Dear Downey Family,It has been a great last few weeks here in our City. As many of you might have witnessed, Space Shuttle Endeavour flew right above Downey last Friday morning, making this a historic day for our City. As the crowd gathered at the Columbia Memorial Space Center and the enthusiasm built, we looked up and saw Endeavour approaching at a distance. Words cannot even begin to describe the incredible feeling that came over me and every single person that was there. It is an experience that I will never forget and I am extremely grateful to all who made this flyover possible. We now have a name for our very own Space Shuttle Mock-up...Inspiration. Congratulations to Bea Jensen for submitting this name entry for the Shuttle naming contest. Over 150 entries were received and I want to thank all who participated. If you have not had a chance to see Inspiration yet, make sure you stop by the Columbia Memorial Space Center on Saturdays for a special tour and presentation. Our Shuttle continues to be stored under a temporary tent right across the Space Center and we are currently working hard to be able to raise funds to build a permanent home for it. Donations in any amount are greatly appreciated, so please contact the Space Center if you are interested in helping support this project. Another successful Taste of Downey event was held last week, bringing together close to 30 local restaurants, several Downey artists, live entertainment and for the first time, a beer and wine area. Hundreds came out to enjoy this great evening and it has definitely become a popular community event. Each year it gets bigger and better and I'm sure next year's event will be no exception. Training for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) begins next month and I encourage residents to sign up. One of my goals when I became Mayor was to help increase awareness and participation for emergency preparation. We never know when an emergency situation will strike in our community and we need to be as prepared as possible. CERT training is designed to help neighborhoods prepare and respond to emergency situations such as earthquakes and floods. Bring a neighbor and join the Downey Fire Department on October 6 for the first day of training. To sign up, please send an email to ready@downeyca.org. Lastly, please join us on Monday, November 12 at 10 a.m. as we pay tribute to our Veterans during a special ceremony. We will also be unveiling our new Veterans Memorial, a project that we are very proud of. It will all take place right outside Downey City Hall and all are welcome. Until next time, Mayor Roger Brossmer

********** Published: September 27, 2012 - Volume 11 - Issue 24