Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 14, 1995 TAG: 9503140112
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Its executive committee already has a list of goals to suggest to the full board, ranging from sprucing up the town and its entrance signs to spurring the state to move faster in extending New River Trail State Park into town.
One of its most difficult goals may be trying to make sure stores are open during the hours shoppers are in town to buy.
Pulaski has successfully advertised its antique shops, collectibles, restaurants and other new stores. But often the new businesses have small staffs and cannot operate all day, evenings and weekends, especially during hours that have not proven profitable.
With the community's ``Pulaski Is Open for Business'' slogan, however, the hours will need to be addressed.
Pulaski's new Community National Bank has started opening on Saturdays and has found those hours to be productive.
Bank President Wayne Carpenter, a member of the economic development executive committee, said business was slow at first on Saturdays and merchants could probably expect the same thing initially with expanded hours.
``But now it's one of our busiest days,'' he said. ``We say 'Pulaski's open for business.' We need to be.''
``And this would be the perfect time to do it, with the weather getting nicer,'' said Sybil Atkinson, executive committee chairwoman.
The Pulaski Business Alliance, which also meets today, has been working without much success to get businesses catering to tourists to unify their hours. The success of Pulaski's Main Street program in opening new businesses downtown led Town Councilman John Stone to expand the initiative to a townwide economic development board.
The Alliance meeting will start at 8:15 a.m. with a Dutch-treat breakfast at the Renaissance Restaurant.
The economic development board will meet at noon in Pulaski Community Hospital's L. Brinkley Eure Educational Building.
Other discussions at that meeting will likely center on the need for cleanup activities including better welcoming signs at entrances to Pulaski. The economic committee also saw a need to curb panhandling in shopping areas because it could discourage visitors downtown.
Activities in Pulaski and Dublin and Pulaski County should be better communicated, too, the committee said so everyone can take advantage of them.
Pulaski County High School, for example, recently staged a one-act play judged as the best in statewide competition. It also hosts events ranging from band festivals to chess tournaments.
One way to coordinate such events would be to create a calendar covering the entire county, some committee members suggested. That could also help keep activities from being scheduled at the same time.
Because expanding businesses often provide more jobs than new ones, the committee wants to make sure it has good communication with local businesses and industries.
The county also could use expanded motel facilities, members said.
by CNB