BrandonInfo.com

Sioux Falls just built a new high school called the Career and Technical Education Adacemy. Thirty Brandon Valley students will take classes at this school, which will teach specialized courses in things like welding, architecture and surveying.

Brandon Valley officials say this is good, because BV is running out of room to teach these things. Now, the district can just pay a fee to the Sioux Falls School District and send the kids to the Academy. It might turn out bad, though. As Sioux Falls grows, they might have room only for Sioux Falls students in the future. Then, BV would lose an opportunity they might have become used to.

What do you think of the Academy? When I was young, there was a big push for all kids to go to college. Now, most of them do. Some say this leaves some of the trades short-handed.

A couple of the BV school board members said they wished they had a chance to go to a school like the Academy. True enough, when we were kids, they didn’t have nearly the opportunities that our children and grandchildren do. How did we turn out the way we did without all these specialized opportunities? Do we give our children too many opportunities?

It is with regret that I must tell you the video chat with Brandon Valley Challenger editor Jill Meier and MED-Star ambulance owner Jay Masur will not be online Thursday as planned. Jay Masur’s office has said he has a family emergency that prevents him from participating. A new date for the online chat has not yet been scheduled.

Brandon Valley Challenger Editor Jill Meier will have a video chat with Med-Star CEO Jay Masur on Thursday about the recent dispute over its coverage area and other issues. Log on to www.brandonInfo.com at 10 a.m. Thursday to watch the interview and join the conversation through a live chat.

Do you plan to log in to watch the live chat? Will you join in the questions?

If you are unable to watch the chat live, you can watch it later on www.brandoninfo.com.

Brandon Valley topped the 13 largest schools in the state in reading and match scores in the most recent STEP tests. The scores were particularly good at the middle school level.

Do you think these scores are an accurate view of how well a school is doing? Do you think it is a good idea to teach to the tests to improve scores? Some people might think that could leave a school lacking in other areas.

Do you find that your own children are doing as well as they could in reading, math and other subjects at Brandon Valley? What can we as parents do to help?

Many hobbies are expensive. My husband owns an airplane and flies as often as weather permits. Other hobbies are relatively inexpensive. I play Chinese Checkers with friends over coffee.

In either case, though, the hobby is something that relaxes and is enjoyable.
Darrell Ruhberg’s hobby is woodworking and bird watching. You can find a story about him today on www.brandoninfo.com. He uses big pieces of wood to make furniture and other large items, and he uses the scraps to make small boxes and ornaments. He doesn’t try to sell his pieces but makes them because he enjoys the work.
What is your hobby? How did you come to do it? What kind of satisfaction do you derive from it?

A new pharmacy will open in Brandon next month in the Eagle Creek strip mall. It will be Brandon’s second pharmacy.

Do you think the city can support two pharmacies? Do you think having more than one pharmacy - or more than one of any kind of business - is good for the city’s economy? Some people might say that there isn’t enough business to go around, and splitting the business like that might hurt both companies. Others might say multiple businesses of the same type promotes competition, meaning lower prices and better service.

Do you use the Lewis pharmacy in Brandon right now? If so, do you think you will try out the new Brandon Health Mart Pharmacy?

The city council is talking about having the water tower painted next year. I remember that last time the tower was painted, the council couldn’t agree on what color to paint it. Sometimes at city council meetings, little stuff like paint color takes up a lot more time than issues that are a lot more important. Sort of ironic.

Anyway, if you were to recommend a color to the city council, what would it be? Just the same color it is now, or lighter, darker, more green, maybe white, or what?

Do you like the Brandon logo painted on the tower? Or would you leave that off?

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School starts next week. Are you ready?

I remember one year I brought my kids to the first day of school and discovered they were the only kids who didn’t have brand new shoes. I felt so bad, although I don’t know if the kids even noticed. Do you think your kids would?

Do you get brand new school supplies for your kids each year even if most of their crayons are still ok, or even if their book bag is still in good shape?

I enjoy going to the Sioux Empire Fair and seeing the exhibits. I used to enter lots of stuff and always went in the first day of the fair to see what kinds of ribbons I got. I keep all my ribbons in a shoebox (see above). These days, I’m too busy to enter.

Will you go to the fair this week? What are your favorite things to see and do? Today, Brandon people will be performing at the fair. Will you go see them?

Shane Caldwell drives a 1944 H Farmall in a vintage tractor pull at Brandon Sunday afternoon. Caldwell’s pull won him the title in the Stock 4,000-pound division. Photo by Alica P. Thiele
Did you attend Hometown Days over the weekend? Why or why not?

If you did, what events did you attend, and what did you think about them?

I went to the prayer breakfast Friday morning and enjoyed it. The speakers were all interesting, and it was a nice chance to visit with people I don’t see too often.

Even though it wasn’t part of Hometown Days, I went to my 35-year class reunion on Saturday. Other than the heat and bugs, I enjoyed seeing classmates and visiting with them.

On Sunday, I photographed the vintage tractor pull. Again, the heat wasn’t so fun, but again, it was a nice chance to visit with folks. Also on Sunday, I went to the Brandon Lutheran Church ice cream social. Homemade pie! Yum.
I guess, for me at least, attending these events is a way to catch up with people I don’t see often, and even to visit with people I see on a regular basis. Events like Hometown Days aren’t only entertaining, they’re a nice way to stay social.

How do you feel about Hometown Days?

The mayor of Sioux Falls has asked that people flush as little as possible for the next few days, to avoid overloading the sewer system even more than it is now.

Brandon’s mayor has not asked the same thing, but Brandon does pump some of its sewage to Sioux Falls.

Are you doing your part? Flushing less? Why or why not? If you have a sump pump, are you routing it to the street so it can drain into the city storm sewer? Or are you routing it to a floor drain, where it will drain into the sewer system?

A fancy Brandon swimming pool would cost $9.5 million. Do you think it’s worth it?

Paul Boerboom of TSP, Inc. presented a proposal to the city council recently. City Administrator Bryan Read said the plan could be built in phases. The people would have to vote on a bond issue to pay for the project, though. Right now, the city budgets money for pool maintenance and upkeep, but that isn’t nearly enough to upgrade the facility.
If the city council decides to pursue the plan, there will be public input meetings. But you can voice your opinions here on the blog. What do you think about making the pool bigger and fancier with more slides, a lazy river and other amenities?

Any flood or other damage at your place today after last night’s rain? Any trouble getting to work? Roads flooded along the way?

The Brandon Valley Community Education program is looking for instructors. Maybe you are qualified to teach a class on computers or setting up an aquarium or ice cream making. Have you ever considered teaching a class? Some are once a week for eight weeks, and other classes are a one-time deal.

Have you ever taken a BV community ed class? I’ve taken pottery, which I enjoyed very much, and I’ve taken a one-time coffee tasting class. Enjoyed that also. Learned cool stuff in both classes.

If you’ve taken a class, what did you take and what did you think about it? Do you think you will take any classes this fall? If not, do you at least read the course catalog when it comes in your mail?

Remember when we were young and Friday nights were date nights? Or party nights? I recently filled out a questionnaire for my class reunion. One of the questions was, “How do you typically spend your Friday nights?” My answer was that I get together with friends to play Chinese Checkers and drink coffee.
That’s still kind of party-ish, in a middle aged sort of way, I suppose.

How do you typically spend your Friday nights?

My 35-year class reunion (BVHS Class of 1975) is coming up in a couple of weeks. We’ve had a reunion every five years, and I’ve been to every one. One of the reasons is that I still live in Brandon, so I haven’t had to travel to attend.

Do you go to your reunions? Why or why not? Are you more likely to go if you live near your high school, or not so much?

Have your classmates turned out about the way you thought they would? I have to say mine have, for the most part.

The city continues to upgrade city parks. Aspen Park has been undergoing a five-year plan of upgrades, and Pioneer Park recently got a picnic shelter.

Do you go to the city parks? If so, what activities do you enjoy there?

If you don’t use the parks, why not? Do you mind that your tax dollars help maintain and upgrade the parks even though you don’t use them?

What amenities would you like to see in the parks that aren’t there now? Statues? Fountains? More picnic tables? More playground equipment?

Some people would like a park on the east side of town, east of the river. Are you one of those people? What kind of park would you like there?

Who serves the best coffee in town?

The Perfect Cup is the only place to get a traditional cappuccino or latte as far as I know, but some people really like the dispensed cappuccinos from the gas stations.

Is your favorite java at the Sunshine Deli, perhaps? Or maybe Tailgator’s?

We fans of the bean would like to know go for a good cuppa joe.