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If the school district does sanction soccer, the school teams would play on city fields. The golf teams already golf at the city course, the cross country runners have their meets at McHardy Park, which is a city park, and the tennis teams play on city courts.

As far as I know, the school doesn’t pay rent to the city for using the city facilities for school sports. Some people might say the city gets the short end of that stick by not getting reimbursed for the cost of maintenance that school sports cause. Others might say the city and school should work together and it’s all for the kids anyway, so what’s the difference.

What are your thoughts?

The South Dakota High School Activities Association says soccer can be a sanctioned school sport starting in 2011, but individual school districts will decide whether their schools will offer it. Brandon Valley hasn’t decided yet and probably won’t decide until next year.

Brandon Valley already sponsors soccer even though it isn’t sanctioned. And Brandon has a very active club soccer program, with fields the city has built over the last couple of years.

School officials have said it would cost the district about $40,000. That doesn’t seem like much in a budget that tops $10 million. On the other hand, these are hard times. Do you think sanctioning soccer is a good idea? Do you think Brandon Valley should do it?

I got my census questionnaire in the mail the other day. I haven’t filled it out yet, but I don’t suppose it will take long once I do. The Census Bureau says “10 questions, 10 minutes,” after all.

Have you received your census questionnaire yet? Are you eager to fill it out and send it back? Do you think the questions are ok? Too nosy?

Do you know how the Census uses the information once it’s compiled?

I remember burning “cookies” in the parking lot at Brandon Lutheran Church many, many years ago. (Wait, maybe it was someone else.) Anyway, back then, the most police could do if they saw me (or anyone) doing that is give me a warning.

The Brandon city council is considering updating the ordinance, though, so that police could issue a citation to someone spinning their car around in a church or other private parking lot.

Do you think it’s about time the ordinance was extended to private parking lots, or do you think that police already have enough power and shouldn’t be trying to grab more? Do you think it’s a good idea to spin your wheels for fun on someone else’s property, or do you think anyone who does that should be punished?

It’s official. Bob Bruning and Steve Dueis are running against one another for the city council seat being vacated by Don Hammond, who chose to not run for re-election.

Bob Bruning is self employed. Steve Dueis works at Helping Hands Assisted Living Center in Brandon.

Do you have a preference? Do you know anything about either candidate that you think is important for voters to know?

Ward 3 residents who are not already registered to vote must do so by March 29 in order to cast their ballot in the April 13 election.

There will be a forum with the two candidates on March 30, at 6:30 p.m. in the city council chambers on Main Avenue. What questions would you like to see posed to the candidates?

Do you have any friends or relatives in Hawaii, the Pacific rim or a Pacific island state right now? If so, have you been in contact with them? How are they preparing for possible tsunami damage in the wake of a Chilean earthquake?

Two people have filed petitions to run for city council. Barb Fish in Ward I probably will be unapposed in Ward I, unless someone else files a petition by end of day tomorrow.

In Ward III, Bob Bruning may be the next city councilman, although Steve Deuis also has taken out a petition. Only Fish and Bruning have fled so far, though.

Both Fish and Bruning are past Brandon Valley Area Chamber of Commerce presidents. Does that make a difference to you? Some people might think that makes them good candidates, in that they have a working knowledge of business in Brandon and have worked in the past for greater sales tax revenue for the city. Other people might say that the candidates might be inclined to lobby for business over residents, given their background.

What do you think?

My mother-in-law was a manager for H&R Block in Sioux Falls for a long time, so she usually made out our tax return for us. The past few years, my husband has tackled the taxes himself.

This year, two tax services are just down the street from your house, on Holly Boulevard. Do you plan to use either of them? Do you have your taxes professionally done, or do you do them yourself?

My husband usually files the income taxes on or just before April 15, tax day, even if he prepares them sooner. That’s great when a person has to pay in, but when a person is expecting a refund, filing early probably is better.

Some experts say that trying to gauge your taxes so they come out about even by tax time. My husband and I have tried to do that. Have you?

How do you handle filing your income taxes?

Do you feel the city water rates are fair? Would you be in favor of higher water rates if the extra money went toward a new water tower?

How high would you go?

A new sign has appeared on West Holly Boulevard, near The Bluffs. It tells eastbound traffic how fast they are going. The speed limit at the sign is 45 miles per hour. Have you caught yourself going faster than that?

Some people might think the sign is pretty dandy as a way to check their speed, and a great reminder. Others might think the sign nags them.

What are your thoughts?

The Argus Leader and neighboring community papers are looking for local people who have connections with Haiti. Do you have a friend or relative who lives there or was visiting there? Are they ok? Were you scheduled to visit there? Have you ever been there before?

Do you have connections with a mission group that will help after yesterday’s earthqueake, the largest to hit Haiti in more than 200 years?

If you have any information of local connections, would you please post here or e-mail me at apthiele@argusleader.com?

Thank you.

Alica P. Thiele

End-of-year building permit totals show that more people are remodeling the homes they already live in as opposed to building new homes.

My husband and I haven’t done any remodeling in the past year. We’ve been in our house 31 years now. Within the past eight years, though, we finally finished off the basement, and we had all new cabinets installed in the kitchen. Both things add to the value of our home, and are nice to live with to boot.

Next, I would like to replace the flooring on the main floor. I’d also like to paint the master bedroom. Actually, I wouldn’t like to do these things myself. I would prefer that someone do the work for me.
What kinds of improvements would you like to make to your home?

Here we are at the end of 2009. As we go into the new year, what things do you wish for Brandon?

I continue to wish for a full-menu Greek restaurant.

If memory serves, last year one of the wishes was to have a stop light at Splitrock and Redwood boulevards. Now, that has been approved. Let’s hope it gets installed quickly and smoothly.

How about wishing all the empty commercial spaces in town would be filled this year? That would bring more income to the city as well as more available goods and services to Brandon residents.

What do you wish for?

My family is going to celebrate Christmas on New Year’s day. We decided with the storm coming up, there wasn’t any point in even trying to travel. And most of us live in Brandon. “This isn’t the kind of storm where you go out to WalMart for a gallon of milk,” my brother said. “This is the kind of storm where you stay home or else you go out and die.”

Have you already changed your Christmas plans because of the weather forecast? Are you making any particular plans for what you’ll do if you get snowed in? Me, I can work from home if I have to. Also, I have three afghans I have to get finished. I’m also in the middle of a good book. (A biography of Paul Lynde.) So I have plenty to do. My husband plans to buy enough milk, bread and other staples today to get us through the weekend.

Stay warm, and keep blogging.

A group of high school kids have taken it upon themselves to organize activities for teens that do not include alcohol or drugs. They have had a roller skating party and have gone to a corn maze. They plan to do some community service projects, too.

Some people might applaud these kids and their can-do attitude. Some folks might think that these kids deserve a hand for promoting activities that involve clean, fun activities.

Other folks might wonder what the world is coming to, if kids are getting special recognition for doing what they should be doing in the first place – behaving themselves, following the law and helping others.

What are your thoughts?

The school district is saving money by using real silverware and plates instead of styrofoam in the schools.

Except at Valley Springs Elementary. There’s no dishwasher there, so they’re still using disposable.

What do you think of this cost savings to the district? How about at Valley Springs? Would a dishwasher pay for itself eventually?

Did you have any trouble in the snow yesterday or today? Have to cancel any trips? Slide off the road?

Last night I had to brake hard a couple of times, so today the knee I recently had surgery on is hurting. I should have carpooled with my husband yesterday. Then I wouldn’t have had to drive myself.

Have you been in the VFW since its remodel? What do you think of the improvements?

In particular, the kitchen has been upgraded and the menu has been expanded. The VFW is calling it the Heroes Grille.

Have you eaten in the VFW? How is the food?

It’s the time of year to reflect on our blessings. What are you thankful this year?

I am thankful that my son is doing the Thanksgiving dinner cooking. I am thankful that my knee is mending well after recent surgery. I am thankful that my family loves me, and that I have such good friends.

I am thankful for the many people who read this blog and who post interesting comments and thoughtful questions.

Thank you.

Alica P. Thiele

What do you think are Brandon’s strengths? What improvements would you like to see Brandon make?

No matter how good a city is, it always can get better. For example, I personally think Brandon would be a much better place with the addition of a full-menu Greek restaurant. An outdoor amphitheater. An airport. I’d like to see Huset’s incorporated into the city limits. But that’s just me.

Recently, people have been asking for an improved swimming pool. The city is now looking into that. People have been asking for better traffic flow on the west side of Brandon, near The Bluffs. Traffic studies have been done, and financing is being sought. Perhaps you wish these things would move along more quickly.

How long have you lived in Brandon? How does it compare to other places you’ve lived? How likely are you to stay here?