This year's prom was better than ever. There was a greater sense of community because of the storm. Prom offered a chance for all of the students to forget about their troubles for a night.

This gives the community a shot in the arm. That's what redevelopment is all about.

Any community is faced, and has been faced for years, with the criticism that redevelopment takes place behind closed doors. It is the desire of the mayor and Somerville council to make this as public as they possibly can, so people can have some input.

Someone did this for me when I was young, ... Someone - I don't know who - started a community garden in the middle of Philadelphia, and that's where I got the skills I needed to make it in the world. When I came here, Doug King knew how to support me while I did for others what had been done for me.

It's an interesting discussion for the community.

We're going to be the safest community in Iowa.