Farewell to the Valley

BRUCE POTTER / News Virginian
Published: August 5, 2007

My work here is done … Jim Sacco is married. Yep, believe it or not, Sacco's days of guzzling his favorite beverage on his back deck and playing video games until the sun rises ended yesterday about 4 p.m. In my last official act as publisher of The News Virginian, I was there to watch him tie the knot - and to make sure it wasn't a slip knot.

I'm proud of lots of things The News Virginian has accomplished over the past 3½ years. But they were possible only because of the hard work of the 40 or so people who work here. And if any one person epitomizes that dedication, it's Jim Sacco.

There's a saying among newspaper people that those who are truly dedicated to the profession have ink in their veins. Not only does Sacco have ink in his veins, but I suspect he bleeds News Virginian green. Like a proud father, that is why I am delighted to see him so happy in his personal life as well. Too often in this business, work gets in the way of family. We publish 365 days a year (366 next year).

Even on Thanksgiving or Christmas Day, someone is working. Drive by our office at any time of day or night and chances are you'll see a light on and someone inside. Many times that person is Jim Sacco.

Sacco is just one of many people who have contributed to the success of The News Virginian over the past few years.  The publisher of this newspaper can only be as successful as the people who work here. And as publisher, I'd like to thank all those people who made my job easier - and who made this newspaper better.

The demands were many - we redesigned the newspaper, moved into a new building, and introduced a number of new products, including our annual calendar, the "Explore the Valley" tourism guide, two new homes magazines and the weekly TwoFifty entertainment section.

Our staff rose to each occasion and should be proud of all they accomplished.

I'm delighted, too, about the leadership team here. We've been through many changes in our top positions over the past year, and not without challenges during the interim periods. But your newspaper is in good hands. The four department heads - Denise Carter in the business office, Sherry Suggs in advertising, Paul Wash in circulation and Lee Wolverton in news - have almost 90 years in the newspaper business among them. A newspaper of our size is lucky to have that kind of experience at the helm. And without tipping off too much, I will tell you that you will see Wolverton's expertise spotlighted in just a couple of weeks.

Having that kind of solid leadership in place eases the pain of leaving The News Virginian, but it does not make it any easier to leave the Valley. Before I took the job here, I had visited Waynesboro on several occasions. I had driven past too many times to count. I attended college just down the road in Lexington. But not until we moved here did I realize what a special place this truly is.

To those in the community who "adopted" my family and me, thank you. We'll never forget our neighbors, fellow Rotarians, Chamber of Commerce staff and members and the outstanding and dedicated teachers in the Augusta County schools and Noah's Ark Preschool.

Each and every one of you has touched our lives in a special way.

I remember working and living in Richmond immediately after 9/11. For a while, life changed. People talked to each other on elevators. They greeted strangers warmly.

They didn't honk their horns when someone cut in front of them on the highway. But the courtesies lasted only a few weeks until big-city normalcy returned. In the Valley, that kindness is the norm. Everyone is truly friendly. Life moves at a more relaxed pace. And there's nothing like driving into work in the morning and watching the sun rise over Afton Mountain.

The challenge for this region is to maintain that quality of life while investing for the future. With its location at the intersection of two major interstates and between two beautiful mountain ranges, this area should be a prime destination for tourists and a strategic location for businesses that can replace some of the high-paying manufacturing jobs that have been lost.  All that's needed is the right mix of leadership and marketing savvy to make this one of the premiere regions of Virginia — if not the country. 

I'll be following your progress -  and rooting for the success not only of the region but also of The News Virginian -  from the hubbub of Northern Virginia.

And I'm sure we'll be back from time to time when we need a breath of cool, clean mountain air or a genuinely warm greeting from a friend. Besides, I'll need to make sure Sacco still has that ring on his finger.

Bruce Potter was publisher of The News Virginian from May 2004 until today. Beginning tomorrow, he will be the regional publisher for Media General Inc.'s Northern Virginia Community Newspapers, including the Potomac News and the Manassas Journal Messenger. He can be reached at .