13th Annual Walk to Mary – De Pere to Champion, Wisconsin (2026)
Oratory at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Champion
0905, 2026
1608, 2025
Main Street America Weekly (2025)
Throughout my career it has been my pleasure to work with Main Street America. This week I was pleased to see a quote attributed to me at the top of the Main Street America Weekly e-blast that goes out to downtown revitalization leaders nationally. My full quote about the Main Street America Academy follows: This is a huge gift to
0712, 2024
Downtown and the Faubourgs – New Orleans, Louisiana
My first visit to New Orleans was in January 2006. As a FEMA contractor I was stationed there a few days because there was no place to stay in Baton Rouge where headquarters was. After returning home I recounted the visit in a series of weekly letters that were published in the Downriver Review. Later in 2012 I wrote a
2211, 2024
Strategic Doing – “Unlock the Power of Adaptive Practices: Beyond Traditional Management”
Started my morning with friend and colleague Ed Morrison. He made his tacit knowledge available to others, and in so doing helped us learn. In a meeting, Ed discussed the difference between traditional management practices and adaptive management practices, emphasizing the importance of strategic doing. He introduces the concept of clock problems, which are well-defined problems with established solutions, and
1410, 2024
Book Review – Key to the City
Today I had the great pleasure of hearing Sara C. Bronin give her views on zoning. Author of the recently published book “Key to the City,” she has a unique perspective of the many maladies caused by outdated zoning laws from the 1950s and 1960s with large lot zoning and auto dependent development. Her work is informed through efforts to
0909, 2024
The Great Elephant March – New York City, New York
On a recent visit to New York a slow down allowed us to take in the Lincoln Tunnel approach from New Jersey. Somber preparations has begun for the 9/11 commemorations. I’ve always admired the Art Deco style pylons. We made a quick stop at Gotham West Market with different food vendors. Chrissy & Ed had Mexican. T and I chose
0409, 2024
Downtown – Rahway, New Jersey
This handsome station and plaza are a common sight for commuters. One needs to walk a few blocks away to see some exciting things happening. These way-finding signs offer an important amenity, especially for first time visitors. Given their significant size, a missed opportunity is to have something on the back blank side. Given the efforts to position Rahway as
3008, 2024
Downtown – Suffern, New York
It’s not every day that I get chance to take multiple trains from my home in Metuchen to just across the state line into New York. When visiting for a few short minutes I was pleasantly surprised by what I found. Suffern is a town with Revolutionary War ties and today has the character of a commuter town with a
2908, 2024
Downtown – Occoquan, Virginia
This cast concrete block building on the edge of town makes use of this distinctive building material. Upon entering town this skinny vernacular cottage caught our attention for the detailed spindle work. The town of Occoquan originated in 1758 when John Ballentine built his home Rockledge. Grist mills, a foundry, and tobacco warehouses predominates. During the Civil War, Gen Wade
0808, 2024
Downtown – Atlantic City, New Jersey
The entrance into Atlantic City gives a nice sense of arrival with these vertical pylons with stylized letters. A cluster of national chain stores makes it clear this is a shopping destination. The Nike store has pride of place while turning the corner towards the major resorts on the shore. Coach is located in the Tanger Outlets development, basically turning