You asked about bringing together a diverse community? 

When Deb Brown and I did our Q&A show, we noticed that many of you face related questions, ones that other towns are also dealing with.  Gaylin asked us to address this issue:How to bring together a diverse community with poverty and discrimination issues. If you’re thinking you’ll skip this question because your town isn’t…

Still doing things the hard way? Here’s a peek at the new way

The old way of getting things done in small towns was committees, meetings and plans in binders. That’s the hard way. But you and I know that doesn’t cut it anymore. We know what the new way looks like because we use it everyday. We already use tools like text messages, email and social networks…

Disruption hits your economic development where it counts: jobs

Jobs used to be the big end goal for all economic development. When anyone discussed the economic future of your town, they talked about creating jobs, good jobs, especially recruiting outside companies to come in and create good jobs here.  Well, jobs just aren’t what they used to be.  More and more people are working…

How will tech change lives in your town? Could be big for seniors ??

Tons of future tech are headed our way like an avalanche, barreling downhill. There’s a lot of change headed our way in technology, society and the economy. The first pebbles are bouncing off our collective roofs right now, and that’s why you and I are talking about it.  Last week, we talked about conversational interfaces…

That one magic evening when downtown came to life ✨ 

Have you had one of those magic evenings in your town? One where the downtown just blossomed?  I can picture it so clearly. Stores are open late. People are walking around downtown. Musicians are playing. Special displays have popped up inside the stores. A home-based jewelry seller has her items on sale in the furniture…

Do you share my love for cornbread and rural people? ?

The young woman scanning my groceries looked down quizzically at the corn muffins as she handed them to me to bag.  “They’re great,” I said, “if you like cornbread.” “I don’t think I’ve ever had cornbread,” she said.  I stopped, open-mouthed in surprise. I looked up at the next shoppers in line, who looked like they…

Whose fault is it that stores don’t stay open late? 

Stores: “We’ll stay open later when enough people come downtown to make it worth our time.” Customers: “We’ll come downtown later when enough stores stay open late to make it worth our time.” When I posted this on my Facebook page, it touched off a whole lot of reaction. The comments were mostly from local businesses…