Fairfield Voice launched on March 19th of 2009 with a story covering the controversy around the construction of a new cell phone tower on Depot Ave. Since that story was published there have been over 200 more stories and opinions posted on Fairfield Voice by a diverse group of local writers. Over 1400 comments have been posted to those stories; offering a variety of opinions, feedback and ideas from people all around town.
Looking back on the news and opinion around town we had:
Controversy over cell towers and bike lanes . . .
The completion of the highway 34 bypass which meant a summer of road construction through the middle of town and a significant change to how we drive through town . . .
Together as an community we experienced the troubled economy first hand, with many businesses closed and jobs lost, but also saw residents turn lemons to lemonade by creating new opportunities . . .
Two local stories from this year will carry us into 2010. First the controversy around the FACCs request for public financing, which is sure to be a tough sell to tax payers who are sensitive to anything that looks like another bailout.
Second we have one of our very own, Francis Thicke, running for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture.
Looking forward to 2010, I asked the writers of Fairfield Voice what stories they hope to cover in the coming year:
- The Quiet Zone funded, approved and implemented.
- Noise ordinance enforced (specifically loud motorcycles & Jake brakes).
- How the community took serious steps to reducing townie and roo divisiveness, and found understanding and acceptance.
- Plans in place for program to install sidewalks in the places that don’t have them.
- The election of Francis Thicke to Iowa Secretary of Agriculture and the potential national impact on how we grow food.
- Retail vacancies on the Square filled with new businesses.
What stories would you like to see covered in 2010? Was there a under-reported story from 2009 that deserves mention?
Happy New Year Fairfield!
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I think this new site is a great story of 2009!
I hope you get some more writers in 2010.
I'm interested in how we can convert MUM's expertise in sustainable living into for-profit companies, based here in Fairfield. Universities commonly spin off expertise and technology into profitable enterprises, and MUM could/should too.
Points to consider:
1. Fairfield has unused capacity and expertise in manufacturing and assembly (viz Meritor).
2. Fairfield has the built-in consumer demand for sustainable products
3. Fairfield — like the rest of the country — has many unemployed and under-employed. It's a good time to find reasonably-priced and capable labor.
4. Using MUM's expertise for the financial benefit of Fairfield & Jefferson County is one of the best ways to eliminate town / gown (townie / roo) differences. All working together in companies knits us together.
Hi i read your blog often and wanted to wish you all the best for the New Year!
Will, if you ever think you may want to sell the house you hope to some day build, you'll get more money for it if you incorporate a few basic Vedic principles. There are such things as beautiful Sthapatyavedic homes that do not look like the cookie-cutter houses north of town. Just sayins all……
"All working together in companies knits us together. " Good point.
Excuse my ignorance, but is it valid to question whether MUM can lead a non TM/Veda paradigm for sustainable living that can be taught/sold nation wide?
For example, I'm interested in building an eco-friendly home using sustainable materials and energy efficient architecture. But I am not at all interested (and actually put off) by "Veda" architecture and building principles.
Following up . . . read this news on the rising demand for green training and the response from universities (a bit slow to react imo, just like they were to computer science). http://ow.ly/QLDx
Article in the Iowa Independent about Fairfield's sustainability efforts: http://iowaindependent.com/24858/fairfield-%E2%80...
Thanks Sara. We're pretty excited about the possibilities of Fairfield Voice in 2010. If you have any ideas or other feedback please let us know.
I don't know, but let me speculate that there are plenty of sustainable techniques that are non-Veda: earth tubes, hay bale construction, solar panels, wind turbines, low-energy appliances, etc. So, it's possible to spin-off knowledge without buying into the entire Veda paradigm.
Ideal Energy, here in Fairfield is beginning some of what I talked about: http://www.idealenergyinc.com/ — not a word about Sthapatya Veda on their website yet the company's two principals are Troy Van Beek and Amy Greenfield, both with degrees & certifications from MUM's sustainable living department.
Maybe you can persuade them to write an article for Fairfield Voice about the sustainable energy business opportunities in Jefferson County?
Yes, that sounds very interesting! I'm adding it to my list of stories for January.