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.'"
Monday, August 31, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, August 27, 2009
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.
“. . . 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.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, August 24, 2009
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:
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.
Friday, August 21, 2009
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.
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.
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.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
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.”
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.”
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
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:
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.
Monday, August 17, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, August 14, 2009
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.
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.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
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.
Monday, August 10, 2009
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:
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.
Friday, August 7, 2009
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:
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.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
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.
Monday, August 3, 2009
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.
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.
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