Disc News

By Kelly Wassenberg

It’s like raising children. You take each and every day as it comes. That’s all you know. Then you suddenly turn around and see the big picture all at once. You see all the growth that has transpired over the years and how far they’ve come. It can be overwhelming.

That’s how Ellen Kehr described the process of looking back over the last 13 years of the Blue Zones Project in Albert Lea. She plans to retire from her position as organizational lead of the program later this year. 

The Blue Zones Project started as a first — the pilot program to test how the vision of Dan Buettner to inspire and empower everyone to live better and longer lives would work in communities throughout the country. 

Albert Lea was selected to be part of the pilot project due to its size and demographics. The community they chose had to have a population between 10,000 and 20,000, so metrics could be measured to properly ascertain the effectiveness of the program, yet the community couldn’t be so populous and spread out that they couldn’t manage the project.

According to Kehr, strong city leadership was very important to the Blue Zones Project, as well. At the time, she was on the Albert Lea City Council, and her husband, Randy Kehr, was the executive director of the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce. Representatives from the Albert Lea Economic Development Agency, the superintendent of schools, the director of the Family Y, the United Way and the administrator of the local health care system were also on board with the project.

Kehr said they brought in everyone they could, because it was imperative to the program’s success to have everyone at the table to address two of the community’s most significant health concerns: tobacco use and obesity.

“Pretty much everyone is in agreement that tobacco and obesity are the top drivers of chronic illnesses that we’re going to end up with someday,” she said. 

That meant change needed to be across the board — community, workplaces and schools.

“Our work sites have been very organized and extremely strong for this whole 13 year process, starting with the pilot, and they never stopped.”

The worksite wellness committee still exists and meets monthly. Improvements have been made by employers adding worksite gardens, pickleball courts, basketball hoops, providing healthier snack options and water bottle filling stations, and adopting volunteer policies giving people hours to volunteer with local groups. Fourteen of the largest 20 employers have adopted tobacco-free campuses. 

Coupled with the City Council making city parks tobacco-free zones and raising the age to purchase tobacco products to 21, Albert Lea has seen a decrease in adult smoking rates. Previous audits noted 23% smoked, whereas the rate now is approximately 16%. 

“We did these things planned with a goal one step at a time, building one initiative and then the next one on top of that initiative,” Kehr said. “We did it slowly over 13 years so that at times as we were doing all of this, it just became so much a part of our culture.”

Along with being one of the city’s largest employers, city leaders have also adopted policies to create more built-in environments, which naturally increase physical activity and make the town more friendly for those who want to walk or ride their bike.

The schools were a critical piece of the puzzle, too. Not only are they a large employer, but bringing the project to schools encourages children to develop healthier lifestyle choices at a younger age. Along with policy changes that led to 20 minutes of recess per day at the elementary level, water bottle filling stations were added, healthier options were added to vending machines and concession stands, and schools began opting for walk-a-thons over food-related fundraisers. 

“If you ask individuals to choose healthy choices, without setting up an environment and a culture that supports those healthy choices, you’re setting them up for failure,” Kehr said.

A complete streets policy and sidewalk assessment policy was adopted in 2009. In the same year, a community walking audit and bike and pedestrian plan was completed. The city also dedicated acres and acres of public land to expanding community gardens and disc golf courses, for the dog park, the splash pad and the community boathouse.”

These building blocks create what is referred to as a built environment. 

“Then we built the Blue Zones walkway, and then started filling in sidewalk gaps, many miles and miles of sidewalk gaps, creating new sidewalks to connect our neighborhoods to each other, to their schools, to the core facilities of our community,” Kehr said. “Then came the downtown streetscape, the Front Street bike lane, the South Broadway redesign to cut down on crash rates and help revitalize that corridor.”

Kehr said one of the next projects on the agenda is reconstructing East Main Street with sidewalks and better pedestrian crossings. She reiterated how important it will be for the program to continue to maintain and expand its built environment.

The metrics when it comes to measuring the benefit of the built environment has shown an increase in natural momentum activity level by 40%, Kehr said.  The influence of that pilot project has not been confined to the county of Freeborn. 

“That pilot has created more than 70 Blue Zones communities across the country,” she said. “Millions of people are part of the Blue Zones family today.”

Kehr is sure the success the program has seen will carry on after she is gone. She is currently working with Cathy Malakowsky, who will be working as director of community engagement and enrichment and who will continue to lead the Blue Zones Project. 

With Malakowsky’s new position, being in charge of the library and parks and recreation department, Kehr said she believes it is the “perfect partnership.”

And Kehr will always be there to lend a helping hand. She’s determined to be one of the effort’s biggest volunteers. 

“I am just proud of so many things, that it’s not any one initiative,” she said, reflecting on her years in the leadership position. “It’s really the combination of all of it together. I’m a person who has always felt — for me personally — that it was important to contribute the best of what I have to my community. Not just to my friends and family, but for the community as a whole. And what I’m proudest of is, to the best of my ability, I’ve been able to do that through the Blue Zones Project.”

Remembering an Albert Lea community hero

July 15, 1948 – Nov. 23, 2017

Randy Kehr, the late husband of Ellen Kehr, served as the executive director of the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce for over a decade. During that time, he also was co-chairman of the Blue Zones Project leadership team. Following his death, the Blue Zones Project honored him by creating the Randy Kehr Award for Initiative and Collaboration in his memory.

His many accomplishments after moving to Albert Lea included being the first mentor of the STARS mentoring program, honorary chairman of Freeborn County Relay for Life, president of the Downtown Business Association, president of the Cloverleaf Lions Club and chairman of the National Vitality Leadership Team. Together with his wife, he also led United Way campaigns and volunteered with the Freeborn County Humane Society.

Areas in which Blue Zones has created change in the community

Community policy & built environment

Complete Streets Policy, 2009

Community Walking Audit, 2009

Bike and Pedestrian Plan, 2009

Sidewalk Assessment Policy, 2009 and 2015

Blue Zones Walkway, 2010

Front Street bike lane, 2012

Downtown Streetscape, 2013

Expanded Community Gardens, 2010 and 2014

Tobacco Free Parks Ordinance, 2015

South Broadway Redesign, 2015

Safe Routes to School, 2017

Tobacco 21 Ordinance, 2019

Bridge Avenue Corridor, 2020-2021

Schools

All Albert Lea Schools are Designated Blue Zones Schools

Indoor recess kits

3 school gardens

Walk and Go Breakfasts

Standing desks

Walk-a-thons over food-related fundraisers

Vending machine change policy

Concession stands have healthier options

Smarter Lunchroom Policy

Water bottle filling stations at all locations

All Kids Bike Program

Walk and Roll & Walking School Bus

Worksites

Added standing desks

Some locations have added pool tables, basketball hoops, pickleball courts and walking tracks.

Healthy snack stations and healthier items in vending machines

Walking tracks and walking moais

Yoga, Zumba and meditation rooms

Water bottle filling stations

Worksite challenges

Worksite clinics

Volunteer policies

Breastfeeding rooms

14 of the top 20 worksites have tobacco free campuses

15 of the top 20 worksites in Albert Lea are Blue Zones Worksites

By Andy Chappell-Dick

At the February 28 Regular Meeting of the Bluffton Village Council, Mayor Rich Johnson began by asking Council to approve the minutes from the last meeting and pay the Village’s bills, which they did. This information, along with an agenda for the meeting, is attached to this article and is provided by the village upon request.

PARKS AND RECREATION

Mayor Johnson next asked for Committee Reports. Ben Stahl spoke first for Parks and Recreation. Much has been done over the winter preparing the new disc golf course at Village Park. Work is being done by volunteers and private donations have covered the costs for this facility which is–reportedly–already achieving internet acclaim.  In new business, Bluffton High School student Sabina Clingerman approached the Committee about the idea of a Bluffton dog park as a Girl Scout Gold Award project.  A possible location is the empty Village-owned land off Lake Street, between Board & Brush and John’s Body Shop.  Sabina was told to form a committee to determine costs and feasibility.

ORDINANCE

Mitch Kingsley reported for the Ordinance Committee’s early steps in creating a comprehensive plan for the Village. Council’s approval was requested in order to retain the services of Lima Allen County Regional Planning Commission, which offers extensive assistance to municipalities in creating such a plan. Council unanimously approved an expenditure of $4,000, and also approved the creation of a Steering Committee to be made up of diverse Village residents appointed by the Mayor.

LEGISLATION

Only one item of legislation was on the agenda; this was the third reading of the annual appropriations bill for 2022. This was approved unanimously, and one Council member remarked after the vote that he appreciated that the budget process was not done as emergency legislation this year. 

ADMINISTRATION

Jesse Blackburn presented the Village administration report with input from Assistant Bryan Lloyd. He began by outlining a significant cost at the sewer plant: a $75,000 ultraviolet light cabinet that’s part of an upgrade to the disinfecting system. The EPA requires this new equipment, which will improve compliance in the future. It shows how the Village can, with careful planning, be “staged” to qualify for considerable federal funding.  Blackburn also reported on funding for projects at the Village-owned airport. 

Lloyd noted that the water main replacement project on the Bluffton University campus was at the pressure-testing phase.  He then asked for approval to make surplus a collection of disused chainsaws and sewer pumps, which means he can list them on www.govdeals.com.

Finally, Blackburn stated that delinquent and unpaid Village Income Tax is now going through the Ohio Attorney General’s office, a new approach that is producing good results in the first few months.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Before closing the meeting, Mayor Johnson asked for public comment.  South Jackson Street resident Bill Carr stood to “respectfully request that the Village correct the problem… of a large waterhole” that appears on the street in front of his house after heavy rains.  The mayor thanked Carr–and his neighbor Bob Amstutz who had addressed the puddle problem at the last meeting of Council–and said that the Village Administrator and his Assistant would make an appointment with the two homeowners to consult on the matter.

Another one stroke margin between Allen, Pierce

March 1, 2022 by Patrick Aubyrn in Analysis with comments

Catrina Allen won the 2022 Las Vegas Challenge with a textbook birdie on the final hole in regulation to beat Paige Pierce by one stroke. The 18th hole on the Innova Course was the site of a dramatic finish last year, too, when Pierce emerged victorious, also winning by a single stroke.

Notably, Allen has performed considerably better on the Innova Course (rounds 2 & 4) over the past two years than Pierce, averaging a 999.5 rating over four rounds versus 968.74 for Pierce. The par 5, 18th hole in particular is a score separator. Comparing their play on this hole over the last two years is instructive.

Since it was extended from 685 feet to 720 feet, and the green moved to the ridge behind the golf green, Allen has gone 4-5-5-4 (-2 cumulatively) and recorded two OB strokes, one in the final round last year and one in the second round this year. Pierce has gone 6-6-4-5 (+1 cumulatively) and recorded five OB strokes, two in each round last year and one in the final round this year.

Below is an overview of how each woman played the hole in 2021 and 2022.

Catrina Allen

• 2021, Round 2: 1) center cut fairway short of the cart path, 2) center cut fairway 100’ short of the pin, 3) approach to C1, 4) made putt from 18’ — birdie.
• 2021, Round 4: 1) cart path left 350’ from the pin, 2) OB cart path right, 3) approach to C1, 4) made putt from 20’ — par.
• 2022, Round 2: 1) OB pond right, 2) right side of the fairway, 180’ short of the pin, 3) approach to C2, 4) made putt from 36’ — par.
• 2022, Round 4: 1) center cut fairway short of the cart path, 2) center cut fairway 100’ short of the pin, 3) approach to C1, 4) made putt from 12’ — birdie.

Paige Pierce

• 2021, Round 2: 1) OB pond right, 2) OB pond left, 3) approach to C1, 4) made putt from 30’ — bogey.
• 2021, Round 4: 1) center cut fairway short of the cart path, 2) OB pond left, 3) OB greenside pond, 4) made putt from 22’ — bogey.
• 2022, Round 2: 1) right side fairway short of the cart path, 2) second shot to peninsula in the greenside pond, 3) approach to C1, 4) made putt from 11’ — birdie.
• 2022, Round 4: 1) center cut fairway short of the cart path, 2) OB greenside pond, 3) approach to C1, 4) made putt from 10’ — par.

Allen’s game plan is to play for birdie. If you compare the tape from all four rounds, her birdies in the second round in 2021 and the fourth round in 2022 are nearly identical. She has only deviated from her game plan once, in the final round of the 2021 LVC when she needed to make up two strokes on Pierce to force a playoff.

Allen’s drive landed on the cart path 350 feet from the pin. While sizing up her lie from afar, she watched Pierce bungle her first approach shot, finding the second pond on the left side of the fairway. Green light for Cat. She misfired.

Allen Misfire on Hole 18

Did the raised curb affect the angle of her run up? Did her plant foot slip ever so slightly? Did she simply lose her disc in the crosswind? Whatever the case, her second shot drifted too far right and out of bounds, skittering along the cart path parallel to the fairway and nearly hooking back in bounds pin high.

Allen’s game is predicated on her command of hyzer flip shots. As a result, she sometimes pulls her throws to the right or overturns them. She has only found OB right on the 18th hole, and both times she went out of play demonstrate this tendency. It was her most common miss this past weekend, in general.

Based on Allen’s experience in 2021 and during the second round this weekend, it appears the best game plan when locked in a close race with Pierce would be to play for birdie and wait for Pierce to make a mistake.

For her part, Pierce tends to miss left. She has never executed a successful second throw on the 18th hole at Wildhorse, finding the left pond twice and the greenside pond twice. While she carded her first birdie on the hole this past Friday, her second shot was poor. Ninety-nine times out of one hundred that approach finds the pond. Miraculously, Pierce found a tiny sliver of land jutting out into the water and was safe by inches.

Pierce Drive to Peninsula

The 18th hole on the Innova Course clearly beguiles Pierce. Did her past struggles influence Allen’s game plan on Sunday?

Pierce’s difficulty approaching the green on the final hole at Wildhorse is reminiscent of another significant ender: hole 18 at The Fort. There, Allen knew Pierce had carded double bogey in rounds one and three. Trailing by one, she knew her chances were good if she could score par or better.

After landing her drive safely in bounds, navigating over the water and through the trees, Allen proceeded to throw the shot of the year: a huge, gutsy anhyzer that hit the green and spun to a stop atop the OB rope, safe, with a birdie look. The rest is history.

Though the stakes were certainly not as high in Vegas as they were in Utah, Allen must have known that a birdie was good and that the pressure was on Pierce to stay error free.

Pierce couldn’t stay clean. She threw a virtual carbon copy of Friday’s errant approach, only luck wasn’t on her side this time as she skipped OB. After her blind, hail Mary hyzer over the palms spiked into the woodchips surrounding the pin, all that was left for Allen to do was knock down a twelve-footer for birdie and the early season win.

By Amy Falkofske

This month, why not shake things up a bit and go on a tour of Prince William’s breweries and distilleries? You’ll not only experience fantastic drinks, but you’ll also find good food, games, live music and St. Patrick’s Day events. And an added bonus: You’ll be supporting many of our area’s small businesses.

The Prince William community has an abundance of breweries, many recognized as craft brewers by the Independent Brewers Association. Be sure to add these stops on your tour.

2 Silos Brewing Company at Farm Brew LIVE

“At 2 Silos, we pride ourselves in offering something for everyone! This is demonstrated in the variety of beer selections we offer, from American Lagers to Barrel-Aged stouts. We offer live music year-round, and food ranges from pizza to barbecue and empanadas,” said Cofounder Forrest Morgan.

You can enjoy live music Wednesday through Sunday in the winter and Tuesday through Sunday during the summer months. Their special igloo experience is available until mid-March.

2 Silos is located at 9925 Discovery Blvd in Manassas.

Brew Republic Bierwerks

“Brew Republic is not JUST great beer; our taproom is a destination that features various house-brewed beer styles that are presented alongside delicious food menu items, craft cocktails that feature locally distilled spirits, and fun events throughout the week, all meticulously prepared and served by our friendly
and talented staff whose mission it is to make your visit the very best, every single time you escape to the Republic,” said Owner Jeff Frederick.

The taproom is open to children, and they can enjoy root beer that is brewed in-house. Enjoy tours Monday through Friday afternoons or by special request. Keep an eye on the website at brewrepublic.beer for details about Mardi Gras and St. Patrick’s Day events.

Brew Republic Bierwerks is located at 15201 Potomac Town Place in Woodbridge.

Eavesdrop Brewery

Eavesdrop Brewery brews “a wide selection of craft beers on-site that include IPAs, Lagers, Fruited Sours, Stouts, Lagers, Seltzers, and many more to ensure there’s always something for everyone,” said General Manager Sam Madden.

A visit to Eavesdrop Brewery will prove to be a unique experience.

“Eavesdrop is home to a former racing pigeon loft in the heart of Yorkshire, Virginia. We’ve added an expansive outdoor experience that includes a rooftop patio to enjoy the views of the largest mural in Prince William County done by our friend, Nick Zimbro,” said Madden.

Eavesdrop’s annual St. Paddy’s Day Festival is coming up on Saturday, March 19. It includes live music, a beer release and food from Eugene’s Sausage & Fries.

Eavesdrop is located at 7223 Centreville Road, Suite 115 in Yorkshire.

The Farm Brewery at Broad Run

The Farm Brewery is located on six acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and has heated outdoor spaces, multiple firepits, areas for kids and dogs to play, easy access and multiple parking spaces. If you’re the active type, you’ll love the axe-throwing in The Farm Brewery’s open-air arena and football in the open-air pavilion.

The Farm Brewery also has weekly beer releases, live sporting events on one of 12 TVs and live music every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. It’s located at 16015 John Marshall Highway in Broad Run.

Ornery Beer Company

“Ornery’s beers include a very diverse line up that are created to best pair with food. Our taproom layout in our Bristow location of Wellington Road is right in the middle of the brewery, giving our guests a truly great brewery experience,” said CEO and Founder Randy Barnette.

Come for the axe throwing league on Sunday afternoons and Monday evenings, the cornhole league on Tuesdays, Team Trivia on Wednesdays or Bar Bingo on Thursdays.

Ornery Beer Company’s address is 8088 Flannery Court in Manassas.

Sinistral Brewing Company

According to Owner Blane Perry, Sinistral Brewing Company stands out from other breweries by having a friendly and knowledgeable staff and a Cheers-like environment. Sinistral hosts trivia, bingo, open mic, hop jam sessions and live music on Fridays and Saturdays. Join them for their St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Saturday, March 12.

Sinistral Brewing Company is located at 9419 Main Street in Manassas.

The Winery at Sunshine Ridge Farm

The Winery at Sunshine Ridge has beer brewed on-site, as well as wine and cider. If you’re looking for entertainment, you can plan your visit for the weekend and enjoy some live music.

The Winery at Sunshine Ridge is located at 15850 Sunshine Ridge Lane in Gainesville.

Tin Cannon Brewing Company

Tin Cannon Brewing is a quaint spot hidden away in an industrial park, off the beaten path. “People seek out our taproom for a couple of reasons. First and foremost, while we don’t have a ‘viewery’ due to our location, we always have great beers on tap. Our brewer and co-owner Aaron Ludwig is a master at delivering consistent quality, flavor, and variety in our beer selections,” said Operations Manager Marcy Hilkert.

“A second reason our taproom stands out from some other breweries is because we have a warm, intimate environment created by co-owner John Hilkert, and our wonderful staff, who get to know the customers and create an environment that makes people want to come back,” she said.

Every Thursday, you can enjoy Brains and Beer Trivia at 7 p.m. Thursdays are also taco night, with El Tio Tex-Mex Grill serving food on site. In addition, there is live music and food trucks on most Saturdays, with one Saturday each month reserved for a darts tournament. Every third Wednesday, guests enjoy music by the very talented Uncle Drew and The Scoundrels Band, and Open Mic Nights happen the last Wednesday of each month.

Tin Cannon Brewing Company is located at 7679 Limestone Drive, Suite 130 in Gainesville.

Tucked Away Brewing Company

“Tucked Away Brewing Company is a great space to hold events. We have a wonderful indoor space that is off the beaten path where you can relax with family and friends,” said Co-owner Pete Lex.

Tucked Away offers a variety of options for entertainment like disc golf, putting league on Tuesday nights, blind draw cornhole tournaments on Wednesday evenings, trivia each Thursday night, and rotating events like bingo and open mic nights on Fridays. They also have live music on Saturdays and Sundays.

Check Tucked Away’s website at tuckedawaybrew.com for details on their upcoming St. Patrick’s Day Party featuring Irish dancers.

Tucked Away Brewing Company is located at 8420 Kao Circle in Manassas.

Water’s End Brewery

Water’s End Lake Ridge location

“Water’s End Brewery was established in 2016 in the heart of Lake Ridge, creating a local, neighborhood-friendly watering hole for the community,” said Marketing Associate Sarah Morrisey.

“One of the main things that makes Water’s End stand out from other breweries in the area is the Beer Club. The W.E. Brew Beer Club, which offers exclusive perks, events, discounts, and more, has now grown to include over 500 members,” said Morrisey.

Water’s End has two taprooms in Prince William and soon will be opening their third in Historic Downtown Fredericksburg at their newly purchased building, Fredericksburg Square.

Ongoing events at Water’s End start up this month and include live music and food vendors on Saturdays.

Water’s End is located at 12425 Dillingham Square in Lake Ridge and 14397 Potomac Mills Road in Woodbridge.

There are only 50 distilleries in Virginia, and two of them are right here in our area. Add these two stops to your tour for unique tastings and fun events.

KO Distilling

KO Distilling is coming up on its 10th anniversary this September.

“Other breweries/distilleries in Prince William are great establishments. What makes our distillery a bit different is that the aged whiskeys we made ourselves are at least 3 to 4 years old,” said Cofounder and CEO Bill Karlson.

KO is open Wednesday through Sunday afternoons for tours, tastings, and cocktails. On Fridays, they are open until 8 p.m., and on Saturdays, until 7 p.m. Check KO’s website, kodistilling.com, for information about its St. Patrick’s Day event.

KO Distilling is located at 10381 Central Park Drive, Suite 105 in Manassas.

MurLarkey Distilled Spirits

MurLarkey is an award-winning distillery, having received Gold/Best of Category medals in international competition for its vodka, gin, whiskey and infused whiskey.

“Something that really makes MurLarkey stand out from the crowd is our variety. From our Divine Clarity Vodka to our Imagination Gin, to our sipping whiskeys (including our first bourbon we released this past November, MurLarkey Birthright Straight Bourbon Whiskey) to our all-natural infused whiskeys, there’s a spirit for everyone to enjoy at MurLarkey,” said MurLarkey’s Social Media Editor Josh Luckenbaugh.

In addition to tastings, MurLarkey hosts Mixology classes on the last Wednesday of each month, led by MurLarkey Master Distiller and Mixologist George “Papi” Zwetkow. MurLarkey Head Distiller Kevin Szady also conducts periodic Distiller for A Day events, providing a day-in-the-life experience of a craft distiller to attendees. Visit murlarkey.com/visit-us/ to see a complete list of upcoming events and book tickets.

MuLarkey Distilled Spirits is located at 7961 Gainsford Court in Bristow.

No matter what kind of drink or fun activity you are in the mood for, the odds are pretty good you can find it at one of these local breweries or distilleries. So, this month, grab a friend or two and take your own tour. You’ll be glad you did.

Amy Falkofske is a freelance writer and screenwriter. She has a Master’s degree in Film-TV with a concentration in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University. She lives in Bristow with her husband, two boys, and two Beagle dogs.

Members of the community gathered at the Joe Sweet Community Center Thursday evening for a Town Hall meeting with City Division Directors. Topics of discussion for the evening included current and future project updates, as well as the upcoming Bainbridge Revitalization Plan. Division Directors in attendance included Lisa Taylor, Administrative Services Director; Frank Green, Public Safety Director; Gabe Menendez, Community Services Director and Engineer; and Steve O’Neil, Community Development Director. Kim Mitchell of Mosaic Consulting was present to discuss the Bainbridge Revitalization Plan.

O’Neil discussed the Community Work Program, and the various projects currently underway and coming in the future. Among the developments discussed was researching Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Community Affairs (DCA) grants for neighborhood stabilization, with the funding the city sought having not been renewed.

“It had not been renewed for more rounds of funding, so we were kind of late to the party… although early indications indicated it would be renewed,” O’Neil said. Marketing tourism for economic development, identification of new industrial park land, and the designation of a new urban redevelopment area in northeast Bainbridge were also mentioned.

Other projects that O’Neil discussed included expansion of the Boat Basin; more development on North Broad Street and the West St. gateway entrance; looking into an entire corridor study for Shotwell St., which, according to O’Neil, “We don’t really feel it looks as good as it could look.”; the installation of a disc golf course and mountain bike course; extend and pave walking paths to connect the various paths at the Boat Basin; preparation of a storm water master plan; having more frequent inspection of storm drains, as some have been found to have been full of sand, pine needles and trash; and examining the city’s utilities as part of a utilities master plan. These were only some of the evening’s topics.

After O’Neil’s presentation, members of the public were allowed to ask questions and air their concerns. Issues were raised about controlled burns and code enforcement when it comes to overgrowth on properties. Other citizens requested construction of parks and sidewalks in other areas, such as Burgess St. and Spring Creek Rd., with some citizens expressing the view that a disproportionate amount of money keeps going to the Boat Basin.

“It just bothers me that everything, and you may not have anything to do with that, as you just stated… you keep expanding and expanding, and some of that money needs to come into… areas that would benefit our children,” one citizen said.

Issues with city sewage not being connected to East and north Gate subdivisions were also raised, while other citizens raised concerns over D.R. Horton, the company responsible for constructing the new subdivision off Tallahassee Hwy., having heard stories that the company had been unreliable on previous projects. These are just a few of the concerns that were raised during the public forum.

After this question and answer session, Kim Mitchell of Mosaic Consulting discussed the Bainbridge Revitalization Plan. Mosaic is conducting studies on housing and demographics, with members of the public airing their concerns and grievances with housing after the presentation. Some concerns included apartments that were supposed to be handicap-accessible being seen as unsatisfactory.

For more information on these projects and any other concerns, call City Hall or visit the city’s website for ways to contact your city officials.