A Humble Man from Humble

Every year a story emerges in college sports that seems too good to be true. This year, perhaps the best story is Jerrod Johnson, the play-making junior quarterback for Texas A&M.

A few days ago, Sports Illustrated featured Johnson's remarkable story in a piece called, "Texas A&M QB Jerrod Johnson's Story is Best You've Never Heard." But now more and more people are hearing the story. And there is much in it to admire.

Johnson is very much the product of his small hometown of Humble, Texas. This city of nearly 15,000 near Houston helped create a thoughtful and decent young man. But he benefited not only from his town, but from his extended family.

As the article notes:

"He is the son of a high school teacher and high school administrator. Pam and Larry Johnson's faith and compassion ran so deep they took in nearly two dozen foster children while Jerrod and his brother, Marquis, were growing up. When Jerrod was 3, the state took custody of the child of one of Pam's friend. Pam's heart broke at the thought of the child, a boy named Kendall, not having a home. Larry and Pam went through foster parent training and raised the child until the state found a permanent home."

The Johnsons had found a calling: they would be foster parents. They wanted to bring as many kids as possible to their home in Humble where they could mold these young lives with small town values:

"From then on, the Johnsons gave foster children everything they could -- holiday parties, gifts, vacations, a church home, a family's love. They accepted kids of every age, so long as they were boys.

"Some of the children were infants. Some were young teens. Some were children of crack and heroine addicts. Some suffered from severe developmental and health issues. Some simply were abandoned. Some were black, some were white, some were Hispanic. It never mattered."

What did matter was using their home as a laboratory to change lives. Not long ago, Jerrod's father, Larry, passed away. But the impact of his father remains:

"At Larry's funeral, Jerrod spoke in detail of the lessons his father taught him. Marquis did an impeccable, humorous impersonation of how his boisterous, affable father would implore kids to always do the right thing. On the front row of the church sitting next to Pam was Joe, the Foster child who spent nine years with the family."

This season, much will be made about Jerrod Johnson the athlete. But a more interesting story is how his town and his family created him. Read more about it at:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/john_lopez/09/30/jerrod-johnson/index.html

The Power of Exchange

Economist Paul Romer has been a tenured professor at Stanford University for quite some time.

Through years of research and study he has come upon some new ideas for cities and the role cities play in rebuilding the economy, reducing unemployment, assisting developing nations and reducing poverty.

The two central concepts upon which all of his plans are based are not really new: stable rules and mutually beneficial exchange.

Romer believes that the cities which embody these two concepts have done more to bring about “a greater end to poverty than all the aid ever given.”

While Romer is focusing his plan on the larger population centers, his single operational principal is worthy of consideration for the leaders of cities of all sizes: Romer says, “I’m trying to harness the most powerful force on the planet: mutually beneficial exchange.”

Read more at Forbes, September 21, 2009, p. 38.

Lexington, Virginia

Budget Travel magazine just released its list of America's Coolest Small Towns and Lexington, Virginia made the cut:

http://www.newsleader.com/article/20090928/NEWS01/90928004

What constitutes a "cool" town? According to the article:

“Every now and then, you stumble upon a town that’s gotten everything right—great coffee, food with character, shop owners with purpose."

Lexington is all that and much more. The town is home to some great history. Both Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson are buried there. And the George Marshall Museum keeps the legacy alive for the great soldier and diplomat who guided World War II policy and then helped rebuild Europe.

So the next time you're in Western Virginia, stop by Lexington and experience some history.

Arkansaw, Wisconsin

Some 1399 people live in Arkansaw, Wisconsin. But thanks to a recent challenge, they are now united as one:

http://www.weau.com/home/headlines/62262312.html

After a recent flood, the people in the town joined hands to help rebuild their community and renew their commitment to one another:

"The response has just been overwhelming, very heartfelt,' says flood victim Gina Tomlinson. Tomlinson says she's blown away by the love and support her friends and neighbors have shown her since floods severely damaged her home, and much of the town of Arkansaw back in August."

Be sure to click on the link and watch the video. This is what community looks like.

Old Philadelphia: A Lesson from the Ages

Too often, it seems, the leaders of a city tend to think the solutions to their problems must come from within their own city.

It is refreshing to see a city looking beyond itself to find new ideas and solutions. (See the September 3 blog on Oaxaca and the surrounding towns that worked out a regional solution to “market days.”)

But the regional (or multi-city) approach is not a new idea.

On the east side of the Sea of Galilee, ten cities linked their fortunes and became forever known as “the Decapolis” (in Greek: Ten Cities).

“For the most part, the Decapolis cities owed their existence to the Hellenistic era . . . which followed the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. Each was founded, or modeled, on Greek principles and culture instead of the indigenous Semitic.”

The term reached such a level of popular usage that in addition to referring to each of the ten cities, the entire region was known as the Decapolis.

While “each of these cities functioned as a city-state (polis) within the overall empire of Rome . . . . Though never a formal federation or union, it is likely that the cities were commercially associated, joined by Roman roads making trade easier. The view within each city was that it was “free” or autonomous” . . . yet they were truly semi-autonomous.

Population estimates of the Decapolis cities include numbers such as 4,000 and 20,000. “A larger Decapolis city may have, also, jointly shared, or controlled, some territory with a smaller neighboring Decapolis city.”

During the first 200 years A.D. the Decapolis cities continued to flourish and Damascus and Philadelphia (Amman) grew into major international cities. Today, the ancient ruins mark the sites of most of these cities.

The other eight are worthy of recognition:

Raphana (Abila, Jordan)
Scythopolis (Beth-Shean, Israel)
Gadara (Umm Qais, Jordan)
Hippus (Hippos, Israel)
Dion (Jordan)
Pella (Jordan)
Gerasa (Jerash, Jordan)
Canatha (Qanawat, Syria

Ten cities, who discovered a timeless insight: semi-autonomous can be better than autonomous or, cooperation can yield success that cannot be realized through competition.

Source: The Cities of the Decapolis, BibleIsTrue.com (Lion Tracks Ministries)

Florence and Stanley: Two "Places of a Lifetime"

The National Geographic Traveler October 2009 issue celebrated its 29th anniversary by listing 50 “Places of a Lifetime.”

Included among the “Urban Spaces” was, not surprisingly, Florence, Italy.
In the “Country Unbound” section was the Sawtooth Mountains.

Writing about Florence was Lamberto Frescobaldi, identified as “a member of the 30th generation of the Frescobaldi family.”

Writing about the Sawtooth Mountains was Hannah Stauts, identified as “the mayor of Stanley, Idaho which lies at the northeast end of the Sawtooth Valley, beneath 10,000-foot-high peaks. At 24, she is one of the youngest female mayors in the United States.”

The population of Florence is 367,000. One hundred people live in Stanley.

What could these two places have in common? The answer is their people – each writer describes a passionate, possessive attitude that characterizes the people who inhabit the place.

Regarding Florence, Frescobaldi writes: “Its inhabitants are pleased with – and protective of – what they see as their uniqueness. Florentines are not quick to embrace novelty, but slowly, slowly we usually fall in love with it.”

Regarding Stanley, Stauts writes: “For those of us who live in Stanley (population 100), in the valley below Galena Summit, the Sawtooths preside over us. They are the reason we came here. They are the reason we stay. The Sawtooths are the connection we all share.”

About the future?

Frescobaldi writes, “Florence’s future is filled with its past, which I jealously guard in the hope that my children will someday inherit the elegance, history, culture, and wonderful simplicity of this extraordinary city.”

Stauts adds, “It takes a passion for the area and the life it offers. Our payoff: wide-open views, made possible by . . . easements (that) have guaranteed that the majority of our open, undeveloped land will remain that way for generations to come.”

It’s a remarkable thing – vast differences, but a same kind of passion of the people for their places, for a lifetime.

Sheboygan, Wisconsin: Best and Wurst

At the “Showdown in Sheboygan” thousands of on-lookers converge to watch competitors gorge themselves on bratwursts for 10 minutes. Winners have been known to consume 50 or more.

But when Thomas Margenau writes of his memories of his hometown of Sheboygan, Wisconsin (population 50,792), it’s not the competition – it’s the community – that he associates with the bratwurst.

“The smell of sizzling sausage from hundreds of backyard fryers permeated the town’s air all summer long like a nonstop Oktoberfest. (If you’re from Sheboygan, they’re called “brat fryers,” not barbeque grills.) I remember having brats at least two or three times a week . . . Sheboygan nowadays shows up on “Best Places to Live or Retire” lists . . . many of us remember it as the “wurst city in America.”

Memories of our hometowns are often made of unsuspecting things in unanticipated ways. But those memories are the stuff that makes “our town” different from all the other towns – and give what might otherwise be just another city the special appellation of “community.”

Click to read more (Smithsonian, September 2009, p. 13)

Forks, Washington

Two years ago, Forks, Washington was just a town of 3120 people. But thanks to the best-selling "Twilight" books and movie series, the town is now world famous:

http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/travel/27culture.html

Fans of the series have descended on this mid-sized city:

"Over the last year or so, Forks (population 3,120) has morphed into a mecca for Twilighters, or Twihards as they are sometimes called. Visitors to this rainy town, whose main industries are logging and two correctional facilities, have more than tripled for the first eight months of this year, compared with the same period last year, according to the local Chamber of Commerce."

The town has taking advantage of the series to re-market itself as a tourist site:

"Charlene Leppell’s longtime flower and gift shop was on the brink of closing until she started printing up 'Bella for Prom Queen' T-shirts and applying glitter to red ceramic apples. Now her shop, renamed Twilight Central, is doing so well that 'the question isn’t whether I could afford to take a vacation this year,' Ms. Leppell said, 'but whether I could take off time from the store.'”

Forks, Washington offers a great example of a small city that took what it was known for and built industry and commerce around it. Any city can do the same thing. Although it helps if you have a bestselling movie and book with which to work.

Decatur, Nebraska

Decatur, Nebraska is a small town of only 650 people. But what it lacks in size, it makes up for in heart:

http://www.kmeg14.com/Global/story.asp?S=11164522

"6-month-old Logan Nathan has VACTERL Syndrome. Logan is now home - he's been out of the hospital for the past few weeks. But his family still needs a lot of help with their medical bills."

Fortunately, the family is getting help from neighbors in the town. Local folks have banded together and raised more than $11,000 for the medical treatment that young Logan needs.

"How are we going to repay all this? And hopefully someday we'll be able to pay it forward and help another family along the way," says Tracy Nathan.

Decatur, Nebraska is an example of a town that people loved to live in--a place where people care about people.

Out of the Fire--A Community

Much has been made about the heroic efforts of firefighters in California as they worked earlier this month to save lives and homes from the largest fire in Los Angeles County history.

The firefighters came from all over. But where did they live?

http://www.sgvtribune.com/news/ci_13337212

A makeshift town sprung up that housed these heroes. The Hansen Dam Recreation Area was transformed overnight into a community. And it was a community in every sense of the word.

It offered buildings to help the firefighters:

"Complete with showers, mobile sleepers, a dining tent and laundry trailer, the Station Fire made Hansen Dam home to more than 5,000 firefighters and support personnel for about two weeks."

It offered food and refreshment:

"Beyond the trailers, a dining tent served some 2,700 hungry firefighters anything from chicken-fried steak to fresh fruit, according to Incident Catering Service's on-site manager Chris Ball."

It offered housing:

"Across camp, firefighters could sleep in any one of 16 trailers brought in by the the Mobile Sleeper Company, a subcontractor to the U.S. Forest Service."

What about the washing and drying needs for the firefighters?

"About 2,800 pounds of laundry was cleaned daily by one of 20 washers and dryers brought in and operated by AAA laundry, according to AAA representative Peggy Burden."

And yes, even a trash service was provided:

"The California Conservation Corps cleaned the campground, stocked food and picked up litter, according California Conservation Corps supervisor Anthony Larios."

But as great as all of these services are, they pale in comparison to the main reason Hansen Dam became a community--because people cared about each other and were working together on a cause greater than themselves.

When people are busy saving lives and fighting fires all day, they don't have time to bicker at night over local politics or neighborhood ordinances. They are thankful for the blessings of community.

It's a good thing the fire is mostly finished. But it's a sad thing that the makeshift town of Hansen Dam is finished, too. That community had much to teach the rest of us.

For All Our Cities: Reasons to be Hopeful

The role of leadership in a city is always important – but even more so during the difficult times.

John Gardner in his book “On Leadership” wrote, “The first and last task of a leader is to keep hope alive.”

So what is a leader’s message during a serious economic downturn?

The mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, provided a message of hope that contains elements that are applicable for cities of any size:

1. The value of ideas – “. . . as factories have moved overseas . . . a crucial sector of the industry – design – has remained. It’s the sector that relies on ideas. And to paraphrase Harvard University economist Edward Glaeser, the demand for ideas isn’t going away.”

2. The value of the entrepreneur – “. . . half of today’s Fortune 500 companies were founded during a recession or a bear market . . . In New York City, we’re expecting a big payoff from what we’re doing: opening business incubators, building boot camps for entrepreneurs, organizing business-plan competitions, expanding the amount of early-stage seed capital for startups, and cutting taxes for the smallest small businesses.”

3. The value of universities – “. . . our open society and world-class universities will remain a magnet for the world’s best and brightest . . . Economists have estimated that every person arriving on an H1-B visa creates jobs for five native-born Americans.”

4. The value of optimism – “For optimists, there are always opportunities . . . human achievement is built on the optimistic notion that what is not possible today can be possible tomorrow . . . .”

“America has never had a short supply of optimists, which may be the best of all reasons to be hopeful.”

Click to read Mayor Bloomberg’s entire article: Business Week, August 24 & 31, 2009, page 53.

Ani: Once Upon a Time

There once was a city named Ani.

It was located near today’s border between Turkey and Armenia.

Owen Matthews writes that in its best days, located “at the crossroads of empires made Ani as large and as wealthy as Venice.”

Its population reached 100,000, perhaps more. Ani was known as the “City of 1,001 Churches.”

But no one lives in Ani anymore. Wars, sieges, looting, fires and earthquakes have taken their toll.

Matthews writes, “I don’t believe in ghosts. But maybe I believe in the spirit of a place. And in Ani, and all over ancient Armenia . . . there’s something missing. There’s a feeling that the place has been abandoned by history, and by the people who made the place’s history.”

Some impressive – yet empty – structures (such as the cathedral of Ani, with its pointed arches and clustered piers) still stand where people once dwelled.

Once, Ani was like many, if not most cities, “a crossroads, a meeting point, a place of equal footing.” Is it possible that “this corner of the world could start to become a crossroads again, instead of a lonely dead end”?

The work of building community, of reviving or maintaining a “spirit of place” never stops. It is incumbent on the people who occupy the place.

Click to read Owen Matthews’ entire article: Haunted by History, Newsweek, September 14, 2009, p.67.

Flagstaff to China

When the mayor of Flagstaff, Arizona (population 58,000) traveled to China, a clash of cultures was expected. Instead, common ground was found:

http://www.naztoday.com/news/top-stories/2009/09/small-town-mayor-big-time-trip/

Mayor Sara Presler took part in a State Department-sponsored trip. While touring various Chinese cities, she tried to find connections. As the article notes:

"Establishing connections and mutual appreciation for differences and similarities between political, cultural, social and economical aspects of China and the U.S. was the mayor’s main goal as she met with several of China’s leaders."

Apparently, the mayor succeeded:

"But one strong similarity that Presler noticed between Flagstaff and China was in the style of public art. Presler witnessed groups of Chinese citizens dancing to Salsa music and saw the mutual appreciation for the arts, regardless of the censorship the communist government imposes on free speech."

Presler returned home with great pride in her mid-sized city and a new realization of how her city is not unlike cities in other parts of the world.

Westfield, New Jersey

The New York Times recently profiled Westfield, New Jersey, population 30,000:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/realestate/13Living.html?hpw

This is a mid-sized city that continues to experience moderate growth because it has a small town feel:

"The town has a coziness that stems from an intergenerational appeal. People who grew up here often choose to move back as adults — to be near parents and to be parents themselves. It’s the kind of community where children ride their bicycles and skateboards downtown, gathering at delis and Italian-ice stands."

One of the possible reasons this New Jersey city has remained relatively small is that though it's close to New York City, there is no direct train connection to the Big Apple. Thus, not as many New York City commuters live in this town as in other New Jersey towns.

But plans are underway to connect Westfield with Midtown Manhattan by 2016. And though the city seems happy about this development, it also hopes to keep its small town atmosphere in tact.

The View From Castelletto

Patrick Symmes rented a stone house in Castelletto (population 4,400), an “obscure village high up in the Arda Valley” of Italy.

His goal was “to go local in every sense: language, cooking, daily life.”

This was not the region of the best known Italian cities. Neither Paris, Florence nor Venice were nearby neighbors.

The cities of this region – Parma, Modena, Bologna, Ferrara and Ravenna – were not nearly as well known but offered “more than enough.”

Symmes summarized:

“. . . I would see Florence (the magic Italy, the famous Italy). . . amid roaring buses, be elbowed off the tiny sidewalks . . . and have my pockets cleaned out by the exorbitant fees for museums and meals that came with free jostling. In Parma, by contrast, we had our own little Italy almost to ourselves.”

And then there’s Ravenna:

Symmes had “seen Roman and Byzantine mosaics in Syria, Turkey, and Lebanon. But the art of stone tiling reached its zenith here, in glittering works of gold and blue that put even Hagia Sophia in Istanbul to shame. In Ravenna, we devoured the famous portraiture in stone of the Basilica di Sant’ Apollinare Nuovo and the tiny but stunning mausoleum of Galla Placidia.”

Such experiences enhance the appreciation of the beauty to be found in the smaller, less well known places – and revive the meaning of Goethe’s description in 1786 of the “lovely great depopulated” Ferrara.

To read Patrick Symmes' excellent article in its entirety: Conde Nast Traveler, September 2009, p. 155.

Why Do You Love This Place?

Have you ever questioned why you like one place more than another? Or what makes a town your favorite?

Jennifer McKenzie Frazier supplied some food for thought when she described “Why I Love the Hotel Contessa” in Southern Living, June 2008, p. 44.

Her five reasons were Rooms, Location, Style, Food and Extras.

While the above applies to a hotel, it’s not a bad framework for thinking about a city.

Changing “Rooms” to “Space” provides a reminder that the way a city allocates and configures its space can make a big difference in the way we feel about the city.

Location – can suggest more than geographical siting but include accessability as well.

Style – architecture plays a big role here, especially with major buildings, both old and new.

Food – can play a big part in shaping the distinctiveness of a city.

Extras – this is where a city breaks away from the conventional recipe and adds something special.

The result is a five-point checklist that city leaders would do well to review frequently.

Corfu and the "Rhythm of Life"

When Lia Huber spent three months “living in a small mountain town on the Greek island of Corfu” she learned that “it’s not just the foods themselves . . . it’s how they’re eaten.”

Following are five lessons learned from living the Corfu way:

1. “Time spent eating with friends and family is time spent living well.”

2. “Eat fresh . . . It’s a twice-weekly ritual in many cities and towns to buy fresh produce and meats in open-air markets.”

3. “Vegetables and legumes are the main dishes in Greece, not sides.”

4. “A meal was never rushed in Greece – it was normal to spend 2 to 3 hours enjoying a lunch.”

5. “For Greeks, meals are about more than just the food . . . It’s about nourishing your whole being – mind, body, and spirit.”

When thinking about the role of food in building community, Lia Huber’s experience at Corfu discovered that “food was part of the rhythm of life there.”

Read Lia Huber’s complete article: “The Summer That Changed My Diet,” Prevention, August 2007, p. 172.

A Community Within a Community

West Linn, Oregon was recently profiled as one of the best small cities in America. Yet the 24,000 people who live there are somewhat separated by various neighborhoods:

"Driving from the valley to the top of the hill is like going through different universes. In the valley, most of the residential areas have older homes built in a simple ranch style. There are older homes on the hill, but most are newer homes dwarfing those in the valley or Willamette.

"Some residents say there isn't a citywide sense of community."

http://www.oregonlive.com/living/index.ssf/2009/08/affluent_west_linn_ranks_as_a.html

Yet once inside these neighborhoods, a sense of community does exist:

"Down the street a front yard has become a designated party zone. Paper lanterns, a grill and a circle of lawn chairs fill the space. The neighborhood gathers there every Tuesday, as it did last week after a trip to the taco cart at the West Linn Farmers Market, in Willamette, to eat, drink and relax.

"There's a strong feeling of community in Willamette, which is the largest of West Linn's 11 neighborhoods, with 5,766 residents in 2008. Neighbors walk through one another's backyards. There's a bit of competitive gardening, and they've helped each other with home repairs. Toward the end of the night, after the neighbors finish their tacos, many of them will hop in canoes and kayaks for a moonlight ride on the Willamette River."

A sense of community can be found in different places; sometimes it's your city, sometimes it's your neighborhood.

Returning to Boulder City, Nevada

Young people often can't wait to leave their hometowns. But some of them return, as Boulder City, Nevada is learning:

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2009/sep/07/small-town-has-way-luring-people-back/

This mid-sized city of 15,000 has seen many of its young people leave only to return.

According to this article, "What separates growing towns from dying ones is the ability to either draw new people in or to attract some of those young people back...."

So why are young people returning to Boulder City? Many of them seem to be finding that the experience of living in the city leaves them nostalgic for the pace of life in a smaller place.

Tim Tillman was one such native who left and then came home. Why?

“'We moved out, and I fell in love with Boulder City all over again,' he said. 'I knew it was going to be a good place to raise the boys.'”

Evidently, you can take the person out of Boulder City, but you can't take Boulder City out of the person.

McCoy and Shipley

As the college football season begins, much is being made of the relationship between Texas Longhorn players Colt McCoy and Jordan Shipley. This week, ESPN aired a feature on the two, and ran an article about them on its website.

The premise of these stories is simple: the two boys grew up together and now are one of the most powerful tandems in college football. Most people have heard the part about the two boys' dads playing college football together at Abilene Christian. But ESPN chose to focus on another aspect of their relationship: how growing up in small cities helped develop them.

Both the boys' fathers were high school coaches. McCoy played for his dad in Tuscola (just under 1000 in population) and now lives with his family in the summer in Graham (population 8700). Meanwhile, Shipley played for his day at Burnet (population 4700).

During the summers, the two boys would often get together and go hunting, fishing and camping.

According to McCoy, growing up in a smaller place helped expose him to the outdoors, and this taught him many important lessons: "I learned how to work. Hunting, fishing, working on the farm with my grandpa … I developed a passion for work and it carried over to the field."

And so the two most important players on one of college footballs most talented teams come from mid-sized cities in Texas. And the cities that produced the two young men can be proud. Click on the video below to watch the two as they talk about football, fishing and life.

Cities that produce kids like this are cities worth knowing about.

http://sports.espn.go.com/outdoors/fishing/news/story?id=4435439

Oaxaca and a Multi-Town Collaboration

Twenty years after Alice Waters made her first visit to Oaxaca, Mexico she still remembers it to be her “Favorite Place.” In the September 2009 issue of Travel and Leisure, p. 160, she writes:

“Oaxaca is replete with the art of everyday life. It’s not art in a gallery. The creativity comes across in the way people dress, in the way they live, and in the way they work. It’s in the colors of the earthenware pots: dark greens; deep purples; intense blacks . . . This is one of the richest, most biodiverse places in the Americas. You find it when you go to the Indian market in the Teotitlan valley outside of town.”

Actually, the markets have proven to be the basis of a sort of multi-locale collaboration that extends beyond the city of Oaxaca and spreads across the surrounding area and throughout the week.

Tuesday is the day to visit the market in Ayoquezco (population 4,385), especially if you’re interested in wood furniture. Wednesday, try the Zimatlan (population 2,562) market for cheese. Thursday, it’s the open-air market in Ejutla (population 17,232).

And it goes on – a sort of open-air market for each day of the week – small towns featured during the week days and a big market day in Oaxaca on Saturday.

When it comes to markets, “You can go every day and see something new.”

Even in Hollywood . . . Some Things Shouldn't Change

Before its 20th anniversary, Musso and Frank Grill was referring to itself as the “oldest restaurant in Hollywood.”

It still claims that title – as it anticipates its centennial celebration in 2019.

According to Paul Slansky, when Musso and Frank Grill “first opened for business, three months after World War II ended and four months before Prohibition began, it shared its neighborhood with avocado groves, eucalyptus trees and even a gently flowing stream.”

Then the motion picture industry converged on the area and everything changed – well, almost everything.

After marking 90 years in the same location, “Musso and Frank Grill is still the toast of Hollywood – fabulous as it ever was.”

“The last quarter-century has seen the demise of dozens of classic L.A. eateries, among them Chasen’s, the Brown Derby, Scandia, Schwab’s drugstore . . . the links to old Hollywood are slowly fading away . . .”

But there is still an important place in our towns for those special places like “Musso’s.” As Slasky writes:

“. . . its history imbues it with a kind of meta-coolness that transcends the ephemeral hipness of whatever the hot restaurant of the moment happens to be . . .”

To read more see ForbesLife, October 2006, p. 135.

Prosper, Texas

The town motto of Prosper, Texas might well be "if you build it they will come."

This city of 7000 north of Dallas unveiled a brand new high school this week:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/083109dnmetprosperhigh.40aeb59.html

The new high school is "a $113.5 million, 590,000-square-foot behemoth, complete with a medical tech lab, a restaurant-worthy kitchen, a greenhouse, a broadcast studio and, of course, an indoor football practice facility. All this in a still-sleepy town of just 7,000 people."

Ironically, this incredible new facility is much bigger than needed for the student population:

"The school opened last week at half its capacity, but district officials say it will soon fill up as families push north from crowded suburbs like Frisco and McKinney."

This is another example of how small cities are planning for the future.

Our Boys in Smith Center, Kansas

Twenty years ago, H.G. Bissinger moved to Odessa, Texas to write a book about high school football. The result was "Friday Night Lights," a book that showed the dark side of high school athletics and eventually led to a movie and a television show.

Now, Joe Drape of The New York Times has written a book that in some ways is a rebuttal to the caricature of "Friday Night Lights." In "Our Boys: A Perfect Season on the Plains with the Smith Center Redmen," Drape tells the story of how Smith Center, Kansas (population 1931) produced a record-setting high school football team:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5go3vONit5Wj-Nn8_zIRtlrsgHGDwD9A2A2VO1

According to Drape, the book is very different than "Friday Night Lights":

"It was less about football and more about how hard work, patience and love can lift a community. ... It's in a quote I started one of the chapters with, about how people around Kansas can always recognize a Smith Center kid — because he's polite, confident and tough. It's about the way people in a small town in the middle of America want the world outside to view them."

Revealingly, the book's title comes from Drape's own affection for the small city:

"I said to myself, 'This is my team. These are my guys. They're 'Our Boys.'"

Telluride and a "Patch of Common Ground"

It’s interesting to hear the stories of the way some “distinctive” takes root in a city and in retrospect can be seen as defining its community spirit so well that its importance grows beyond its practical role into a greater symbolic role.

One of the best examples of this is Antonya Nelson’s story of the Free Box in Telluride, Colorado:

". . . I suppose it was an early form of recycling: a bookcase-like structure into which people placed what they no longer needed and took what they liked.

"The Free Box, situated a mere three blocks from my family’s remaining house (still an uninsulated miner’s shack resting on rocks rather than a real foundation, surrounded now by Victorian-style manors and manicured lawns), soon became the town’s hub. There, locals would linger, glancing over its labeled shelves – boys, girls, men, women, books, housewares, jackets, shoes, etc. – to see what might be of use.

"Over the years I’ve retrieved a down sleeping bag, coffee table, hammock, headboard, ice chest, file cabinet, sink, television and several typewriters (invariably with exhausted ribbons). My children have brought home countless toys and gadgets; guests have picked up temporary necessities, ski poles or sweatshirts, and returned them at visit’s end. . . .

"The Free Box is even a useful navigational tool. Place yourself there and west is out of town; east is toward the dead-end box canyon and inimitable Bridal Veil Falls; south is Bear Creek Road, the most popular hiking destination; and north leads – among other things – to our little house, crooked and dwarfed, on whose porch sit two perfectly good chairs carried home a few years ago from the Free Box.

"In the old days, a man nicknamed the Polite Motorcyclist (he never revved his engine when he went by, coasting on gravity) stationed himself at the box, handrolling cigarettes and monitoring visitors. Brother Al, priest and civic servant, swept the sidewalk. For a while the city had essentially taken over the box’s maintenance, which, the town manager estimated, amounted to something like $50,000 a year. Last fall some residents wanted to get rid of the box or at least have it relocated, complaining that the upkeep was costing the city too much and that it had become an eyesore – and it’s true the contents were often of dubious use (broken crockery, half-filled food packages, outdated catalogs). To preserve the landmark, a local citizen’s group, Friends of the Free Box, stepped in and since the winter have taken over the care of the box, posting a bulletin board to list big items and hauling away trash.

"Still, in a town that every year seems to grow closer and closer to that place it feared becoming – movie stars and other extraordinarily wealthy people live here now; the gated communities and private jets have arrived; articles on the need for “affordable housing” run alongside the ubiquitous Sotheby Realty ads in the town newspaper – I don’t think I’m alone in clinging to the markers of Telluride’s resistance. The Free Box is one of those, a small patch of common ground. Drop off a DVD of a Cary Grant movie and see it fly into a stranger’s parka pocket; hold up a black cashmere sweater and get a nod of approval – lucky you, to grab it first – from the thrift-store maven. Send the kids out to occupy themselves, to discover some curiosity or treasure there. Later, you can give it back.

"You take and you give, give and take. Maybe we can assure ourselves we won’t entirely turn into Aspen if we still have the Free Box."

To read Nelson’s full story, see Smithsonian, August 2009, p. 11.

Finding True Paris

In March 2008, National Geographic Traveler introduced “Finding True Paris,” a series of feature articles, with these words from editor Keith Bellows:

“. . . we kick off a series dedicated to seeing the world’s great cities through the lens of authenticity. We turn our backs on what’s trendy in favor of what is enduring – in a sense, saying, forget the hip; celebrate the timeless.”

On the same page was this statement: “In the universe of travel icons, the Eiffel Tower soars, standing for all that’s enduring and authentic in Paris.”

I’m reminded of the visit that author James Michener made to Abilene as he traveled the state prior to writing his novel, Texas. He asked that all meals be planned in local, family-owned restaurants (preferably with second generation proprietors). He asked to avoid all country clubs and chain and franchise places.

To use Bellows’ words, Michener was seeking, in his own way, to view Abilene through “the lens of authenticity.”

Perhaps such an approach would be a good exercise for the leaders of all towns – large and small – from Paris, France to Paris, Illinois.

Regarding Telluride, Colorado

The citizens of most towns seem to be always clamoring to have the stores and restaurants they see in other towns.

That’s not true of Telluride (population 2,221).

According to Antonya Nelson, the story of Telluride is not the “story of a town that made deals with developers, forsook its roots . . . and sold its soul.”

Telluride is “a beautiful place in which to wander, its gardens and houses well kept and properly scaled, the mountains themselves, protecting the little city in their bowl, forever breathtaking. Most of the stores are locally owned. There are no traffic lights, strip malls, box stores or massive parking lots.”

And its citizens seem to like it that way.

When it comes to change, sometimes what’s most important is knowing what should never change.

To read more about Telluride, see Smithsonian, August 2009, p. 11.

Festus, Missouri and Crystal City, Missouri

Where are banks building new branches during this economic downturn? In mid-sized cities:

http://stlouis.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2009/08/24/focus4.html?b=1251086400^1970601

It turns out, banks are seeing growth markets in mid-sized cities like Festus, Missouri and Crystal City, Missouri:

"According to statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the St. Louis metro area market has 3.5 bank branches per 10,000 people. However in the municipality of Festus, the ratio rises to 5.3 bank branches per 10,000, and it’s 6.6 in Crystal City. And that data doesn’t include the latest newcomer, Midwest Regional Bank, which opened its Festus branch Aug. 17.

"Although the combined population of Festus and Crystal City is approximately 14,000, about half the area’s population lives in unincorporated areas, so the potential customer base for banks is actually double that number."

Banks can find clients in cities like Festus and Crystal City just as well as they can in nearby St. Louis. And so the law of supply and demand is leading big banks into smaller cities.

Windy Mid-sized Cities

Following the lead of President Obama, much of America is talking about renewable energy. For liberals, it represents a chance to protect the environment by drilling for oil less. For conservatives, it represents a chance to stop importing oil from the Middle East.

But one feature of the debate that hasn't been as widely discussed is where the renewable energy is coming from:

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2009/07/27/daily50.html

It turns out that mid-sized cities like Sweetwater, Texas (population 11,000) are leading the way, especially when it comes to wind energy. As the article notes:

"Texas continues to lead the nation in wind power generating capacity, with 454 megawatts added in the second quarter. That’s a 6 percent growth in wind capacity, giving the Lone Star State more than 8,000 megawatts in wind power capacity.

"This year, businesses in Texas have added a new wind farm in Abilene and announced a new facility in Sweetwater."

It used to be that folks made fun of West Texas for being so windy. Now they make money out of it.

Bentonville, Arkansas

The world's largest store is headquartered in one of America's smaller cities.

Bentonville, Arkansas today has 34,000 residents. But the most important resident is the corporate headquarters for Wal-Mart.

In 1962, local businessman Sam Walton founded what would become the biggest--and most controversial--retail chain in the world. What would eventually become known as "Wal-Mart" began on the town square as "Walton's Five and Dime." The building still exits today at 105 North Main Street, although it's only a visitor's center now.

But folks who did visit the center will learn a good deal about the man and the town that created this empire.

Sam Walton had worked for J.C. Penney's and had run a Ben Franklin variety story in a nearby town. It was there that he began to try different techniques. For example, he tried to offer the lowest prices possible. And he kept his store open later than his competitors. Later, when he began opening Wal-Mart stores around the country, Walton introduced the idea of allowing store managers the chance to buy into the company. He figured that people would work even harder for a store that they helped own.

The Wal-Mart model in many ways reflected the town that produced it. Wal-Mart stressed customer service and putting people first. "I'm probably not the best negotiator in the world," Walton once admitted, "I lack the ability to squeeze that last dollar." But what he lost in lower prices he made up for in volume and loyalty. Across the country, legions of shoppers became regulars at his stores.

"The reason for our success is our people and the way they're treated," Walton said in 1988. "All of us like to be recognized and appreciated. We need to feel the role we play or what we do is important. I didn't start out with that philosophy . . . but I came to develop it and appreciate it."

As for the way Wal-Mart offered incentives to employees, Walton described the strategy this way: "Our company believes in people. It's a partnership that through the years has been very important. We believe in sharing with our people."

Thanks to his unique business model, Sam Walton for many years ranked as the richest man in the United States.

Today, Bentonville remains proud to be the corporate headquarters for Wal-Mart. And the town square where Walton's original store sits remains the focal point of the community. Live concerts and arts festivals are regular features on the town square.

And one of Sam Walton's daughters, Alice, has begun laying the groundwork for a new world-class museum: the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Though no date has been set for the museum's opening, it bills itself as the next "premier national art institution."

And so Bentonville, Arkansas is still a mid-sized city with big-time ambitions.

Kusadasi: A Magic Carpet Ride

On the floor in my office is a beautiful Turkish carpet. Each time I walk into the office the carpet reminds me of an unforgettable day during a Greek Islands cruise.

Most of the day was spent walking through the expansive ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus. But the port for that visit was at the city of Kusadasi (population 65,764). It was in Kusadasi that I found the storehouses of Turkish carpet and the engaging entrepreneurial salespeople.

Recently, I ran across Liz Sutton’s brief description of her visit to Kusadasi (Travel and Leisure, April 2009, p. 74).

“One of the highlights in the port of Kusadasi, Turkey, aside from the ruins at Ephesus, was shopping at the market, which sells everything from woven fabrics to leather bags. The vendors were so playful and friendly when bargaining that I learned a great deal about the culture and its people.”

Reading Sutton’s words, I wondered how many cities could summarize their three top tourist attractions in two succinct sentences?

And would they include three different categories? – A site to visit (Ephesus), a product to purchase (carpets) and people to meet (vendors).

Three kinds of memories, which Sutton summarized in one short sentence. The summary every city hopes for:

“I enjoyed every moment.”

Amalfi: A New Year in August

Only a few days remain until New Years Eve.

On August 31, in Amalfi, Italy the annual celebration will welcome the beginning of the New Year according to the old civil calendar of the Byzantine Empire.

Byzantine New Years Eve is one of three traditional celebrations that stir the local population (5,480) and draw crowds of visitors to Amalfi. The other two events are:

• the Feast Days of Saint Andrew – June and November
• the Ancient Regata (rotates each year among Amalfi, Genoa, Pisa and Venice)

The cobblestone streets wind through the terra-cotta buildings and lead to sites such as the 11th-century Cathedral of Saint Andrew and the Cloister of Paradise.

Amalfi serves as a reminder to four-figure cities to stay in touch with their history and create celebrations which can serve as “glue” for the residents and “magnets” for tourists.

Air Service to Mid-sized Cities

It's well known that the airline industry has struggled during this economic recession. What's less known is how mid-sized cities are finding ways to keep airlines flying to their communities:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/18/business/18airports.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

As this story shows, cities like Duluth, Minnesota, population 87,000, are offering financial incentives to keep the flights coming:

"While many of these cities have struggled for years to keep their airline service, the issue has become more acute in recent months. Airlines have been cutting capacity sharply for much of the last year — first as their costs rose with skyrocketing oil prices and then as the economy slowed, reducing demand for air travel. To save money, the airlines either eliminated service or significantly cut back on routes.

"But some airlines have been willing to resume service if cities agreed to shoulder most — or all — of the financial risk."

This may seem like an expensive option for mid-sized cities. But losing air service would be even more expensive. Cities like Duluth depend on air transportation for their economic livelihood.

When viewed in that light, a mid-sized city paying airlines looks less like an expense and more like an investment.

Daily Blog: Richard Russo

For years Richard Russo has written novels about small cities in America. So it makes sense that his latest book tour would take him to some of those small cities:

http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090817/NEWS/908170314/-1/NEWSMAP

The Pulitzer Prize-winning author recently announced he will arrive in Exeter, Maine (population 1000) to discuss his latest book, "That Old Cape Magic." And as he points out, the book focuses on something even more important than the city--it focuses on the people who live there:

"'The book is a bit different than some of my other novels,' Russo said. 'This book doesn't necessarily focus on the small town. My book is about people who live in places like the places I set my other novels, but they have a dream of this magical place that will make them better.'"

Russo's point is an important one. A city is not made special by its buildings or even by its size. It's made special by its people. That's what turns a city into a community.

Savannah and a "Square" to Celebrate

On November 18, 2009 the city of Savannah is scheduled to honor one of its favorite sons. Johnny Mercer, who is credited with writing the lyrics for more than 1,700 songs (including “Moon River” and “The Days of Wine and Roses”), was born in Savannah on November 18, 2009.

The highlight of the celebration will be the unveiling of a life-size bronze statue of Mercer in Ellis Square.

What makes this event even more remarkable is the “return” of Ellis Square.

Years ago Ellis Square – one of the four original squares in the historic and distinctive city plan of the city – was demolished in favor of a parking garage.

It’s not that unusual to hear of a city tearing down historic landmarks and replacing them with parking lots, but it’s extremely rare to hear of the reversal – removing the parking garage (in this case putting it underground) in order to re-establish the historic landmark.

The “Squares of Savannah” help to create a city that is extremely walkable (with the return of Ellis Square, only two of the 24 “squares” have been lost).

See National Geographic Traveler, March 2007, p. 68 for a story on “Strolling Savannah” which features 15 stops to make along your stroll. “Stretching from the Savannah River to Forsyth Park, the grid of wide boulevards and cobblestone streets was made for walking . . . Amble a few blocks west to the lively City Market. . .” and celebrate the return of Ellis Square.

Orvieto: Small But Superlative

Based on the 2000 Census there are slightly more than 3,300 five-figure cities in the U.S. – and thousands more throughout the world.

So what would it take for one of those places to emerge so clearly from the others that it would be described with words like “beautiful” and “perfect.”

Orvieto, Italy was described by Maureen B. Fant as a “perfect small town.” She elaborates, “. . . I cannot find a thing wrong with the medieval center of Orvieto, where some 23,000 souls live atop a tufa outcropping.”

Located about an hour’s train ride from Rome, Orvieto claims two “perfect streets for strolling and shopping” – Via del Duomo and Corso Cavour.

Other factors in the composition of this “perfection” include: a funicular for transportation, the Gothic Duomo with “world-class frescoes and sculpture,” an “excellent, recently renovated archaeological museum” and “gastronomic thrills” provided by Orvietani cooks.

In summary, Orvieto: small, beautiful, perfect.

To read more click here.

Daily Blog: Cayucos--A Contrarian Strategy

What does a city do when its population is 3000 and its two main landmarks are a 953-foot public fishing pier and a house built in 1867?

That was the plight of Cayucos, California.

The strategy: Resist change.

While all the other towns along the California coast are changing, Cayucos is promoting itself as the "Last of the California Beach Towns."

The pier stays, as something of a symbolic appeal to the outdoor California options of fishing and kayaking, as well as mountain biking and hiking.

The old house has undergone a meticulous 14-year renovation and is now gathering rave reviews as a week-end attraction known as the Cass House--"a luxurious five-room historic inn" and a "gourmet restaurant whose seasonal menu highlights items from the region's bountiful farms."

The tag-line for the Cass House seems to capture the essence of the contrarian strategy of Cayucos:

"Built in 1867. Restored in 2007."

To read more see National Geographic Traveler, September 2009, p. 86.

Daily Blog: Centerville, Iowa

Can one person make a difference?

The mid-sized city of Centerville, Iowa thinks so. A crime wave has hit this city of 5400. But the town is fighting back:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jTsWi0-xKBX7J-uDvq-FMMRSqPKQD99SA5M81

Using money from the stimulus package passed in the Spring, Centerville is hiring a new police officer. And that officer can't arrive too soon. As the article notes:

"Crime reached a high point in the past year, with the kidnapping, church burning and homicide cases. Any one of the crimes would have taxed the small police department. The sheriff's office helped, but the killing of a 56-year-old woman and wounding of her estranged husband was especially difficult."

Yet Centerville has a positive outlook on the problem. Town leaders believe that the extra officer will help restore the quality of life that the town had previously known. And they plan to place the extra officer at the local high school. They believe this is a good way to get to the root of the problem.

Will the new strategy work? Time will tell. But Centerville, Iowa is a mid-sized city fighting hard for its future.

Daily Blog: Blackshear, Georgia

Blackshear, Georgia has 3000 residents. Another 14,000 residents live between Blackshear and the nearest large city. And most of those 17,000 folks get their news from the Blackshear Times:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iW2c6FXVDw86fanlUduXuG8qEb2AD99VGN2G0

Could the newspaper business be thriving in mid-sized cities around America? As the article notes:

"'CNN is not coming to my town to cover the news and there aren't a whole lot of bloggers here either,' said Robert M. Williams Jr., The Times' editor and publisher. 'Community newspapers are still a great investment because we provide something you can't get anywhere else.'

"The scarcity of other media in small- and medium-sized cities has helped shield hundreds of newspapers from the upheaval that's causing dailies in big cities to shrink in size and scope as their print circulations and advertising sales decline.

"Less competition means the print editions and Web sites of smaller newspapers remain the focal points for finding out what's happening in their coverage areas."

So in Blackshear, Georgia, folks still read the local paper to find out what's going on with their neighbors. The newspaper business may be dying in big cities, but it's alive in well in mid-sized cities across America.

Weekly Column: Cornwall-on-Hudson

About fifty miles north of New York City sits the town of Cornwall-on-Hudson. Just over 3000 people live there. But this small city has been in the news quite a bit since January 2007.

Why? That's when a native son was promoted and took command of American military forces in Iraq. His name is General David Petraeus.

Petraeus was born in Cornwall-on-Hudson on November 7, 1952. His father, Sixtus, was a sailor who immigrated to America from the Netherlands during World War II. His mother, Miriam, was an American who doted on her son. At a young age, Petraeus became fascinated with the military. Several military veterans in the town influenced him, including a couple of his teachers at school and people at his church. After graduating in 1970 from Cornwall Central High School, he enrolled in the United States Military Academy.

Friends who knew Petraeus growing up remember him as a friendly but earnest boy. He was a young man in a hurry. But he was also immensely talented. He received excellent grades in high school and was a National Merit Scholar. In many ways, he seemed to personify the town that produced him: he was hard-working, patriotic and friendly. He loved playing soccer and was known as "Mr. Hustle."

Though he left Cornwall, Cornwall never left him. The city today still has a small town feel to it. With it's close proximity to New York City, many of the residents commute to offices in the Big Apple. The town remains a largely residential area, although there is a small commercial center. It remains proud of the famous son it produced. And he remains committed to the values he learned there.

During a recent commencement speech at Georgia Gwinnett, Petraeus spoke of the need for individuals to serve a cause greater than themselves. And he pointed out that this service doesn't only take place when people where a military uniform:

"But service comes in many forms. Whether in the commercial sector or in local political arenas, on the health care front or in the educational arena, there is much work worth doing.

"In fact, I would submit that now, more than ever, our nation needs leaders and 'world changers' in its civilian ranks. The many pressing challenges we face—from reviving the economy to overcoming poverty, from achieving renewable energy to improving American education—demand young leaders who will provide energy, commitment, and example.

"Georgia Gwinnett prides itself on investing in the 'whole person.' Each of you has benefited greatly from your teachers’ willingness to hold weekend study sessions, to give you a call when you missed a class, and to talk about life with you over lunch in the Atrium. I would urge you to provide a return on that investment. Take the knowledge and experiences you’ve acquired here at GGC back to your communities with an eye toward serving the greater good. Invest in those around you, wherever you work and whatever your career. In so doing, you will help this be the hallmark of GGC graduates: that they invest in work worth doing."

Serving others...investing in work worth doing...taking care of the 'whole person'.... These are some of the life lessons General Patraeus teaches today; and they are life lessons first learned in Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York.

Sherwood, Oregon: Not Big -- But Best

What does a “best town for families” look like?

Family Circle magazine assembled a list of 1,700 cities with populations between 15,000 and 150,000. Using “family-friendly criteria – including affordable homes, quality schools, access to health care, green space, low crime rate and financial stability” they selected ten to spotlight.

One result might be surprising to a lot of people – the average population of the ten finalist cities was 28,772. The smallest town of the ten was Sherwood, Oregon, population 16,183. The largest finalist was Hendersonville, Tennessee, population 46,969.

What’s not surprising was the importance to these cities of good schools and easy access to the outdoors.

But when people can choose the town where they live it still comes down to a place that’s “passionate about our kids’ well-being” and “a close-knit community (where) everyone . . . feels connected.”

You can read about all ten of the five-figure finalists at Family Circle, August 2009, p. 59.

Daily Blog: Norwalk, Ohio: Knowing When to Stand Up and Fight

Norwalk, Ohio has a population of 16,000 and is “the biggest town in a county whose unemployment rate sits at 15.4%, among the worst in the country.”

The major employer in the town has been Norwalk Furniture. “This time last year more than 300 people worked on the floor, producing hundreds of pieces of furniture a day. Now the headcount is 59.”

But this is a story of what can happen when the citizens of a town pull together for the good of the community.

It’s been a difficult time, but things are now looking better for Norwalk – both the factory and the community.

As Norwalk Mayor Sue Lesch reflects on the events she knows “the temptation for too many people is to throw up their hands and say it’s inevitable . . . We said, ‘Wait a minute, this is really, really important. We’re going to stand up and fight.’ ”

Read “The Factory that Refused to Die" in Business Week, August 3, 2009, p. 38.

Daily Blog: Music in a Mid-sized City

Gananoque, Ontario is a Canadian town where 5300 people live. And this August, it will host some of the biggest names in the music industry:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iCS_eNRs6U-_gIRoAJPEofeoslJA

The 1000 Islands Music Fest will be held from August 13 to August 15. Artists ranging from Akon to Plain White Ts to Simple Plan will perform.

As the article notes:

"The town has previously marketed itself as "safe, friendly and good" and the Canadian gateway to the picturesque Thousand Islands on the St. Lawrence River. But it's now rolling the dice and looking for a new image, hoping to become a small-town music mecca for fans in nearby municipalities, who have traditionally had few chances to see a local concert.

"With record sales consistently sliding and touring revenues increasingly paying the bills for musicians, the town is hoping to sneak its way onto the lists of tour dates for major acts that are looking to add another stop on the trek across Highway 401 between Montreal or Ottawa and Toronto."

Maybe the economic downturn that the music industry is facing will cause the industry to re-connect with its small town roots. So much of modern music started in smaller cities. Maybe there is a future in this history.

Daily Blog: Health Care Reform

As Washington debates health care reform, small cities are beginning to weigh in with their opinions:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jm7E5xLjoYH6pQdibuDrY3LcJhjwD99Q7ND04

Walsenburg, Colorado has just over 4000 residents. And many of those residents worry that the debate in Washington ignores the realities of health care in smaller cities. According to the article:

"Small towns often lack specialists and rely on family physicians. But even incentives such as covering student debt for new doctors haven't worked. Many small towns look to nurse practitioners for general care or seek foreign doctors using J-1 visa waivers.

"According to the Washington, D.C.-based National Rural Health Association, only about 10 percent of U.S. physicians practice in rural areas. The problem: Medical students know they can make more money, and work shorter hours, in a specialty practice in a city."

The folks in Walsenburg are less interested in increasing access to health insurance and more interested in seeing Congress fund clinics that provide basic care.

It's an important distinction that reflects the difference between health care in a big city and health care in a small city.

Weekly Column: Astoria--Large-Scale Recycling

Anyone who thinks that the future of mid-size towns is bleak should take a trip across northern Oregon--from Pendleton to Astoria with a stop along the way at Hood River.

Andrew Nelson's article tells a story about cities that are finding new life and a resurgence of energy and excitement. (National Geographic Traveler, September 2006, p. 79)

Pendleton--population 17,000

"Traditional Pendleton products are getting a fresh look and Pendleton Mill's signature blankets are find new buyers."

Why not move?

"We stay in Pendleton because our roots are here."

Hood River--population 6500

"...Hood River used to be just a fruit-growing center and windsurfing spot...Now it has become its own lifestyle ...it has become a capital of extreme sports..."

Astoria--population 10,000

"...the first permanent U.S. settlement on the western coast. Named for John Jacob Astor whose fur trading company built Fort Astoria here in 1811...Its mainstay industry, fishing, experienced serious setbacks in the 1990s...Instead of blowing away, it recycled itself..."

Why?

"People restore in Astoria partly because their Scandanavian heritage makes them thrifty," says historic-building consultant John Goodenberger. "We also restore because more and more of us have realized our older structures are one of the city's greatest assets. It is recycling on a large scale."

What was said about Astoria seems to be true about all three of those towns--and many four- and five-figure cities across America.

They are "rebooting by transforming their townscapes."

Daily Blog: Leipzig--Past and Present

The people of Leipzig are bold in their beliefs.

"The fall of Communist Germany began early in October 1989, when 70,000 people gathered at St. Nicholas Church in Leipzig to protest the repressions of the regime...By October 16, the number had grown to 120,000. A week later it was 320,000. On November 9, the Berlin Wall came down. The citizens of Leipzig had created the critical mass that began a tidal wave and changed the future of Europe."

G.Y. Dryansky describes the resurgence of tis city in East Germany where "neither the Nazis nor the Communists could erase its illustrious history nor snuff out its creative culture."

Click here to read more: http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles/500771

"Nowadays, Leipzig spends about $135 million a year on cultural affairs." That's a sizable investment for a population of just over 500,000. Such a per capita investment makes a statement about priorities no matter the city's size.

Perhaps, its heritage provides an insight: "The city's luminaries have included Goethe, Wagner, Mendelssohn, Mahler, Schumann and Nietzsche."

And..."No other German city has a deputy mayor specifically for culture."

Daily Blog: Huntsville--A Hero's Home

Sam Houston holds the distinction of being the only man to serve as governor of two states--Tennessee and Texas.

But there is one town he considered his home--and Huntsville, Texas built a 67-foot statue of Sam Houston on Interstate 45 to confirm that connection.

For anyone interested in the story of Sam Houston, a visit to Huntsville (population 35, 078) would include:

• The Sam Houston Memorial Museum -- "home to the largest collection of Houston artifacts anywhere."
• "Houston's beloved Woodland Home, where he lived with his wife, Margaret Lea Houston, and most of his eight children."
• "Oakwood Cemetery,where an impressive marble monument of the hero on horseback replaced a simple gravestone in 1911."

Read Karen Hastings' story on Huntsville in Texas Highways, August 2009, p. 32.

Daily Blog: Clayton, California

The San Francisco Chronicle recently saluted the town of Clayton, California:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/scavenger/detail?entry_id=43559

Clayton, population 11,000, made it on the Money Magazine list of 100 Best Small American Towns:

"Clayton is a favorite spot for telecommuters; many residents work from home and go into their San Francisco offices once or twice a week. Home sales have remained high as buyers take advantage of falling real estate prices: million-dollar homes are now on the market for half that."

The Chronicle added its own tribute and noted that a recent stabbing was the first murder in Clayton since 1995.

So Clayton, California offers Bay Area residents a chance to experience a mid-sized city. It provides reasonable real estate, a decent economy and safe streets. If folks need to, they can get to Oakland or San Francisco to experience the big city. But most people seem quite happy enjoying the slower pace of Clayton.

Daily Blog: Baseball in the Hamptons

The city of Sag Harbor, New York is home to 2000 residents and one brand new baseball league:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/25/nyregion/25metjournal.html

Sag Harbor is located in the Hamptons--a tony coastal area where New York City's elite spend their weekends. But Sag Harbor and other towns in the Hamptons recently inaugurated Hamptons Collegiate Baseball, "a summer league that is bringing the foul balls and dirt-stained uniforms that come with the game to a place better known for its celebrities, glamorous fund-raisers and crisp polo shirts."

According to the article:

“'We’re the Hamptons, and we have plenty of cachet to go with that reputation, but at the root of it, we’re small towns with year-round populations,' said Rusty Leaver, the league’s founder and owner of Deep Hollow Ranch in Montauk. 'This is bringing Iowa to the Hamptons.'”

The goal of the league is to use these baseball games to create a "sense of community." And it seems to be working:

"Robert Cleary of Sag Harbor comes almost every Sunday with his 7-year-old son, Dillon, who sings 'God Bless America' with a group of children during the game. Dillon also goes to a Sunday morning clinic that many of the players — who are regarded like rock stars by the town’s youths — put on to teach baseball fundamentals."

So even after the celebrities return to New York, small cities like Sag Harbor will still have their baseball league and their sense of community.

Weekly Column: Cambridge in the News

Pick up any newspaper, turn on any cable news network or visit any internet news site and one town will likely be front and center: Cambridge, Massachusetts.

A few days ago, Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates was arrested at his house for disorderly conduct. Gates, an African-American, claimed he was arrested for being "black in America." The incident set off a firestorm of national controversy. In a nationally-televised press conference, President Obama said the police acted "stupidly" in making the arrest. Meanwhile, police groups have expressed outrage that the president would question the arresting officer. Even comedian Bill Cosby weighed in and said the president should wait to see what the investigation shows.

While Cambridge probably doesn't believe in the theory that there is no such thing as bad press, it likely will be happy when the controversy settles down. Despite the media coverage, Cambridge remains one of the great small cities in America.

The city of Cambridge is home to 101,000 residents and two world-class colleges. It began as "Newe Towne" when a group of puritan colonists began settling there in 1632. Over the years it grew and changed names, becoming "Cambridge." During the Industrial Revolution, the city grew to 120,000. But with the decline of its industrial base after World War II, the city fell back on its other anchor: higher education.

In 1636, Harvard was founded, making it the oldest college in America. Originally, it was called "New College." But when a clergyman named John Harvard bequethed his library to the school, the name was changed.

During the nearly four centuries of its existence, Harvard has transformed the way college education is conducted. Under the leadership of President Charles Eliot, the school became focused not only on teaching but on research. Electives were introduced, as well as entrance exams. All this soon became the model for other colleges around the country.

Over the years, the school has served as a crossroads of American history. Visitors taking tours of Harvard Yard today are told much of this history: John Adams lived in Massachusetts Hall, FDR's name is listed on the wall at Memorial Church and Matt Damon wrote the screenplay for "Good Will Hunting" while living in Matthews Hall. Students take classes in buildings like Emerson, named for the writer and Harvard professor Ralph Waldo Emerson. And when visitors stroll down to the Charles River, they do so on a street called JFK.

Today, Harvard is also one of the most powerful corporate entities in the world. It's endowment is estimated to be the world's third largest among non-profits, behind only The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Catholic Church.

Just beyond Harvard Yard is Harvard Square. Here, visitors can explore shops and restaurants. One local institution is Mr. Bartley's, a hamburger place that has been serving Harvard students since the mid 1960s. It's not far from the Wadsworth House, where George Washington established his first headquarters during the Revolutionary War.

Two stops away on the subway is the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. MIT was founded in the 1960s in response to the growing industrial revolution. For years, it has produced some of the world's greatest scientists and engineers and continues to do so today.

So while the controversy over Henry Louis Gates continues, it seems likely that once it dies down Cambridge will still be in the news. Only then it will be for all that is good about Cambridge.

Daily Blog: Ithaca, Rochester and Bismarck: Job Enhancements

According to an AARP survey, “70% of Americans ages 45 to 74 plan to postpone retirement – both because they enjoy working and they need the income.”

With the current nationwide reduction in jobs, the cities with recession-proof industries such as “healthcare, higher education, government” are most attractive.

Ten of the “best cities for job-seeking retirees” have been identified by U.S. News and World Report, May 2009, p. 42.

Included are 3 five-figure cities, each with a different appeal factor:

Ithaca, NY (population 30,000) – Higher Education – “At Cornell University . . . 43 percent of employees are age 50 or older. The university also offers perks that may appeal to older workers, such as health screening on campus, paid time off for caregiving responsibilities, and compressed workweeks.”

Rochester, MN (population 90,000) – Healthcare – “The Mayo Clinic employs more than 28,000 people. ‘You can work here forever if your body and mind are still intact’” says an employee who works half a year and takes off the other half.

Bismarck, ND (population 55,000) – Government – “Government jobs typically offer generous health and pension benefits, which many private companies have been slashing . . . State capitals are often prime spots to land a local, state, or federal government post.”

Jobs are always an important issue – in today’s climate, even more. As with Ithaca, Rochester and Bismarck, a city’s attractiveness is enhanced when its jobs are enhanced.

Daily Blog: The Assets of Bamberg

Raphael Kadushin’s article about his tour through the historic Franconia region of Germany contains an unexpected insight about a city’s assets.

The tour included stops in Wϋrzburg, Rothenburg, Bamberg and Nuremberg. For Kadushin the “treasure house is Bamberg, a World Heritage site that claims a stellar collection of medieval and baroque buildings.”

Bamberg (population 70,063) was not the largest city on the tour but “it is the spot where the beauty and exuberance of Franconia spill out of the landmarks and onto the streets.” Such a statement about a city describes a place where anyone would like to visit or live.

This cultural tour had been planned by London-based Martin Randall. Their motto provides an excellent beginning for a checklist of the assets of Bamberg or any other five-figure city: “Art, Architecture, Gastronomy, Archaeology, History, Music.”

To read more about the assets of Bamberg and the Franconia region see National Geographic Traveler, May/June 2009, page 92.

Daily Blog: New Haven, Indiana

According to CNNMoney.com, if you live in New Haven, Indiana, you are living in one of the best small cities in America:

http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/moneymag/0906/gallery.bplive_affhomes.moneymag/2.html

CNNMoney.com praises New Haven as a place where a modest income can go a long way. But it also points out some of the smaller pleasures that New Haven offers. No, it doesn't have Yale University, like the other New Haven does. But it has a lot:

"New Haven residents enjoy the `walkability' of their town. Children can mostly walk to school, and area churches are easily accessible by foot. Downtown New Haven is only a few blocks long, but it offers a couple of restaurants, a furniture store, a barber shop, flower and design shops, and a high end jewelry store, to name a few. The town is especially proud of its library -- which was built just 5 years ago - and is usually bustling with community activities."

Some 12,000 residents make their home in New Haven. But it's growing. And with so much to offer, it's likely to grow even faster.

Daily Blog: Lehi, UT Rodeo

What do small cities in Utah have in common? For one thing, the rodeo:

http://www.sltrib.com/Sports/ci_12763615

Every summer, small cities in Utah host rodeo events that offer a glimpse at tomorrow's rodeo stars. These minor league rodeos are major league events to the folks in places like Lehi, Utah, population 19,000. The people unite together to put on a great rodeo. And the cowboys who participate in it know it. As one cowboy put it:

"But when you come to a place like Lehi, I mean, this is a community effort. Everybody gets involved. Everybody wants it to be successful. Everybody's demeanor is rodeo-driven. That makes small-town rodeos special."

Indeed, what Lehi is offering is more than a rodeo; it's offering a sense of community. Now that's something to hang your hat on.

Weekly Column: Regarding Boulder: Bicycles, Boundaries and Brunch

When an article is headlined, “This City Is Better than Yours” it has a tendency to grab your attention.

But the first paragraph begins with an impressive list of recognitions that Boulder, Colorado (population 94,000) has received: smartest city, thinnest city, best place for a runner, and “the top green city and clean city in the United States.”

The article continues by listing seven things one should know regarding Boulder. A sampling of three of the seven will be enough to make the point that the citizens of Boulder have indeed been bold in shaping a city on certain distinctives:

1. Bicycles – “The best way to explore Boulder is by bicycle (the number of bikes is nearly equal to the number of households, and they plow some major bike paths before roads when it snows).”

2. Boundaries – “The essence of Boulder’s beauty lies in a commitment made over a century ago by the city’s founders. The creation of an open-space system, a set of land-use limitations to control the city’s boundaries and to corral sprawl. . . .” (The Boulder Valley Comprehensive Plan Policies guide decisions about growth, development, preservation, environmental protection, economic development, affordable housing, culture and the arts, neighborhood character and transportation.)

3. Brunch (at the Teahouse) – “For four years, artisans in Boulder’s sister city of Dushanbe, Tajikistan, worked to create their gift to the city. Today, the iconic Teahouse is an authentic representation of Persian art and architecture, and is the only building of its kind in the Western Hemisphere . . . The brunch menu offers Indian curry omelets . . . .”

To read about the rest of the seven, click here

P.S. And, Boulder “boasts more sunny days than San Diego or Miami.”

Daily Blog: Bellingham: Intentional Distinctiveness

An article in National Geographic Traveler contains three sentences which provide interesting insights into the distinctiveness of Bellingham, Washington (population 75,000).

1. “Bellingham is anchored by the Fairhaven District, a square mile or so of turn-of-the-century buildings turned to modern uses.”

2. “Recently, when faced with development or view, Bellingham overwhelmingly chose view.”

3. Bellingham is “a small town that likes being a small town.”

These statements provide answers to questions citizens of every town should ask themselves, such as:

1. What is, or could be, the “anchor” of our town?

2. When faced with choices that could affect the distinctiveness of our town, what would we choose?

3. What is the “right” size for our town?

To read the complete article on Bellingham click here.

P.S. Another Bellingham distinctive is the annual “Ski to Sea” race started in 1973, drawing thousands from around the world. Participants compete in a seven leg relay (cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, running, road biking, canoeing, mountain biking and kayaking).

Daily Blog: Sense and Sustainability

Preservation of old neighborhoods and historic buildings makes a lot of sense from the “sustainability” point of view.

It’s about more than preserving the past. Other reasons include:

• Reducing Automobile Dependence: “The smaller scale of streets and buildings in historic neighborhoods enables people to drive less and rely on alternative transportation, such as walking or bicycling.”

• Land Conservation: “Revitalizing existing neighborhoods reduces pressure to build on previously undeveloped land.”

• Efficient Use of Infrastructure: “Historic neighborhoods do not require the construction of new streets or extension of water and sewer lines.”

Read more at The Medallion, July/August 2009, p. 14.

Daily Blog: Chanhassen, MN

Coming in second on the CNNMoney.com list of best places to live is Chanhassen, Minnesota, population 23,700.

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2009/snapshots/PL2710918.html

Chanhassen has so far survived the recession and property taxes are going down even while home prices are going up.

"'There's a genuine small-town feel,' says Sarah Pinamonti, 41, who moved here with her husband, Rick, 43, in 2002. They've never regret­ted it. 'We rarely have to leave town to have fun,' says Rick. No wonder: The town has 11 lakes, 34 parks, and the 1,047-acre Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Come winter there's a carnival, ice-fishing contests on Lake Ann, and skating and hockey everywhere (town officials flood grassy areas to create outdoor rinks)."

The town is close enough to the Twin Cities area for folks to commute to work or visit on the weekends. But it's far enough away that it has its own unique small town feel and quality of life.

But CNNMoney.com warned that Chanhassen might not be for everyone, especially when the town starts hosting events outdoors in the winter:

"Wimps beware: Those activi­ties require braving temps that often dip into single digits."

Daily Blog: Louisville, CO

Everyone knows about Louisville, Kentucky. But maybe its time we started paying attention to Louisville, Colorado.

This city of nearly 19,000 just topped the CNNMoney.com rankings of the best cities under 50,000 in which to live:

http://finance.yahoo.com/real-estate/article/107313/best-places-to-live-2009-edition.html?mod=realestate-buy

The city offers a rare mix of commerce, culture and community. Located along the Rocky Mountains, Louisville provides a diverse job market that has kept county employment among the lowest in the state.

And people genuinely enjoy the city and its mountain setting:

"But the top reason residents give for moving here? The great outdoors. Louisville is laced with nearly 30 miles of trails, Rocky Mountain National Park is less than an hour away, and eight world-class ski resorts are within two hours. The town's schools are highly rated as well.

"Add in dry, clear weather, little crime, good health care, and low taxes, and Louisville is pretty tough to beat."

Weekly Column: Bush in Woodward

"Today is truly a great time to be in Woodward," says Mayor Bill Fanning. Last Saturday certainly was.

Woodward, Oklahoma sits in the western part of the state and is home to 12,000 residents. This mid-sized city has lived through the various economic developments of America.

During its 122 years of history, the town first experienced growth thanks to the booming railroad industry. Then came the famous cattle drives that brought animals and people to the town. In the 20th century, Woodward experienced the Oklahoma oil boom...and the oil bust that eventually followed.

These days, Woodward hopes to be part of the renewable energy industry. With the famous Oklahoma wind blowing through it, Woodward is perfectly situated for wind power. As the town's website proudly proclaims:

"Woodward is rapidly becoming the state’s hub for sustainable energy as 38,000 megawatts of wind generation is currently being developed in the rolling grasslands of Northwest Oklahoma. With a 345 kV transmission line under construction by OG&E that will link these facilities to Oklahoma City, and an additional 765 kV transmission project proposed to bring even more capacity online across the Oklahoma panhandle and Kansas, these new ventures will help power America’s future with clean, renewable energy."

Whether it was to honor the town's proud past or its promising future, a distinguished visitor decided to spend the 4th of July in Woodward--the 43rd president of the United States, George W. Bush:

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/politics/local/stories/DN-bushokla_06met.ART.State.Edition2.4ba6641.html

Bush spoke to the crowd and thanked them for the spirit of community that was on display throughout the town.

"At its core," he said, "patriotism is defined by answering the call to serve a cause greater than yourself."

The crowd loved the message, perhaps because the town lives the message. Thousands came out to join together and reflect on America's independence.

As the article notes:

"Odalee Craighead, a 66-year-old teacher and wife of Woodward County Commissioner Ted Craighead, said she thought Bush was sending a signal to the heartland.

"'Why not come to a small community to tell America, 'I'm still here and I care about you'?'"

Interestingly, while Woodward tries to shift from oil to wind, the economy in that town is struggling. Jobs have been lost; people are going without. Yet most folks seem to content to fight it out in Woodward and make the best of it.

This is the same spirit that helped the town overcome a tornado a few years back. Rather than give up, the town built up again. And this 4th of July that spirit was on display as brass bands played in front of red, white and blue bunting and little kids watched the turtle races.

Maybe one trip from a former president can't turn around Woodward's economy overnight. But it was a nice tribute to a neat town.

And maybe the town is right when it says on its website that it is "building on the past and moving forward into a bright future!"

Daily Blog: Burlington, Vermont--Against the Odds

"The typical American age 55 and older dines in a restaurant 51 times a year--or about once a week--according to a recent survey by the Cornell University Center for Hospitality Research."

So where are the best cities for such retirees? U.S. News and World Report recently supplied a list of ten recommendations:

http://www.usnews.com/articles/business/retirement/2009/04/30/10-great-places-for-foodies-to retire.html

One of the cities immediately caught my eye because I was reminded of our memorable day in downtown Burlington, Vermont (population 38,889) at the Church Street Marketplace.

It just happens that the American Planning Association has a similarly high opinion--recently designating the Church Street Marketplace as one of the ten great "Public Spaces" in America:

http://www.planning.org/greatplaces/spaces/2008/churchstreetmarketplace.htm

What makes the designation especially remarkable is "some 200 outdoor pedestrian malls have been built in the U.S. since the late 1960's, yet only 30 or so remain in operation."

"Each year some 3 million visitors come here to shop, eat...or pass the time of day....With 63 specialty stores, 13 national retailers, 26 eating and drinking establishments, the marketplace offers something for every shopper."

So why was this outdoor pedestrian mall a success against such pessimistic odds?

No doubt there were several contributing factors but two imperatives mentioned by the APA were "an inclusive and careful planning and design process" and "strong community support."

Daily Blog: Keeping a Hope Alive

For over 75 years, this week (second week of July) has been Rodeo Week in Sheridan, Wyoming (population 15, 804). American Cowboy magazine has listed the Sheridan Rodeo as one of the "101 Best Western Events" in the nation.

But anyone attending Sheridan's rodeo will notice there's even more to this town. The American Planning Association noticed that when it designated Downtown Sheridan as one of the ten "Great Neighborhoods" in America in 2008.

http://www.planning.org/greatplaces/neighborhoods/2008/downtownsheridan.htm

It's a deserving honor for the citizens of Sheridan, past and present, who have taken pride in their town since the first 40 acres were platted in May 1882. During its centennial anniversary in 1982, the Main Street area was designated a National Historic District.

The spirit of community has been impressive and is continually expressed in teh actions of those who live there.

And that spirit was expressed in words by one of Sheridan's most prominent citizens years ago. John Kendrick was a successful Wyoming rancher who became governor and then U.S. senator. His 1913 mansion overlooks Sheridan to this day.

In 1919, Kendrick wrote, from Washington, to a friend:

"I have always hoped that...I could go back home and lend myself wholeheartedly to a scheme of making Sheridan one of the most beautiful and attractive residential towns, not only in the West, but on the face of the earth."