Elmwood In Touch
A new project to make Elmwood a better place to live, work, visit, or just be in touch.
I haven't found time to do everything, but one thing this web site has caused me to do is walk around town with my camera. At first, after the tornado, walking was the easiest way to navigate the Downtown. I have tried to take photos of the progress in Elmwood as we move forward from the rubble. Some things are becoming normal, others are not. Saturday morning was a gloriously beautiful day. I published some of the photos, they capture some of the beauty, but not all of the gloriousness.
Elmwood in Touch First Installment
Elmwood In Touch Second Installment
Elmwood In Touch Third Installment
Elmwood In Touch Fourth Installment
Elmwood In Touch Fifth Installment
Elmwood In Touch Sixth Insallment
I want to bring the whole community together starting with a community web site. It will require an ongoing effort with many partners.
Steps to follow
1] You can join the facebook group
2] Send me an email with your thoughts
Questions or comments: email "The Steve"
3] Follow on Twitter @Elmwoodilorg
Illinois Observer a thoughtful experience
Elmwood IL.org
603 W High ST
Elmwood, IL 61529
As I walked around enjoying the cool sunny day, I got to say hello to friends. People I didn't know when we moved here in 1998, but now they are people I have worked with on community projects. People who I have helped or have helped me. People who know not only me, but my wife and sons. People who are more than neighbors, they are friends. I love Fall and this has been a dry wonderful Fall; the colors are vibrant.
I walked the three blocks from my home past the school. My son, Alex, and I had announced the Trojan football game the night before; the Trojans had beaten a favored team with 19 seconds remaining. I saw a father doing yard work with his young children. The little girl was still wearing her Trojan colors and spirit squad outfit. I knew the cross-country team was at a meet. E/B likely fielding another state championship contender. I knew Elmwood was doing what it had done for my sons; providing a school where each student has an opportunity for a good education and an opportunity to participate in many extra curricular activities. I had to keep moving, because we needed to get going. I had a long drive to Alex's college football game. Elmwood parents support their kids, even when they are young adults.
I could have taken a thousand beautiful pictures, but only had time for a few. Flowers and roses still in bloom, leaves in brilliant reds and orange, some trees still green, and sunlight highlighting them all. It was a cool but pleasant morning. This thought occurred to me. If this type of day only happened once a year, it would still be worth living here. We have had a Fall with one great day after another, but during some years Fall arrives, and soon rain drowns it out. After a rainy Spring we have had a dry Fall, so farmers have hustled through crops both excellent and damaged. It was a moment in time I could have asked for nothing more. Life was simple: nice weather, nice people, it was one fine day. Life on that morning walk was as good as it gets, anywhere. I knew moving here had been the right move in our family's life. And even though I am deeply tied to my beloved Smithshire, Elmwood is a real town with a great stress-lite lifestyle. Elmwood is a town of walkers, joggers, and runners, who often are as numerous as cars on our street. Elmwood is a City for All Seasons, but it would be a great place to live even for just one day like this one.
We are at a crossroads in the future of Elmwood. Many of the proposed grants haven't happened. We are finding more and more, we must rely on our own efforts. We still hope that some grants will come through, and it isn't that they won't. The time frame is not always moving at the pace we need or desire. Some will want to turn their attention to other things. Some think Elmwood is back to normal, even if missing a few buildings. Now, it is time to say we are done. Others believe it is time to organize, start forward with a new plan, stay determined to persevere, until we are successful.
Any new plan or approach that concentrates only on the buildings and landscaping will fail to revive Elmwood. It is necessary to rethink our economy. I have been to many meetings and listened to many thoughts. Too many of our proposals are in line with the past because we understand the past. The past will not match the needs of the next century. We need to come to together and form a vision that understands the lessons of the past and encompasses a forward looking approach. I have heard too many proposals about seeking retail stores and not enough ideas of how to seek out creative collaborative enterprises. We need to energize retail by making more of Elmwood's economy and the people at work in Elmwood not dependent on retail trade.
Elmwood must come together. Our community must form cooperative committees, if we do, we have more resources than we know. I still believe we are 95% in agreement on overall goals for Elmwood. We need to come together and form a comprehensive plan. We can find out how much we do agree. A comprehensive plan is the only way to put Elmwood on the right path. It will improve our schools, our businesses, and our daily lives.
Sometimes the past, the present, and the future can work together.
Elmwood School solar panels, landscaping, by existing gymnasium.
Elmnet Purchased By Derby Net --- Elmnet
