Goodness on Social

Social media can be a daunting place, but every now and then our feeds deliver something truly good—something that makes us smile, warms our hearts, or reminds us why community matters.

Over the past several months, the Visit West Bend team has been keeping an eye out for these moments. And with Thanksgiving week upon us, we want to take a moment to share our gratitude: Thank you to those who choose positivity, who inspire, who offer encouragement, and who show kindness online. You make social media better—and you make our community better.

Below are just a few of the feel-good moments we’ve spotted online this year. We thought we’d share the good vibes. (Keep it coming, West Bend. The goodness doesn’t go unnoticed!)

When family members can’t help but be publicly proud…

After more than a year of exemplary work at any entry level position within City Hall, Brianna Kramer recently received a promotion. What better place than the comments section of a post celebrating the Police Department’s new K-9 to slip in a humble brag about your daughter?

In case you can’t read it, Michael Kramer commented: “Office Gatz you should take Val upstairs to meet my daughter Brianna Kramer she’s the new deputy clerk of west bend, I’m positive Val would love meeting her, she’s the best.”

West Bend Fire Chief Les Norin’s father, Rick Norin, was a lifelong volunteer firefighter, ultimately retiring as Fire Chief of the Hampton Volunteer Fire Department in Illinois. Rick was incredibly proud to watch his son follow in his footsteps and long rooted for him to step into a leadership position for a department. The elder Norin sadly passed away just before that ultimate dream of becoming a Fire Chief was realized. So when Chief Les Norin appeared in an episode of The City earlier this year, his mother couldn’t let the moment pass to share pride on behalf of both her and her late husband.

In case you can’t read it, Nancy Anderson Norin commented: “Awesome job son Dad is so proud.”

When a community member circles back to thank a City worker for a job well done…

Lifeguards from our Parks, Recreation and Forestry team combined with Police, Dispatch and Fire/EMS all played a role in helping a young girl to safety after a seizure at Regner Pond.

In case you can’t read in, Mysti Lea responded to a comment from Danielle Raasch about a medical emergency at Regner Pond: “Yesterday, my 11 year old daughter had a seizure while in the water at Regner Beach. I want to THANK the quick response of the bystanders that heard my frantic screams and helped in pulling her out of the water, the life guards for securing the scene, and especially the gentleman that was an off duty officer that helped in pulling her out of the water as well as staying with us to ensure she was okay and relaying information to the on duty officer that arrived. I didn’t get your name in the moment, but ‘THANK YOU’ doesn’t seem to do it justice. My daughter remembers ‘the man in the white shirt’ and holding your hand. I hope you were able to get your blanket bakc. Thank you sincerely to all that helped! She is feeling the effects of having a seizure, but is home now and doing okay.”

In a less dire situation than above, but still endearing, one of the Parks, Recreation and Forestry team members who helped out with this summer’s Dirty Ninja Mud Run for Kids made a big difference for one tentative little runner.

In case you can’t read it, Johanna Rusch commented: “It won’t let me post a picture, but if you were the volunteer who carried my son on your back while you crawled through a mud pit, THANK YOU! He was scared of it and said you saved him.”

By the way, we tracked down the helper.

When people get the joke about the NEED for an Olive Garden or Chick-fil-A…

Or maybe it’s not a joke? Either way, we can’t help but laugh when every post having something remotely to do with development receives a comment (or several) about people’s preferred restaurant chains.

In case you can’t read it, Tristan Ballog commented: “This is great news. More jobs = more ppl to advocate for a chick fil a.” Chris Steuer responded: “Olive Garden first please! Lol maybe both?”

When people can’t help but NOT gripe…

Someone sent us a screen grab of this wholesome and hilarious moment below. On a Facebook page devoted to griping, Aly Dylan couldn’t contain her enthusiasm for the new Westbury Bank Aquapark at Regner Pond.

In case you can’t read it, Aly comments: “Far from a gripe but this seems like as good a place as any for this sort of question!

My husband and I visited the Regner Park Beach Aqua Park on Sunday with our niece and nephew in town visiting from Florida and I’m not ashamed to say we had the time of our freakin’ lives! Curious on a scale of 1-10 how frowned upon is it for 2 childless 30-something y/o’s to go play on the inflatable water park when our reason to do fun kid things heads back home to Florida?!?

Also if you saw me on Sunday between 11 and 1 making an absolute foooool out of myself on those slides…no you didn’t.”

Come visit us!

West Bend is full of people like the commenters above. This is a community that cares—hard. And yes, sometimes that passion shows up in spirited social media posts, but it also comes through in countless positive ways every day. People pour their heart and soul into every event, every initiative, and every corner of the city, making West Bend a wonderful place to explore.