Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, September 18, 1993 TAG: 9309180106
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV_2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Short
The alliance is made up of business people in downtown Pulaski, including many new ones who have opened art or antique shops and restaurants within the past year.
They began to organize a merchants' council but decided this month it would be better to work under the umbrella of the Main Street program.
Alex Rygas, a member of the business group who is also on the Main Street board, said the groups want to avoid diluting either organization by creating a situation where some people might decide to join one but not the other.
The alliance also asked that its newly elected officers - Janet Stephenson, chairman; Paul Etzel, vice chairman; and Debbie Jonas, secretary - be appointed to the Main Street board as vacancies occur.
Because the board had three vacancies when it received the request Thursday, it immediately appointed those three as new board members.
The Main Street program already has four standing committees, covering economic development, organization, design and promotions.
Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Nancy Sexton-Bowman invited the Main Street board to send representatives to the chamber's annual planning retreat to be scheduled in November. That would allow Main Street initiatives to become part of the chamber's program for the next year, she said.
"We're all very proud of what the town has turned out to look like," she said.
by CNB