Dorchester's Best: Our Top Attributes

This is the third post in our "Dorchester's Best" series. Today, we look at Dorchester's top attributes.

Selected by the staff of the Dorchester Times, these are the things -- aside from the citizens, themselves -- that enhance our quality of life and make Dorchester the good, little town we call home.

Of course, like any other community, Dorchester has its challenges. All of us can name a few things we would like to change. Yet, we often forget to count our blessings and take for granted the things that make our community special.

So we thought it was time to list Dorchester's best attributes, the things that will provide the foundation for Dorchester's future, while continuing to make our community better today. And although we are naming only five key elements on this post, we realize there are numerous other qualities that make Dorchester a gem in the Cornhusker State. Readers should feel free to submit things we have missed.

Now, here is our list, in no particular order:

1.) Dorchester's Community Organizations -- Whether its the American Legion, the Legion Auxiliary, Tabor Lodge, the little league baseball and softball teams, the Saline County Historical Society, the Methodist Church groups, the Dorchester Area Community Association (DACA) or other organizations, our community groups are instrumental to the success of Dorchester. These associations are Dorchester's "movers and shakers" -- the citizens who want to get involved and make things happen. We want to pay special tribute to the Dorchester Volunteer Fire Department, which is one of the best small-town fire and rescue departments in the area. Whether responding to emergencies or providing the annual fireworks show, the DVFD leads by example.



2.) Dorchester School: As we have said before, as goes your school, goes your town. A school provides the heartbeat for any community. For example, look at this Web site. The majority of activity reported here is related to the school. Fortunately, Dorchester has a school of which we can be proud. Can you imagine life in Dorchester without the students? Without the sporting activities? Without the school plays? Without the jobs it provides? We cannot -- and we hope we never have to.




3.) Dorchester Methodist Church: Recently, one reader stated that the new marquee downtown was they only notable community improvement in years. We should have reminded him about the Dorchester Methodist Church. While we miss the old structure, we commend the visionary church leaders who had the foresight to plan and raise the funds for the new church building. Not only should church members take pride in their impressive house of worship, the congregation can be proud of its 125 year history in Dorchester. Throughout those years, the Dorchester Methodist Church has always looked after the needs of the entire community. We thank them.




4.) Dorchester Business Community: The hub of a community is its business sector. (Yes, we know that we have not pictured all of Dorchester's business below. We apologize.) As we wrote previously, most commerce can be conducted right here in Dorchester. Our businesses provide customer service and a personal touch that is difficult to find elsewhere. We hope that ten years from now, Dorchester's downtown is bustling with even more business activity. But for that to become a reality, Dorchester residents must appreciate their existing businesses by patronizing them whenever possible.




5.) Dorchester's Night Life: Forget Omaha! Forget Lincoln! Dorchester has one of the best social scenes in eastern Nebraska. Whether its enjoying the region's best prime rib, taking in a little karaoke, or getting together with friends at the Community Center, we are always impressed with the options the Village offers. Best of all, you can enjoy an evening out and still have cash left at the end of the night.