Letters to the editor

The News Virginian / News Virginian
Published: April 30, 2007

Thank you, Ginny Ross

Finally everyone knows what I have known for five years. Ginny Ross - who made a very generous donation to the Wayne Theatre - is a most thoughtful, kind and generous person. On a personal level, she is just as generous with her fun, loving nature. She is always encouraging and approving any effort. In true Ginny fashion, her donating to the Wayne Theatre has set an example and leads the way for others to step up and contribute to the degree they are able.

Good for you, Ginny.

Pamela Coffey
Waynesboro

Arts center saved one city, it could work in Waynesboro

Years ago, I lived near South Boston, a small city in a tobacco area known as one of the poorest in Virginia. The city has suffered since then: the flight of manufacturing, ugly strip development at the city's edge, and the collapse of tobacco farming left workers with low-paying retail and service jobs.

When I joined the Wayne Theatre Alliance, I looked into South Boston's Prizery, the conversion of a tobacco warehouse to an arts center. South Boston Councilman Morris Bryant, a retired educator, acknowledged it was tough for the city to invest more than $1 million in the project, when there were many pressing needs. "Obviously, we aren't a wealthy community," Bryant said. "We're a Bible-Belt, conservative city. People want to see something tangible."

Today, they have something tangible: a revitalized town centered around the Prizery, growing tourism and locally owned restaurants and shops. Tourism Director Linda Shepperd estimates Prizery visits brought an increase of $475,000 in direct sales during its first full year of operation. Counting the secondary benefits, Shepperd wrote, "the impact would be significantly higher."

The appeal for Bryant was the benefit for school children. "They use it almost daily," he said. Beth Robertson, editor of the local Gazette-Virginian, wrote in an e-mail: "There were those who opposed it, viewing it as for the 'elite' few, but there is so much going on there - school programs, plays, art exhibits, guest artists, receptions - that reality takes precedence."

Like Waynesboro, South Boston has a group of conscientious, vocal property owners who have helped keep the tax rate low. In the end, Bryant said, even that group gave their support. "We were at the place where everyone knew we had to do something," he said.

Waynesboro has to do something. Support the City Council in this difficult decision.

Theresa Curry
Waynesboro