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March 1
City Council Meeting

March 3
Park Board Meeting

March 8
Planning & Zoning Meeting

March 15
City Council Meeting

Office of Tom Vicat, City Administrator

Hello again from City Hall      

NOTE: Board of Aldermen meets at 7PM on the 1st & 3rd Monday of each month
 

Hello again from City Hall      NOTE: Board of Aldermen meets at 7PM on the 1^st & 3^rd Monday of each month

Shopping in Strafford Makes $ense!

Greetings from City Hall. Mayor Helvey, Charlie and I are still tinkering with the layout and look of your monthly newsletter. What do you think? After all, it is YOUR newsletter! March’s newsletter is currently planned to be a quarterly newsletter with more information and a longer format. If you have a story that you think is newsworthy, email it to me (Tom) ASAP.
 
DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION PROJECT: During the last two years I have written a lot about the DREAM initiative to develop downtown Strafford into a “go-to” destination. For this plan to be successful, multifamily housing must be built in the downtown area. There are presently about seventeen single family dwellings in the area between Washington Ave. on the west, Hwy 125 on the east, Pine St. on the south, and McCabe St. on the north. In this same area, there is a great deal of empty land that could be developed into attractive and affordable multi-family 4, 6 & 8 unit buildings with nice landscaping, ample parking and desirable amenities. This would increase the population in the center of the city which, in turn, would attract retail businesses. As an added benefit, living downtown allows you walk or bike to school, post office, city hall and the shops on Pine St. and Hwy 125, or possibly use your Golf Carts if that comes to pass. Please talk to any developers or property owners that you may know about the investment possibilities.
 
BUSINESS LICENSE DUE DATE: The deadline for filing a renewal for a business license is March 1. If you file a renewal after that, you will be charged a $5 late fee, making the total fee $15.  
 
DOG LICENSES: If you haven’t licensed your dog(s) yet, you need to. Tags must be on your dog(s), not on your kitchen counter on in a drawer. Call Anke at City Hall for details.  
 
CITY ELECTIONS: Three Board of Aldermen seats will be up for reelection on April 6. Ward 1’s Carolyn Lee, Ward 2’s J.R. Capps and Ward 3’s Eddie Cruse. Get out and vote!
 
CITY HALL NEWS:
-It is now official that the city will be tearing down the two old buildings east of City Hall as soon as the funds are available. The plan is to use the property for public parking until a development plan is worked out. Removing the two dilapidated buildings will be a positive change to the image of downtown Strafford. People coming into town on Old Rte 66 from the west will have a more pleasant view and will be able to see Pine St., our other “main”street.
-A contract for new sidewalks near the schools has been awarded. Work will start as soon as the weather improves. A sidewalk that will start east of the elementary school, as well as an extension of the sidewalk heading west will start any time now.
 
PROJECT GRADUATION: Strafford Project Graduation 2010 is currently selling Strafford Indian Sportswear. A variety of items are available, including t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, and umbrellas. Prices range from $10.00 to $30.00. For your order form please call Dana Comstock at 830-4767. SPG is also hosting a Razor Tuff Volleyball Tournament on Saturday March 13th, and this tournament is for the guys! They will be playing against each other, and the winner of this tournament will have a chance to play against the faculty and/or this year's varsity girls with some alumni on their team. This will be a fun filled day with a dessert auction and concessions. The teams will consist of 10 players at $10.00 per player, and it will be up to the teams to come up with their own t-shirts. There is rumor that the Powder Puff cheerleaders will do a return visit with a challenge to the faculty as well. To enter your team, please call Melissa Daily at 425-7656 and leave a message.
 
WATER AND SEWER DEPARTMENT NEWS:    The Board of Aldermen voted to start investigating incrementally replacing the smaller, outdated water pipes in our city starting later this year. If the schedule of replacement is finalized, we will make it public.
                  
PLANNING & ZONING MEETING:   On Monday, March 8 at 7:00pm, we will be discussing the city’s plan for a two phase bike/walking trail from Springfield to the Strafford softball/baseball field complex. This would bring more visitors to Strafford as well as additional tax revenue. Please come and contribute to the conversation – help us get this done!
 
CITY POUND:  Our city dog pound has three dogs ready for adoption. Also, they are looking into a low cost spay/neuter program and the more interest there is in the city, the higher the likelihood of us getting it here. Contact Chandra Lowery at 736-4000 for details.        
 
ISABEL'S HOUSE:   These tough economic times affect no one more than those who were already struggling to pay their bills and care for their children. Susan Krieger, Ward 2 Alderman, is an ardent supporter of Isabel’s House, a resource for those who may not have a relative who can or will care for their children during a crisis. It is for single parents who have to be hospitalized, a parent who has lost their job and/or home, those incarcerated, etc. The facility is also a safe place for families to work out their issues, and children are only kept as long as the parent needs them to be while they deal with a crisis. If you have the ability to donate money or time and are willing to do so, please consider viewing their website (www.IsabelsHouse.org) to see opportunities to donate and/or volunteer your time. 
 
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NEWS:   The Strafford Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s new information center is open next to City Hall, and volunteers are needed to give directions and talk to tourists about Old Rte 66 and the Strafford area. The C of C meetings are held at their new office at City Hall the 3rd Wednesday of each month at 11:45 with a light lunch for $2.00. You don’t have to a business person to join the Chamber, you just need to have an interest in helping Strafford grow and prosper. For more information call the C of C at 522-6935 and talk to Gina or Alice.   
 
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT:  Raymond Hopper has been appointed Strafford’s Emergency Management Director by the Board of Aldermen. The Emergency Management Office will be located in City Hall’s south building at 113 W. Old Rte 66. Also, I mention this every month but it is worth the repetition – do you have an emergency kit of water, medicines canned food, flashlights, etc to protect your family when the next disaster hits us. If needed, we do have a warming center at the Senior Citizens’ building on W. Bumgarner. Call 736-9898 for more information.
 
YOUTH LEAGUES: The Strafford Youth League for boys and girls will be starting in May. Available will be t-ball, coach pitch, and more. Contact Lisa Treat, lisatreat@hotmail.com or 631-7717.    
 
RELAY FOR LIFE:  We all know people who have had to deal with cancer in its various forms. This is a very important issue that needs everyone’s support to continue the battle. Contact Chairperson, Laryssa Larimer at 736-9309 or email jlkbug@sbcglobal.net. The meetings are the second Tuesday of each month, 7:00pm at the First Baptist Church on Madison Ave.
 
BUSINESS ITEMS: 
-Cox Health, like St. John’s Health say they cannot justify the investment and operating expense of building one of their typically very well equipped fitness centers in Strafford, even though we have about eighty or more people who have expressed an interest. It appears that we need a local person to open a less opulent fitness center in town. The Small Business Administration at www.sba.gov or 865-4400 in Springfield has money for small businesses.
-The Chinese restaurant, “Jasmine Tea House,” owned by Mr. Hein Thach, located in the former Shields Pharmacy building could be open by the time you read this. He serves great food and we wish him success.
-Because of health issues, Beverly DeWitt is selling her popular Bev’s Country Kettle Restaurant at Pine & Madison to the Casey Perkins family who will continue the business with expanded hours and menu items. The newly named “C & C’s Kuntry Fied Café” will open on March 8th. They plan to be open seven days a week from 6AM to 9PM. Good luck, Perkins Family!
-Lindsey Thomason is taking over the “Family Closet” store on Pine next to the Main Street Salon. The new name is "Back On The Rack,” and will open the first week of March. We wish them success. The phone number is 207-8793.
-Please remember to support your local merchants. It is very important because the sales tax helps support your city’s services. Shopping in Springfield benefits Springfield, not you. If you need a certain kind of service, call the Chamber of Commerce (522-6936) or City Hall (736-2154) for the names of local companies that supply that service. Call me with your business news. STRAFFORD IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS!! SHOP HERE! 

VFW POST #7214 NEWS:  The VFW is looking for returning veterans to join their comrades in the VFW, which serves all armed forces veterans by representing their interests in Washington and Jefferson City. Call Jim Garton at 736-3174 or Gene Mitchell at 736-3556. Do not forget about their great breakfasts on 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month from 7-9am for $3.00. 
 
MILITARY NEWS:  We have some good news to report: L/Cpl Dwayne Oberbeck, son of Cheryl McReynolds, has returned safely from his second tour of duty in Iraq. USAF S/Sgt Craig Coppenbarger, husband of Maggie, has completed his enlistment and is now home. US Army Sgt. Bruce Miller, husband of Erin and Blake's daddy, has returned from his third (3rd) tour of duty in Iraq. These are great people, folks! Their service to our country is appreciated more than we can express. Please call me with the names of service people to be honored here. We have collected over 60 photos so far for the Wall of Honor in City Hall. Is your mom’ s, dad’s, uncle’s, grandparent’s, cousin’s photo here? 
 
CITY PARKS:  The Board of Aldermen has approved funding for a new sign at Croxdale Park on Airport Road. The sign will be very similar to the sign at Howard Smith Park on Bumgarner Road. The park committee is still considering the next feature(s) to add to Howard Smith Park. What is your idea? The next park meeting is Wednesday March 3rd, 6:00pm at City Hall. If you would like an agenda via email, please send me your email address.   
 
PET PEEVE OF THE MONTH: People who park the wrong way in front of the post office. Another pet peeve called in about the post office asked why the parking arrangement there is odd. I suppose the answer is that the engineers who laid it out back in the 70’s thought the population would always be the same so they didn’t need more parking or access. It’s called lack of foresight.  
 
PASSING:   We are sad to report that Mrs. Juanita Graves, 75, wife of Chuck and mother of Jack Graves and Carol Graves Keltner passed away recently. Our condolences go out to the family.

I have asked before and I have to do it again: PLEASE call me or e-mail about items you would like to see in this newsletter.
 

Get Behind Our Veterans or Feel Free To Stand In Front Of Them!

 All gave some & some gave all.  We owe them our gratitude.