Council selects volunteers for boards, commissions. Thu, Oct 15, 2026 The Hillsboro City Council made appointments to several city boards and commissions during a regular meeting held Tuesday, October 6. Aaron McGregor was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Hillsboro Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors. Reappointed were Natasha Sawyer, Marc Young and Mike McDonald. Newly appointed to the Main Street Advisory Board were Nikki Russell-Offenbaker, Dana Brewer and Shelby Forster. Terms were renewed for Sheri Hemrick and Lacey Whitehouse. Those newly appointed to the Planning and Zoning Commission include Justin Remund, Bret Burgess, Julia Grantom and Patricia Jackson. Jeffrey Vaughan was reappointed to the commission. David Villarreal and Bret Burgess were reappointed to the Zoning Board of Adjustment, and Aaron Robertson and Rigoberto Reyes were new appointments. Brian McGilvray was reappointed to the Historic Preservation Commission, and Joe Bailey and Mark Hissong were new appointments. The council also approved the expansion of a Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone in the industrial park. The zone, created in 2020 through a partnership between the city and county, allows a portion of tax revenue generated by growth in that area to be used for improvements. The expansion would add more industrial properties and could provide additional funding for water, sewer and street improvements in the industrial park. The council also approved an ordinance... See the Thursday, October 15 edition of The Reporter Newspaper for the complete story. Only highlights of this week's full edition are featured on its website. Subscribe on its home page.

The Brickyard promotes community unity with Bridging Together. Published 9:19 am Monday, August 31, 2026 Main Street and Downtown Development Authority Director Qaijuan Willis was one of the local speakers at The Brickyard's Bridging Together event. | Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... | The Americus chapter of The Brick Yard held Bridging Together at the Sumter Fairgrounds on August 29, a community event that promoted unity across differences. The event featured speakers from the local community and across the state, along with performances by the Sowega Circle of Peace drummers and musician Joey Stuckey. The Brickyard was co-founded by Jake Harriman. Before starting his work in the States, Harriman first started working to strengthen communities abroad. After serving as a Force Recon Marine in Iraq, he realized that many of the people he was fighting were motivated by poverty. Harriman went to the Stanford University School of Business to learn the skills to start Nuru International, pairing special operations combat veterans and traditional aid workers to lift people out of poverty to prevent terrorism. When he returned to America, he also saw needs. He was struck by the degree to which the Country was divided by partisan politics. Harriman recruited Garrett Cathcart, who had experience running veteran non-profits. When Harriman pitched the idea for The Brickyard to Cathcart, he only had a month's worth of funding. Cathcart accepted the position of co-founder. Cathcart attended Bridging Together in Americus. Cathcart believes Brickyard events serve as important opportunities for people from different backgrounds to connect. With the advent of screens and polarization of media outlets, people can get news from alternate sources, becoming increasingly alienated from those who think differently than they do. "We get different flavors of what truth is now." Cathcart has found a hunger for in-person connection. "People don't know how to, frankly, make friends anymore." Carl Reid III is a 2025 Fellow and Americus Brickyard Captain. Carl Reid III says becoming a fellow at The Brickyard is one of the best things he has ever done. He first came across The Brickyard after scrolling through social media, depressed about the polarization and breakdown of civil discourse. Reid was drawn to their mission. "That's me. These are my people." He appreciates The Brickyard's desire to bring people together through service, despite their different backgrounds. "Disagreement does not mean that a person is less human than I am, or that I'm less human than they are. And I think that that hope, that connection, is what Brickyard is all about." Main Street and Downtown Development Authority Director Qaijuan Willis was one of the local speakers at the event. "I'm especially grateful to be part of a gathering that is centered around something I believe we desperately need right now, and that is community. Not just community with people who look like us, with people who think like us, or people who vote the way we do, or worship the way we do, come from where we come from, or see the world exactly the way we see it, but community, the kind that makes room for people." Willis shared that his perspective came from his Christian faith, shaping how he saw others. "If spirituality only makes me more concerned about me, then something is missing. If my faith only teaches me how to worship, but never teaches me how to love my neighbor, something is missing." Willis advocated for appreciating the shared humanity of others while still acknowledging the unique facets of individuals. He gave the story of the Good Samaritan as an example of stepping out to love others. "Being neighbors doesn't require us to agree about everything; it requires us to care for one another." Americus Mayor Travis Rush spoke at the event, interviewing afterwards. He spoke about the importance of unity. "When we have unity, when we have a common goal that we're working towards, that's when we're great." He said that problems have occurred because Americus Times-Recorder has allowed social media, politics, and religion to put Americus Times-Recorder in silos, causing division in the community. When asked if he saw division as a specifically big issue in Americus, Rush stated he would not go that far. "But we have to face reality that we operate a lot of times in silos. We operate a lot of times in our comfort zone, and by operating in our comfort zone or in our community or our district, that creates a invisible line of division."

Main Street America: Data Snapshot - 2026. Submitted by obma on Tue, 08/25/2026 - 3:57pm Ocean Beach San Diego is pleased to share the latest Data Snapshot prepared by Main Street America for the 2026 Community Transformation Workshop. Drawing on Placer.ai visitation analytics (August 1, 2025 - July 31, 2026) and Esri Business Analyst demographic and market data, this summary highlights the strength of its district, the profile of its visitors and residents, and opportunities to guide future planning and programming. Strong and growing visitation. The Ocean Beach Main Street District continues to demonstrate robust activity: * 5.5 million visits recorded over the 12-month period * 2.1 million unique visitors * Average visit frequency of 2.57 times per visitor * Average dwell time of 98 minutes Year-over-year visits grew +5.6%, with longer-term gains of +9.4% (two-year) and +9.6% (three-year). Daily visit patterns peak on Saturdays, with strong afternoon and early evening activity. These figures affirm Ocean Beach's enduring appeal as a destination for both locals and regional visitors. Who visits and lives here. Visitor & Trade Area Insights (Placer.ai) * Median household income of district visitors: $107.6K (above the California median of $99.2K) * 59.5% hold a bachelor's degree or higher (vs. 37.1% statewide) * Most common ethnicity: White (65.9%) * Average household size: 2.12 persons Top visitor origin ZIP codes are concentrated in San Diego, with notable volume from 92109, 92115, 92101, 92117, and nearby coastal and urban neighborhoods. Many visitors arrive from home or leisure activities and continue to dining, shopping, or other leisure destinations after their stop in the district. Local Community Profile - 5-Minute Drive Time (Esri 2026) * Total population: 17,124 * Median age: 38.2 * Median household income: $110,146 * 8,721 households with an average size of 1.93 * 43% of residents age 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher * Housing stock is predominantly renter-occupied (71%) Expanding the lens to 10- and 20-minute drive times reveals a larger, more diverse market with higher population density, continued strong educational attainment, and significant household spending power - particularly in categories such as dining, groceries, apparel, and travel. Market landscape & Visitor journey. Visitors to Ocean Beach frequently combine their trip with other popular San Diego destinations, including San Diego International Airport, Fashion Valley, Liberty Station, Mission Valley, and nearby parks and beaches. Peak hourly visitation occurs in the late afternoon and early evening, aligning well with retail, dining, and entertainment opportunities. Favorite places data and route analysis confirm that Ocean Beach sits within a highly connected regional network of shopping, recreation, and lifestyle destinations - positioning the district as both a destination and a convenient stop for broader San Diego visitors. Key takeaways for members. * Healthy momentum - Consistent multi-year growth in visits signals strong recovery and ongoing demand. * Affluent, educated audience - Both residents and visitors show higher-than-average income and education levels, supporting quality retail, dining, and experiential offerings. * Weekend and evening strength - Programming, extended hours, and events can further capitalize on peak visitation windows. * Regional draw - A substantial share of visitors come from across San Diego, reinforcing the value of coordinated marketing and partnerships. * Local character remains distinctive - Smaller household sizes, high renter occupancy, and a walkable coastal setting differentiate Ocean Beach within the broader market. Looking ahead. This data provides a clear foundation for strategic discussions around business recruitment and retention, marketing priorities, public-space improvements, and event programming. As Ocean Beach San Diego move forward, these insights will help ensure its efforts remain grounded in the realities of who visits, who lives here, and how the district functions day to day. Thank you for your continued commitment to Ocean Beach. Ocean Beach San Diego look forward to working together to build on this strong foundation.