Road Rash
Weekly Update 4/23/2023 to 4/29/2023 #170
I am sure I am not the only one that has fallen off of their bicycle and experienced road rash. Before I put some ointment on this thought though, let me share some of my week serving as mayor of the best smalltown in America.
This week, I was one of ten Indiana leaders selected to meet with Indiana National Guard Major General Lyles. As we talked, we learned about what each had going on in their community or organization. I learned about the Children’s Museum and took the opportunity to start a conversation to see how they might be able to help our own local museum as they get closer to opening later this year. I heard from business leaders around the state and identified some follow-up conversations to see what we can do to attract new expansions to our area. We learned from the general about the Indiana National Guard and all they are involved with. I shared a few local names that might benefit from being invited to a future session like this one. Thank you, Major General, for the invitation. I enjoyed getting to catch up with you again and look forward to how we can grow for a better tomorrow.
This week, I attended the American Council of Engineering Companies awards banquet to receive a state finalist award for Burkart Boulevard Phase 1. The work put in by RQAW and HWC Engineering got us recognition as a finalist. While we were not the highest winner it was nice to know that the firms we choose to work on projects like this for our community are among the best in the state and nation. Other firms that are currently working on other projects like O’Brien Street corridor and 2nd Street corridor were also recognized for other projects around the state. Congratulations to everyone who were honored.
Kids Fest 2023 has happened and was a success. While not as big as some years in the past, it was nice to have the event back for this year. The first event was in 1998, and it took a three-year break during the COVID years. This event is focused on all the services offered in our community for young children. The goal is to make sure we are making parents aware of what is offered for when they need services and, ultimately, make sure we are helping build a solid foundation for our future leaders. Thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to make this event a success.
Back to that road rash in my opening sentence. Every so often as a bike rider, I have found myself sliding across the ground tearing up my exposed skin along the way. The source has been many things over the years from black ice to loose gravel and so many more than I have time to list today. The results, though, are often similar and that is skin being removed leaving an open wound on a knee or elbow and sometimes even a shoulder. I share this because our country seems to go through something similar every so often as well. Something will spark a divide and the fabric of our communities will be pulled back and people will choose a side and somewhat of a rash will develop. TIme will do as it always does and people, like that skin, will start to grow towards one another again until we are a connected community finding the similarities we have with one another. Then bam! That front tire will slip causing it to all happen again. Some in this world want to keep us divided, and I find that frustrating because I have long been a person to look for the good qualities I find in someone and help try to figure out how to get them to use those qualities for a better tomorrow for us all. I guess that makes me the ointment that I mentioned in the opening. I guess what is on my mind today is I hope you will take Zig Ziglar’s advice and “make finding the good in others a priority” because it will bring us together more than it will divide us.