the cast right here in Hempstead?
Anyway, I thought I would plant this seed of an idea to see if it might take root. Who knows, the future of the Waller County clock tower might actually be “Back to the Future.”

Keep on Trekkin’
When I was a year old, my mother used to sit me in her lap and watch this new TV show called “Star Trek.”
Three years later, she tried to get me to watch the first moon landing on TV. I was puzzled by the fascination with the moon because we had starships that were way out in space, well beyond the moon. That became my first big lesson on fact and fiction on television.
Here it is 43 years later and “Star Trek” is back in my life in a big way. Actually, it never left my life, it just sat dormant for a while. The new movie that opened last weekend awoke the sleeping Vulcan within me.
Wow! What a thrill ride. With the exception of a few very campy moments, this was everything “Star Trek” was meant to be. It contains all the Trekker stuff we diehard fans would catch and understand while at the same time providing a great launching point into the franchise for newcomers.
They say this is not your father’s “Star Trek.” It never was my father’s. It was mine. And it is and it isn’t. It is a great tribute to a cult classic. But it’s hip enough to be relevant to the next generation.
I can only hope that this version of Trek will live long and prosper.