This week, I recorded some podcast episodes that will run in the coming weeks. One of them was a conversation with residents who relocated to Dover from Alabama this fall. Hearing them talk about snow and weather was fun. Better yet, they were discussing why they chose to live in Dover. As someone who was raised here and has chosen to stay here, I am always interested in hearing why people come to Dover. This is both a personal and professional interest. From a professional standpoint, part of my role with the city is to study the demographics of the community and how they change. I look at how the city and community can continue to embrace people and change and how Dover can remain a welcoming and diverse community.

I like to say there are three types of people who live in Dover:

All have important aspects that we need to pay attention to. All are important to learn from. There is value in breaking down the diversity and the evolving opinion each one brings to the table. It is important that we have a community that reflects the opinions of all and, as we grow, that we recognize the need to preserve why people want to live here; embrace what people believe makes Dover stand out against our peer communities. At the same time, we need to creatively address areas that need improvement. The only thing perfect in this world is my wife, so with that in mind, I love to look at the cracks and crevices and see what we tweak, nurture, or wholesale address to make Dover more reflective of her residents.

So, where do you fit into that? How long have you been in Dover, and what do you like or want to see improved? I hope you think about this, maybe not as much as I do, but I hope it is something you recognize and in doing so speak your mind and engage in the community. A great way to do so is by participating in the Distinctly Dover visioning process we are undertaking as part of the Master Plan process. How do you do that? Click here to learn how to be part of that initiative.

Now, for this week’s slight diversion. Recently I was at the library, and the director was surprised to see me checking out fiction books. She believed that I was a strictly non-fiction reader. I probably read 60% non-fiction but usually balance that with shallow fiction – thrillers, mysteries, and historical fiction. This week I read a great fiction book, “Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin,” a book I read in two sittings. If you’re into coming-of-age novels, which I usually am not, and/or like books that have characters you are interested in even when you don’t necessarily like them, and if you are interested in complex relationships and simple emotions that become muddy, check this book out.

Enjoy,

Deputy City Manager: Development and Strategic Initiatives