Chamber Agrees to Support Signs for Stanardsville

By Jay Crawford
Editor, Greene County Record

STANARDSVILLE (August 2006) - Just weeks after helping the Ruckersville Citizens' Council erect a "welcome" sign in Ruckersville, the Greene County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors voted unanimously Friday to help erect three similar signs in Stanardsville.

The signs will welcome visitors to the town and, the Chamber and area businesses hope, attract people to the town for shopping, dining and overnight excursions.  The three signs, once fully funded, will be placed at the east and west ends of Stanardsville on the U.S. 33 bypass, and at the town limits on Va. 230.

The Stanardsville Town Council approved partial funding of the signs on Monday during its regular monthly meeting, and the Chamber of Commerce and Greene County Economic Development Authority each pledged $100 per sign previously.  While making his presentation to the Town Council, Don Pamenter also said he planned to ask the Stanardsville Area Revitalization Group (STAR) to fund a portion of the signs.  Chamber Board members also voted unanimously to donate an additional $600 to STAR for "sign beautification purposes."

The Chamber Board also agreed to sponsor a "Holiday Parade of Lights" similar to the Fourth of July celebration.  The idea arose when Board chairman Alan Pyles met with STAR representatives and Fourth of July parade volunteers to commend them for their work and to suggest the holiday event.  Pyles said he hoped the holiday event would include all of Greene County in a "Light Up Greene" decorating competition, which could feature best decorations and most historic categories, among other events.

Chamber Board members agreed to support the event, and began looking into ideas to include other related events and ways to incorporate many Greene County businesses.  If you have an idea or suggestion, or if you would like to volunteer to help plan the "Holiday Parade of Lights," you may call Pyles at 985-6345 or Marianne Shepard, social events coordinator, at 990-8377.

In other business before the Chamber, Board members:

*Learned that three new members - Best Western, Farm Bureau and South River Cottage - had joined the Chamber.  The additions bring the total number of business members to 65 and the total representatives to 85.

*Learned that the "Welcome Box" about to be distributed by the Chamber to new homeowners in Greene County currently contains 12 items.  Tom Zakielarz and Gray King, who are coordinating the collection and distribution of the boxes, said the deadline to have information or items included in the initial set of welcome boxes is Thursday, Aug. 31.  Zakielarz said the monthly distribution lists would be generated from a property transfers list, giving other member businesses an opportunity to contribute to the boxes each month.

*Voted to move the monthly "Networking Breakfasts" from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. in an effort to attract more Chamber representatives.  The Board also reemphasized the need for RSVPs for the Sept. 6 breakfast, which will feature a presentation on the Greene Education Foundation by Pauline Hovey and a presentation on the Small Business Development Center by Nora Gillespie.

*Confirmed the final details for the Sept. 15 social to be hosted at Stone Mountain Vineyards in Dyke.  The "Wine Tasting Social" will not only include a tasting of some of the Vineyards' award-winning wines, but it will also feature the first public display of the "Legacy of the Land" photo exhibit.

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