This trip was photography focused … We had the usual Colorado activities … enjoyment of cool high altitude mountain air, fine food, shopping, hikes and festivals. However, this time we spent more time photographing the beauty and details of the majestic Rocky Mountains. Enjoy!!!
Posted in Mayor Jim, Trails | 3 Comments »
Teamwork and a public servant
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This note to the Ouray, Colorado City Manager tells a local hero story.
Mr Manager ,
This is a short note to recognize and thank Office Crandall for going above and beyond to help a visitor to Ouray.
My wife and I spent two nights at the wonderful China Clipper B&B this past week. A young couple, Bryan and Becky, were there as well. Unfortunately their SUV was the victim of apparent vandalism in the form of a slashed tire. When I came out to the parking area, officer Crandall was assisting. At the height of frustration when the vehicle’s small jack would not fit under the frame, when calls to garages had failed, when the creative energy of a gathering group came up short and when tears were streaming from Becky as she began seeing her first weekend of climbing with her husband after hip surgery drift away, Officer Crandall left and returned with a rolling jack capable of lifting the vehicle.
As the former Mayor of Little Rock for fourteen years I have witnesses many examples of public service. I just wanted you to know Officer Justin Crandall demonstrated one of the finest examples I’ve seen of a true “Public Servant”.
We love Ouray … Now we have even more reason to give high praise to your City.
Jim and Patti Dailey
Ps: I will appreciate your sharing this with Justin and his Chief.
Posted in Mayor Jim, Tributes | 8 Comments »
Posted in Mayor Jim | Tagged Little Rock Downtown | Leave a Comment »
We were just going to Saturday Afternoon Mass …
What started out as a Saturday afternoon heading to Mass, turned out to be a serendipitous adventure in Downtown Little Rock.
Going to Mass at the historic Greek Revival Saint Edward’s Catholic Church is a treat by itself … the Architecture, the altar carved by German craftsmen, the leaded glass, the choir, the ritual and the fact that for over 100 years it has continuously operated in the original settlement of Little Rock. Our already pleasant downtown adventure did not end with a church service.
After Mass we drove the few blocks to the River Market District, found a parking spot, walked around for a bit on an unseasonable cool July evening and had dinner at Dizzy’s … another treat in itself. Owner, Darla, has managed to create her own eclectic flavor of art, atmosphere, food and hospitality.
A great dinner behind us we were about to head West when Patti suggested we drive by the Bernice Garden on South Main … this time, a treat far beyond our expectations. There was music, street vendors and more activity than I have seen on Main Street in the past 50 years. These pictures with my Iphone (I was wishing I had my Canon camera) provide a sample of the full of life and commerce in this SoMa neighborhood.
With the River Market District, Argenta in NLR, Heights/Hillcrest and now SoMa, the heart of our Capitol City is beating like a teenager once again !!!
It truly makes me proud to be a citizen of Little Rock …
check out: thebernicegarden.org and southonmain.com …. also … somalittlerock.blogspot.com
My architect friend, Don Renshaw, reminded me that Charles Stewart
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Sammy Lee Mills, JR. May 9, 1935 – June 14, 2014
Gang Violence in Little Rock …
It was my first year as Mayor and Little Rock was stunned by a growth of gangs and gang violence. Situated at the crossroads of Interstates 30 and 40, Central Arkansas has long been a corridor of commerce … in the case of gangs, a corridor of drug commerce. Unlike most forms of legitimate competitive commerce, the marketing of drugs brought with it competing gangs, territorial claims and violent turf wars. Faced with 77 homicides the previous year … mostly youth on youth … businesses and neighborhoods were demanding action from City Hall. What are you going to do, Mr. Mayor ?
Victim’s Outreach and Sammy Mills …
City Hall did respond … responded with more police, more neighborhood partnerships, more direct connections with youth plus a series of Prevention, Intervention and Treatment programs. However, there was still a nagging question in my mind as to what I could personally do, not what City Hall could do but, as the city leader, what I could do. Enter Sammy Mills … and the formation of the Victims Outreach Program.
I had known Sammy thru his community involvement and respected him for his willingness to help and work with others … always with a giving and caring spirit. I asked Sammy if he would work with me to visit the homes and families of each youth killed in gang violence in our city. Whether right or wrong I felt a personal visit by the Mayor to the home of each victim’s family would have some benefit … at a minimum letting families know the Mayor cared. To keep this from appearing politically motivated, I asked the media to never show up or report anything about this outreach … the media respected my request.
Sammy made all the arrangements for each visitation. In addition, he noted the needs of the family and did the follow up to meet those needs. Many of these were very poor families … Sammy, working with Patsy Gatlin in the Attorney General’s Office, provided burial assistance. Sometimes there were needs for clothing, just so family members could attend the funeral. Maybe their electricity had been turned off … we worked with the utilities. The needs were many, the families were hurting and The Victim’s Outreach Program provided spiritual, physical and emotional attention.
Over nearly three years, Sammy and I visited nearly 100 families. I know we made a difference and I know I could not have done it without Sammy. In his eulogy yesterday, Pastor Al Montgomery used a stop watch to remind us “time is running out” and the importance of how we use our time. My friend, Sammy Mills, used his time well !!! His warm, gentle smile will be missed but how he spent his time will be remembered by me, his family and the countless numbers he touched during his 79 years.
Thank you my friend and Local Hero, Sammy Mills.
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Susan Morrison and Randy Woodward … All about Art
For more than three decades I’ve been blessed to know and follow the incredible careers of Susan and husband, Randy. Together this Eureka Springs Couple has dedicated every waking moment capturing the beauty of our Arkansas wilderness, the animals of America and permanently preserving them on canvas in a manner comparable to that of John Audubon.
I had two reasons ten days ago to connect with Susan and Randy … one because I was invited to stop by the Gallery and the other to be part of a dinner at the Queen Anne Mansion. Upon arriving at the gallery, Randy rounded up Susan and excitedly escorted me to the third floor of their in town apartment/studio. Was I ever in for a surprise! In the far end of the room was a large flat vertical surface … almost as big as a 4’x 6′ plywood board … covered with a cloth. “Are you ready?” Susan asked and before I could answer she whipped back the cover exposing one of her most awesome works ever … A nearly completed full size head and shoulders of a wild mustang.
Lata and Steve Lovell … Queen Anne Mansion and Arkansas Club
The second part of the wonderful weekend in Eureka was a dinner and evening with friends at the impeccably restored Queen Anne Mansion. Thanks to Lata and Steve Lovell, this magnificent mansion has been completely and fastidiously restored inside and out. Much like Crystal Bridges, the Queen Anne stands as a testament to individuals willing to leave a legacy of art, architecture and history for decades … maybe centuries to come.
Steve and Lata bring Susan and Randy to the Queen Anne …
There could not be a better blending of two Arkansas Treasures than the Susan Morrison Art showcased in the Lovell’s Queen Anne Mansion. In fact there are 90 pieces of Susan’s Masters Legacy works on permanent display in the Mansion.
Thank you Susan, Randy, Lata and Steve for your contribution to Arkansas … today and tomorrow!!! Thanks also to David and Beth for one of the most enjoyable evenings … ever!!!
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Mom … My Sisters and Mom’s Favorite Son
My Two Favorite Moms …
In the top photo I make a big deal about being Mom’s Favorite Son … pretty safe bet for sure … her only son.
The bottom picture accurately defines my Favorite Moms … Ellen Dailey and Patti Dailey. Sadly, Ellen is no longer physically with us. However, she is as much with us in thought, fond memories and love as she was during the many years we were blessed to call her “Mom” in person. I miss those Monday evening dinners at mom’s … in fact I still treasure the recurring reminder on my IPhone calendar each Monday at 5:30. Not that I need any prompts to think of her … it just feels good, maybe even nurturing, to see “moms” pop up on the screen once a week. Happy Mother’s Day Mom !!!
The other favorite mom in my life is Patti Murphy Dailey, my wife of 49 years and the mother of our four children. Patti is a wonderful wife, especially to have put up with me for all these years. Since this is Mother’s Day I will focus on her as a mother … i’m not sure one could find a better one. She has been great at the traditional motherly chores … meals, laundry, car pooling, shopping … this list along could fill a 300 page novel. More significantly, Patti has been, and still is, a loving, caring and unselfish mother and role model. If one is looking for the definition of best attitude, most giving, most supportive, most tireless mom in the world, it’s all wrapped up in one special person … Patti Murphy Dailey. Happy Mother’s Day Patti !!!
Just for fun and memories, a few random shots below of the two moms.
Posted in Mayor Jim, Tributes | Tagged Mother's Day ... Favorite Moms. | 3 Comments »
Possibly the best Hiking, Backpacking, Camping season in Years !!!
I declare October thru April as my time to enjoy the wilderness experience of Arkansas, The Natural State. There are no ticks, no chiggers, no snakes and few people. There’s always plenty of firewood, plenty of campfire stories and plenty of scenic views. Early season we have kaleidoscopic colors, mid season with leaf-off we have views unavailable the rest of the year and late season we have wildflowers, waterfalls and the fresh new green of Spring. This past weekend I just finished my last outing of the season … what an exceptional season.
Water was great and waterfalls were spectacular …
Wild flowers were aplenty …
Dogwoods were the fireworks of the forest …
Never have I experienced anything like it … the new spring green was aglow with sparkles of white, splatterings of bright white, an otherwise beautiful but monochromatic forest was transformed with thousands of what could just as easily be random trees lit with white Christmas lights … unbelievable, unexpected, stunning … what a once in a lifetime experience.
Waxing Philosophical …
If you have read any of the books by authors such as Colin Fletcher, who backpacked the Grand Canyon or Everett Reuss, the young man in his twenties who disappeared while writing, painting and hiking in the Utah Canyonlands, then you understand how the wilderness can refresh your soul. More than likely you know it from personal experience.
If you have climbed a mountain in Colorado … maybe one of the fourteeners … or read books by Bill Bryson describing his hike of the Appalachian Trail or Cheryl Strayed’s book detailing her solo hike of the Pacific Crest Trail, then you have probably already picked up your pack and trekking poles. You know what it means to leave behind the noise of the city in exchange for a pack on your back and the mind/body refreshment of hiking to a place most people will never see.
Maybe, you too will share the wonder of a season in the Arkansas wilderness.
Posted in Thoughts, Trails | Tagged Arkansas Waterfalls and Wild Flowers 2013 - 2014 | 1 Comment »
Harrison, Arkansas … A city that has it together !!!
49 years ago my wife and I spent the first night of our honeymoon in Harrison, Arkansas. Obviously it’s only natural Patti and I still hold a special place in our hearts for Harrison. Through these five decades we traveled highway 65 more than 100 times in route to visit friends in Missouri. Harrison was our restaurant, our service station, our grocery store, our rest stop, our meeting place. Whether floating the Buffalo, enjoying Dogpatch or attempting to ski icy slopes at Marble Falls, the city of Harrison played a role or served as home base.
Flash forward to 2007 … life after politics. My brother in law invited me to become part of Flake & Kelley Commercial. I did and almost immediately hit the road meeting with Mayors promoting Retail Business Development. The timing was right, I was hired to do some work for Harrison and began introducing prospective retailers to the market. Of surprise to me I found resistance … not based on market analytics … based on the history of racism and prevailing tales of the KKK leadership in the area. Your Mayor will well remember a meeting with two restaurant franchise owners expressing concern for the perceived culture of racism in the community.
During the past seven years I have come to appreciate a new Harrison Culture … a culture of leadership, a culture of openness, a culture of discussion and learning from the past, a culture of team building and working together, and a culture of announcing to the world there is a new Harrison, a new attitude, a new vision and the doors of Harrison are wide open for all.
Harrison, Arkansas … I’m proud of you and proud to be your friend.
Jim Dailey
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How could one not love Jeremy ? … Just look at that Smile ?
In Little Rock, we are blessed to have great restaurants and excellent hotels. We are also fortunate to have awesome staff … staff behind the scenes and those out front … those who set the tables, serve our meals and clean up after us when we’re gone. Unfortunately, we often take them for granted. Shame on us !!!
My dad set an example for me and my sisters by always acknowledging our servers … maybe a “hello, how are you today, thank you for your service” … little things like that. What a life lesson for me and a pretty darn good one for all of us.
I’ve attended a life’s worth of Chicken and Green Bean lunches and dinners
I’ve met and/or been served by thousands of the individuals who make large Civic and Convention luncheon or dinner events work in a timely fashion. Hopefully, I’ve followed my dad’s example by acknowledging my servers with a smile and kind word. During my years as Mayor, I came to know their faces and some of their names. Virtually all have been wonderful … One stands out !!
Jeremy at the Little Rock Marriott Convention Center … My local hero !!!
Let me tell you why Jeremy is my hero … why he stands out. Well, Jeremy is hard to miss … hard to miss not because he’s a pretty big guy but because he always has a pretty big smile, hard to miss because he always greets me with a big bear hug and hard to miss because he always gives big service, big attention and a big friendly hospitable attitude. Jeremy has been around for quite a few years … from the Excelsior to the Peabody to the now Marriott and I bet I’m not alone in recognizing this very special human being. I also bet, whether he is acknowledged by all or not, that he has enhanced the meeting experience, the customer experience and the image of Little Rock as much or more than anyone.
Thank you, Jeremy, for just being you !!!
Posted in Mayor Jim, Tributes | 6 Comments »
Jim Dailey 
