Slowing Down
Weekly update #321 3/15/2026 to 3/21/2026
For me, a quick vacation has often brought ideas of slowing down. Before that though, let me share some of the happenings in the best small town in America.
It is the time of year when Parks and Recreation has several projects going on. Getting the ball diamonds ready is always a sign of spring. From backstop padding to outfield banners, they have plenty to get done. The signs of spring don’t just appear on ball diamonds either, as they have soccer fields to get ready. This year and next, they also have projects going on at Shields Park Pool as it gets two seasons of upgrades. The major focus this year is on the main pool with mechanical upgrades. In the main pool this week, they prepared to resurface the pool bottom. Thank you to everyone at P&R for all your work keeping our parks as great as they are.
The team out at Water Pollution Control tackled several projects as we head into the spring season as well. From repairing erosion damage and working to prevent future damage, they took care of business on the stormwater side of things. One of the highlights on the facility side of things, they fired up the UV system, making sure they were ready for April 1, when the system has to be online through October. Several members of the team also attended the Alliance of Indiana Rural Water event in French Lick. Thank you to everyone at WPC for keeping everything flowing year after year.
Speaking of learning opportunities, we also had several from the city team attend Purdue Road School. With around 200 sessions, they had plenty of educational moments. I appreciate everyone who attended and look forward to hearing your thoughts next week.
The Seymour Police Department gets several Good Jobs this week. From dispatch assisting the county to Operation Pull Over, they had plenty of activity both at the station and on the streets. I won’t dive into a ton of detail on everything at SPD, but I do want them to know that their dedication and professionalism is noticed and appreciated.
This year, for Spring Break, my wife, youngest daughter, and I took a quick trip to San Francisco. While we enjoyed all the fun packed into four days, I couldn’t help but notice slowed-down moments. After having Bare Knuckle Pizza in Oakland, owned by Seymour native Viet Nguyen, I noticed what seemed like 100s of people sitting in a green space waiting for the setting sun. I had noticed people at Golden Gate Park a few days before, but this moment seemed different. I know we don’t have an ocean or even a lake to watch the sun set behind here in Seymour, but the sun sets just the same here as it does there. I couldn’t help but wonder, on a quiet red eye flight home, if they have figured out the benefits of slowing down and enjoying friends and family for just a little bit on those days. I hope to make it a point and give it a go in the coming weeks and see if I can find my favorite place to sit and watch the day draw to an end, hopefully with some family there for the moment. Today, I will leave you with the words of Peanuts creator Charles M. Schulz, "Some days, a beautiful sunset with your best friend can be one of the most peaceful and relaxing meditations of the day."