http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi A blog of daily life in the community of Brandon. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 03:32:40 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/census.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/careless-driving.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/ward-3-candidates.html 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? http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/tsunami.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/candidates.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/taxes.html 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? http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/water-rates.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/speed-sign.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/seeking-haiti-connections.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/new-construction-vs-remodeling.html 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, ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/new-year-wishes.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/christmas-storm.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/stat.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/real-silverware.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/snow-go-away.html 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? http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/heroes-grille.html 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 ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/happy-thanksgiving.html 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. ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/best-and-worst-of-brandon.html Did you attend last weekend's Brandon Expo? If so, did you discover any Brandon goods or services that were new to you? Brandon has many more businesses than people realize. Because of Brandon's layout, the storefronts aren't all concentrated in one area, so sometimes they don't make as big of an ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/expo.html It looks like the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department got to put its newest fire truck to work the night it was unveiled. The fire truck was to be unveiled at last night's city council meeting, which began at 6 p.m. By 9 p.m., several fire departments were at a home on S. ... http://blogs.argusleadermedia.com/bi/uncategorized/fire.html