Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

This week, three different progressive steps into the future are laid out for readers in our edition.
The Jessamine County Health Department’s change regarding women’s health, see A2; a new feature offering Text-to-911services, also on A2; Vote YES campaign to legalize the sale of alcohol in the unincorporated areas of Jessamine County, located on A1.
It didn’t take me long after moving to Kentucky to realize I come from a much different world where I grew up on the West Coast. However, I often stop and wonder since my move if being a progressive automatically throws you on the liberal side of the fence, as most would assume. I voted and took a very conservative stance in California, but I still voted for progression in the right direction. Simply because standing still is never a good idea.
Which brings me to probably the most controversial one of the three above, alcohol sales. I am not ignorant to understand that I entered a world almost three years ago now in which many counties around here were dry up until less than 10 to 15 years ago. As much as I appreciate the idea of not having alcohol as readily available as I did on the West Coast, I also understand the need for local businesses to keep up with the changing times and offer a service which many other do just a short drive away. This, when looked at logically, seems the smart choice if they want to stay in business.
If you change nothing, I hate to state the obvious – but nothing changes. Growth isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes, we have to be made so uncomfortable that change is the only choice we have to make.
I know not everyone will agree with me, and I know the community may stand very divided on this issue. Although I look around me and see what Nicholasville needs the most is growth. Good sustainable growth that will bring businesses back and help create a booming economy here in the county without the need for residents and those passing through to go somewhere else to get what they need and want.
For example, I may not live in Jessamine County, only work here, but I can’t tell you how many times I have driven to Lexington on my lunch break because of the lack of options in town. Or, I would love to have the option to drive up from Boyle County to a nice restaurant in Jessamine County without having to drive 20 to 30 more minutes into Lexington. These are all things to think about when you, the registered voter, receives the business reply mail to sign the petition for a wet/dry vote to be included on the November ballot.
A great quote comes from a Latin proverb which says, “If there is no wind, row!” When communities find themselves in the waves of change, the best thing to do is to find their direction. Change is ever-present, regardless of the resistance to embrace it.
Like Socrates said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” My hope is for the residents of the community to embrace the new, understand the need for change and move forward in the right direction.

Brittany Fuller is the community editor of The Jessamine Journal and Jessamine Life magazine. She can be reached at brittany.fuller@jessaminejournal.com.