Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 15, 1995 TAG: 9503150041
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Pulaski residents, at least those on the new 30-member board, spoke at first of the town's assets Tuesday.
Adrienne Birecree, a relative newcomer to the community, and her husband have had visitors who say they ``didn't know a place like this existed anymore ... that you have a real neighborhood with sidewalks and children.''
But others said that communities as close as 15 minutes down the road see Pulaski differently - as a tough, railroad, blue-collar town.
``We have a very severe image problem that we need to correct,'' said Renaissance restaurant owner Paul Etzel.
Even Pulaski's recent success in landing a variety of downtown shops has not reversed that. Some merchants reported customers from nearby areas, including parts of Pulaski County, still are unaware of what downtown Pulaski has to offer.
Flo Stevenson, who runs the Count Pulaski Bed & Breakfast, said the planned restoration of the Pulaski Theatre could help. The Economic Development Board should encourage the Friends of the Pulaski Theatre to complete that project as quickly as possible, she said.
Debbie Jonas, who operates the Colony of Virginia store across Main Street from the theater, agreed. She said she gets frequent inquiries from customers about when the theater will be open again.
Stevenson said support for new enterprises is almost as important as establishing them in the first place. She said the Ellery's Blues & More nightclub and restaurant had been a good draw for her bed and breakfast customers, but closed for lack of support.
Among Stevenson's other recommendations for board concentration were creating a nature walk around Peak Creek in the town, promoting its Farmers' Market, opening a visitors center and completing the New River Trail into town as soon as possible.
Mayor Andy Graham said the two-mile extension of New River Trail State Park into Pulaski is in the hands of the state. ``It's on a course, I believe, as fast as we can get it,'' he said. ``There's not anything we can do other than muddy the water if we try to push it faster.''
Jonas noted that downtown merchants along Main Street have already taken steps toward having the backs of their buildings repainted, and have tentative plans for murals to be painted on them by middle school students.
Don Copenhaver said he has had business visitors who are impressed with the attractiveness of the town but who comment that it is too bad that attractiveness does not show up at the entrances, with appropriate signs reflecting the community. ``It's one of the best free ways of advertising that you have,'' he said.
Birecree suggested a shop-at-home campaign analogous to the national ``Buy America'' movement, not only to support local businesses but increase sales tax revenue.
The board's executive committee will take the ideas discussed Tuesday and start a work plan, to be carried out by the board's six working committees established at the meeting.
A Finance Committee will work on the board's budget and review its financial statements. A Legislation Committee will handle lobbying or tracking legislation at local, state and federal levels that could affect the work program. A Marketing Committee will coordinate promotions, billboards and activities such as Depot Day and the Count Pulaski Festival.
A Development Committee will reach out to potential new business sought for the community. A Recruitment Committee will go after new retail business for Pulaski, and a Retention Committee will work with existing business to keep it happy in the community.
by CNB