Report: Braslav prepares for "Dazhynki-2019"

Braslav is hosting the regional festival-fair of agricultural workers "Dazhynki" this year. Preparations for this important and responsible event began in the city and district back in 2018. The main list of works includes 35 facilities, but in fact, there are about a hundred. The amount of budget funding alone amounts to Br18 million. Significant funds are also being invested by local enterprises and organizations, which have joined the preparations regardless of their form of ownership. Residents have also not remained on the sidelines, concentrating their efforts on improving their personal plots and thus contributing to the formation of an attractive image of the district center. BELTA correspondents learned about the changes taking place in Braslav.

The chairman of the district executive committee, Alexander Bodanin, gave us a tour of the main facilities. "Holding the regional 'Dazhynki' has given us a unique chance to comprehensively solve many problematic issues, renovate the city, increase the district's tourism potential, and strengthen the position of the agricultural sector. Therefore, the main tasks that everyone is currently working on are to make the most effective use of this opportunity," emphasizes the head of the district.

Currently, Braslav has a population of 10,000 people, and in the summer season, this number doubles due to vacationers and tourists. The peak load of over 25,000 people occurs during the Viva Braslav festival. It is not surprising and quite rational that the district, considering its cross-border location, associates its future primarily with the tourism sector, therefore one of the main facilities is the coastal area of Lake Drivyaty.

Rest areas, piers, moorings, a floating water fountain and beach, a skate park, sports grounds, parking, lighting, and much more are planned for the beach. Soon, the embankment will become the highlight of the renovated city.

Work on the improvement of the "Lesnichyevka" forest park, where most of the cultural events of the district center usually take place, has been completed. A mobile stage complex has been purchased for the city.

which was first used at the international festival "Braslavskie Zarnitsy" held on June 1-2. An open-air stone museum will also appear here in the future. Boulders are collected from all over the district, each with its own story.

There are many ideas on how to make the most of the tourist season. For example, the district is already discussing the appearance of a new holiday here - the Day of Turning on the Fountains. "The possibility of holding a summer KVN Cup is also being considered. There is an opportunity for this, and an open stage area as well. And it should be used as much as possible," says Alexander Bodanin.

In addition, the Braslav district has been included in the list of twelve pilot districts identified by the UNDP project for the development of small and medium-sized businesses. The other day, during an informational meeting with the project curators, promising business ideas that can be implemented here were discussed. Proposals concerned the development of the sports and tourism sector, the creation of an IT village for youth. According to the chairman of the district executive committee, these areas have huge potential. A collection of proposals and private initiatives is currently underway, on the basis of which a general program will then be developed.

Our busy itinerary includes an introduction to the renovated football field at the city stadium, a new residential microdistrict on Oktyabrya Street, as well as city streets where the asphalt surface is being replaced.

"The housing sector is changing very significantly. This is an important area for us," notes Alexander Bodanin. "Last year, a 60-apartment residential building was commissioned, and this year we will commission a 40-apartment one. And another 60-apartment building is planned for 2020. A workout area will also be set up here, and a new sports and recreation complex will be built. A significant facility for the townspeople, along with the modernized hospital, is also important in terms of developing medical tourism."

At the entrance to secondary school No. 2, its director Anatoly Neverkovich greets us and introduces us to his domain. "The essence is as follows:

"so that any child can come to school and get everything they want, fully realize themselves," he briefly states the main principle of operation, and then confirms it with action, demonstrating the brand new biology, chemistry, computer, music, language labs, and other classrooms, the equipment of which is made strictly in accordance with the specialization. For example, in the chemistry classroom, water is supplied to each desk and there is a small sink for working with reagents. The martial arts and rhythmics hall is equipped with sports equipment and a special tatami. The director's special pride is the Ministry of Emergency Situations classroom. It is essentially a museum where rescuers' uniforms from different years are displayed, equipment elements, documentation, etc. are collected. The walls of each room, thanks to the efforts of the school's handyman, are decorated with panoramas of Braslav: views of the old town, Castle Hill.

"Now all the work has moved outside: the porch, a multifunctional sports ground with artificial turf, and a traffic rules learning area are in progress," notes Anatoly Neverkovich. The grand opening of the school will take place on September 1. "Other schools are not being overlooked either," emphasizes Alexander Bodanin. - For example, another sports ground donated by the Federation of Trade Unions will be located in the urban settlement of Vidzy."

The kindergarten No. 3 also makes an impression. The cheerful colors of the freshly renovated building immediately catch the eye. However, the "filling" is more important. According to the head, Olga Selezneva, the interior of the facility is already ready: the premises and utilities have been completely renovated, and the children's groups are equipped with new furniture, play equipment, and plumbing. "We still need to complete the installation of the fire alarm system and fix minor landscaping issues, which are planned to be fully completed by June 15," notes the head of the children's institution.

The facility, located in a residential area and highly sought after by parents, is designed for 220 children. "But 260 toddlers attend, so we had to make some adjustments. Moreover, we expect an increase in enrollment, so to meet the demand, we immediately ordered 291 beds," the interviewee smiles.

She expresses her gratitude to the parents for their patience and understanding, explaining that the renovation was carried out without a complete shutdown of the kindergarten's operations. Children were transferred to other institutions during the renovation period. It is understandable that this caused inconvenience to many, but not a single complaint or remark was received.

Small architectural forms attract attention in the city. As it turned out, enterprises and organizations actively supported the "Gift to Our Beloved City" campaign announced at the beginning of the year. For example, a branch of "Beltelecom" installed a bicycle parking area in "Lesnichevka" and an ornate wrought-iron bench near the registry office, which instantly became a popular photo zone. Another similar spot will soon appear near the entrance to the town at the "Adpachynak" parking lot thanks to DSU-34. A boat will be installed there. The sponsors of the bus stop renovation were DRSU-142, Braslav Bakery, utility enterprises, and "Braslavryba."

An impressive retro car near the bus station was placed by ATP No. 18 (a branch of OJSC "Vitebskoblavtotrans"). The Vydza Vocational and Technical College initiated the installation of metal stands for interchangeable plastic information boards, where interesting and relevant information about the city will be displayed. "Participation in the campaign is driven by civic responsibility, as events like "Dazhynki" are not held often. Everyone should make an effort for the benefit of their hometown to make it better and more comfortable," believes the college director Mikhail Smirnov.

Braslav residents are observing the ongoing transformations

happy. "The courtyards have changed, many roads have been built, new playgrounds have been built for children, the center is being transformed. It is evident that everything is for the people. And this is not for show, as the work began a long time ago. We think that this is not even all yet," shared their opinion Ekaterina and Alexander Baliko.

Correspondents of BELTA met this young family with their son near the former post office building next to the district executive committee. Soon, the district museum will move into this historic building, as the old premises do not have enough space to accommodate all the exhibits. "A good idea. The museum should be in the center, which is convenient for everyone - both townspeople and tourists. We like it," Ekaterina appreciated the idea of the local authorities.

Zoya Bolochko has been living in Braslav for over 30 years, she is now retired, but remains an active participant in public life - sings in the veteran choir of the local House of Culture. Her beautiful, well-kept plot attracts attention with its abundance of various flowers. They are organically complemented by an artificial pond and a decorative house with a stork's nest. At the time of the meeting, the hostess is busy: improving the surrounding beauty. "My mother loved to tinker with flowers, and so do I. Here I laid the stones myself, now my husband and I will be remodeling the shed for "Dazhynki". There will be many guests, they will walk along the neighboring street. I want everything to be beautiful," shares the resident of Braslav. Vladimir Sviridenko has his own business, he is successfully engaged in baking bread and is already quite well-known in his city. He is also happy with the ongoing changes. "First of all, I focus on local residents as my clients, as the tourist flow is seasonal, but at the same time, what is happening now will definitely pay off: there will be tourists - there will be more income, people will be interested in staying and starting their own business here," says the interlocutor.

According to Nina Puchinskaya, Chairman of the Braslav District Council of Deputies, a lot of work is also being done on the improvement of villages and agrotowns, much is being done together with the villagers on

installation and painting of fences, planting of greenery. "In the rural areas alone, we planted almost 1.2 thousand trees and shrubs in the spring. Lawns are being laid out, public recreation areas are being created, small architectural forms are being installed, and private households are being tidied up. Even in small villages, we are creating waiting areas for mobile shops with canopies from the rain and benches. There are currently three of them - in the villages of Ozeravtsy, Kalenkishki, and Samuyly. People, especially the elderly, like it: many now come to such areas just to chat," said Nina Puchinskaya.

At one of the sites, we meet the chairman of the regional organizing committee for the preparation and holding of the regional "Dazhynki-2019", the chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Council of Deputies, Vladimir Terentyev. "Every city has its own specifics. And when we prepare for this responsible event, we usually set three key tasks: first, based on people's opinions, infrastructure that is necessary for the comfortable life of local residents should be created; second, to make a holiday for everyone; and third, to organize a good event for the rural workers," emphasizes Vladimir Terentyev.

He also holds the opinion that Braslav is, first and foremost, a tourist city. "For the district center to develop, and its residents to have jobs or be self-employed, appropriate infrastructure is primarily needed. Taking into account the increased summer load, the priority is the beach area, sports grounds, roadside service, and retail outlets. Special attention is paid to social facilities important for the townspeople. At the same time, knowing in advance where the next "Dazhynki" will be held, we can already determine the list of facilities and work on design and estimate documentation," notes the chairman of the regional organizing committee.

Park improvement and reconstructionof the military burial site on Buloychika Street, where the remains of 1273 soldiers who liberated Braslav district are interred, was supervised by Vladimir Terentyev. Br36.2 thousand was allocated for these purposes, including Br20 thousand from the субботник (voluntary work day) and Br15 thousand in gratuitous sponsorship from the Federation of Trade Unions. The updated slabs bear the names of 980 Soviet soldiers-liberators. However, the main value of the work done, he believes, is that 36 new surnames have appeared on the memorial, which were identified thanks to the meticulous work of searchers. And on May 9 this year, the residents of Braslav celebrated Victory Day at the renovated memorial site.

BELTA.