you might consider using a rumors table to "show don't tell" the goings on of a town. it's convenient for a gm to look down a list and see, for example: farms attacked, mayor's son abducted, druid Cliffwood and ranger Dawrick know the way to the obelisk/temple, elf at inn saw goblins. boom, got it. trust another game master to know what to do with short hooks. that doesn't preclude the group from running into Cricket and talking to farmers and enjoying the ranger's luxurious black hair. but it does save space when you're limited to, say eight pages or so. :)