We hear a lot of great stories while on the road. One of our favorites is the "Moose Legend" from Groveton, New Hampshire. But in this case, the legend is documented by one of our favorite photos, taken in front of Groveton High School in 1979.

According to our source, Becky Newton, "The funny story behind the picture is that the driver was the French teacher. Later in the day he's on the telephone with the insurance company trying to explain, in his broken English, that a 'mouse' crushed his car. He finally got the word 'moose' out...but not before his credibility was completely destroyed!"

Since our first visit to Milwaukee's SOHI District nearly five years ago, we've continued to follow the work and progress of the SOHI District Main Street Program. Keith Stanley, SOHI District Manager, has made it easy for us to follow by employing a variety of video and social media applications, including a YouTube Channel that features more than 80 videos. 

While posting one of the most recent installments, Keith pondered, "So how do you get 1 year of volunteerism, community organizing, development, neighborhood coordination and collaboration in a 4 minute 30 second video?  I do not know... Plenty of Red Bull?"

Check out the SOHIMKE YouTube Channel for more, including a number of clips on SOHI's surveillance cameras, safety initiatives, and features on unique SOHI District businesses.

Congratulations to our friends at Cedar Falls Community Main Street, a graduate of the 2009 Main Street Iowa Market Analysis program facilitiated by DPN, and the community of Cedar Falls on making the National Trust for Historic Preservation's list of 2010 Dozen Distinctive Destinations.  

There's still time to help us vote Cedar Falls as the fan favorite. Click on the icon and vote now! 

We ran across this story about Pepsi opting to take a pass on Super Bowl ads this year in favor of a social media campaign. That in itself is pretty interesting, but the story also references the "Pepsi Refresh" initiative which will give away $20 million in grants to fund projects in six categories: health, arts and culture, food and shelter, the planet, neighborhoods and education.

This could be a great opportunity for our "downtown neighborhoods," or perhaps for certain downtown arts & culture-related projects and other community-oriented initiatives originating in our downtown and neighborhood commercial districts. According to the story, Pepsi will make grants to up to 32 worthy projects every month.

For more information, check out the Pepsi Refresh project website at refresheverything.com.

Pew Research Center just released a great report on "New Media" trends, "Social Media & Mobile Internet Use Among Teens and Young Adults." It reinforces a number of the trends we've been tracking in consumer surveys conducted in communities across the country - big and small, rural and urban.

Give it a read. It offers great insight and food for thought for organizations and businesses looking to connect with these important market segments.