Mayor’s Message

A Few of My Favorite Things

You may recall Maria, the nun turned governess, played by Julie Andrews in the 1965 classic film, The Sound of Music. On a dark and stormy night, she sings about many of her favorite things, ranging from “doorbells, and sleigh bells, and schnitzel with noodles” to “snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes”. Taking the time to sing an inventory of sorts cheered up the Von Trapp family and helped them remember specific things they may not have considered otherwise.

In that spirit, here are a few of my “favorite things” that occurred this year for the benefit of Washington City residents.  

With the vision and efforts of the Washington City Youth Council, a beautiful bronze statue of Malinda Covington joined the founders circle on the corner of Telegraph and Main. She represents the grit, determination, and spirit of Dixie’s early pioneer women. The landscaped grounds in front of the old school, a historic two-story sandstone structure built in 1877, are among the most attractive in the city, and I’m pleased to see her statue there. The school is now used as a museum, and worth stopping by for a visit.

This fall the Washington City Council passed a resolution honoring the USS Utah, often referred to as the forgotten ship of World War II. Starting this year, and on each Pearl Harbor Day going forward, the city will pause to honor the sailors of the USS Utah who gave their lives to preserve freedom. Join us in Veteran’s Park on December 7th at 8:00 AM for the inaugural tribute, and make sure to stop by City Hall to see the American flag that was recovered from the ship, now on display in the lobby there.

For the second year in a row, WalletHub named Washington City as the #1 Small City in America to Start a Business. The word is getting out. New businesses are opening and thriving. Great progress is being made on the Sienna Hills Auto Mall and the ARA Southwest Logistics Center. Not only will these projects provide needed services, but they will elevate and diversify the economy, provide well-paying jobs, and inject much-needed revenue into the city to help pay for vital services. A strong local economy keeps taxes low and quality of life high. It allows for the proper funding of police and fire departments, as well as the maintenance of roads and other city infrastructure.

At this point, you may be asking the same thing my daughter did, “What is schnitzel anyway”? In case you’re also wondering, it’s a very thin, breaded and pan-fried cutlet made from veal, and is not only one of the national dishes of Austria, but after a recent trip to Europe, has become one of my favorite things as well.

I wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope your holiday season is filled with doorbells, sleigh bells, and if you’re lucky, a few snowflakes that stay on your nose and eyelashes.

-Kress Staheli

Mayor

kress@washingtoncity.org