By Foster Senn Contributing columnist
https://www.newberryobserver.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_Foster-Senn-1.jpgBy Foster Senn Contributing columnist

National Night Out on Aug. 2 is as important as ever this year as the City of Newberry joins in the nationwide celebration of police, community and public safety.

Festivities will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Mollohon Park — in the shade — and will include free pizza, games and fun. It’s also a great opportunity to visit with police, sheriffs, fire department and EMS members to get safety tips, discuss any concerns and to show appreciation for our outstanding first responders in Newberry. Take Glenn Street to Milligan Street to Mollohon Park.

The city’s upgrade of Gallman Park is nearly complete, and you’re invited to a celebration and ribbon-cutting on 6 p.m. Aug. 11. A new quarter-mile walking trail, new shelter and new basketball court have made it into a really nice park.

We’ll have free hot dogs, and the fire department will provide their popular water spray for children. The improved park has gotten a great reception already as it’s rented every Saturday in August. Take Boundary Street to Langford Street to Gallman Park to get there.

In business news, our retail recruiting firm says nationally at least 40 percent of all new retail businesses this year will be restaurants. We see a reflection of that in Newberry as Groucho’s Deli prepares to open in the Wal-Mart center in August, and Chick-fil-A will open at Newberry College for the fall semester.

Taco Bell has submitted plans to the city to build a new restaurant in front of Lowe’s in the grassy area, and construction is expected to begin in the next couple of months. Downtown, Olwen & McKenna’s Tea Room is coming to Main Street near Woolbrights and Making it Personal.

As you know, dollar stores are steadily adding new locations. Mighty Dollar, a regional chain that sells everything for $1, will open a store in Newberry Plaza beside Dollar General and Badcock Furniture

At city government, City Council voted unanimously to promote Matt DeWitt to city manager on Oct. 1 as Al Harvey retires on Sept. 30.

Working as assistant city manager since 2010, Matt has overseen three of the eight city departments, and all have performed very well. He’s also been in charge of a number of projects that have turned out nicely, including a series of improvements downtown, College Street streetscaping and upgrades in the Oakland neighborhood.

And finally, there’s a lot of good news out there.

• Newberry County Memorial Hospital was recently named as one of the nation’s “100 Great Community Hospitals.”

• Our defending national champion Chapin-Newberry American Legion baseball team qualified for the state tournament in Sumter, which starts Saturday. Over the last two years under Coach Daniel Gregory, the team has a stunning 51-6 record.

• Newberry High and Newberry will get much good publicity through the fall as Coach Phil Strickland, one of the best coaches in the state, will be the head coach for the S.C. Shrine Bowl football team in December.

• I’m told at government training meetings we should reach out more to the millennial generation. With that in mind, we celebrate that Newberry now has its second Snapchat Geofilter, both thanks to Newberry College students. For us older folks, think of it as an electronic postcard you can put personal pictures on, this one featuring the Opera House.

• I continue to hear people from around South Carolina compliment our downtown, our shops and our restaurants.

• There are many activities available, including a free concert downtown Friday night, the Farmer’s Market Saturday morning, a free movie Saturday night at the Opera House, plus sign-ups now for youth football and cheerleading and more fun classes at the Newberry Art Center.

On Tuesday, I attended a celebration at Nance Forest apartments of a USDA nutrition program for children. The program has also included tutoring by volunteers during the school year and songs and fun in the summer. To hear dozens of children sing Tuesday, “Put a little love in your heart and the world will be a better place” was a sweet sound and put a smile on everyone’s face.

I hope you have a good rest of the summer. Thank you for supporting Newberry businesses and events in the community.

Foster Senn is the mayor of the City of Newberry.