Dispatches: The Changing American Dream

We're excited to inaugurate a new series for our Patch Readers: "Dispatches: The Changing American Dream."

Every day, the national media is full of stories about how American families, businesses, and neighbors are adjusting to these trying times. There are so many changes happening so fast that it's dizzying: national debates about unemployment, foreclosures, debt, religion, government and private enterprise all touch on fundamental ways in which we see ourselves and our communities. At Patch, we want to explore that conversation on a daily basis so we can better understand how our neighbors are adjusting to the challenges and opportunities that surround us.

We don't think there's one American Dream, but a multitude of American Dreams which a multitude of people are working toward. Looking out across nearly almost 900 Patch sites, we see businesses holding their breath deciding whether to expand; college graduates returning home because they can't find jobs; and senior citizens bringing boarders into their homes to help pay their bills. We also see bold new volunteer efforts, inspiring stories of local businesses that succeed because they innovated, and locals who've taken these trying times as a signal to engage more, not less, in their government.

At the purely local level, we want to know where we, as New Milford neighbors, fit along these fault lines.

Nationally, there's a debate about the size of government. Locally, we have seen the municipal budget cap decrease from 4% to 2% meaning that the borough could not increase their budget more than two percent over last year's budget. The budget was met by the sacrifices of white collar and DPW employees who took a this year. 

Nationally, there's a debate about the education system, which is at the center of our dreams of a better life for our children. Locally, New Milford education officials have struggled to  while receiving less state aid.

"Dispatches" will be built upon the compelling vignettes and snapshots we unearth across all of our Patch sites. Local stories that will inspire you in the middle of these tough economic times. Like New Milford's own , who invented the Shade Anchor Bag, an anchor for beach umbrellas, that was picked up by QVC. An idea sparked by watching people struggle with umbrella's blowing away on the beach, was turned into the Beach Buoy company. 

And, of course, we want your help: Tell us what issues and what stories in New Milford go to the heart of your American Dream.