Tuesday, June 27, 2006

A Tale Of Two Virginias

No, I'm not thinking of our wayward western counties that decided in 1863 to go their own way and (misguidedly) form their own state. I'm thinking of the cavernous expanse that today separates northern Virginia from southern Virginia.

Up north, the issues of the day relate to employers and how the planners up there might be able to stack one on top of another. Smart growth, mass transit, alternative fuels and such are the big topics of discussion.

Down here, our big issues relate to employers and how we might gain a few. To hold on to the few we have. We talk too about improving the quality of a woefully inadequate public education system. About improving the quality of the drinking water. In Southwest Virginia we talk - in 2006 - about putting sewer systems into communities that have never had them.

There is certainly talk in some circles about the needed completion of the Coalfields Expressway and about much-needed improvements being made to U.S. Route 58. Some say I-81 down this way needs to be upgraded. And that's all, in the big scheme of things, probably important. But generally, transportation issues aren't uppermost in the thoughts and discussions of folks around here.

Paychecks are. Food. Clothing. Shelter. The kinds of things taken for granted in the fabulously prosperous north. And there are issues here that people in the D.C. suburbs rarely talk about: Grievous suicide rates; Drinking water unfit for human consumption; Depopulation. Small communities decimated by the loss of thousands of jobs.

With this in mind, I think the recently announced proposal put forth by the Republicans in the Virginia House of Delegates to solve northern Virginia's transportation problem is a swell idea:
GOP Plan Would Raise N.Va. Taxes for Area RoadsBy Michael D. Shear and Rosalind S. Helderman, Washington Post Staff Writers
RICHMOND, June 26 -- People who live or work in Northern Virginia would pay steep new fees and higher taxes under a $578 million transportation plan being circulated by six Republican delegates from the region.


Having voted for months to block statewide tax increases that were pushed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine (D) and the Republican-controlled Senate, the House members said their constituents will gladly pay more as long as the money raised is used only for road and rail projects in their area. (
link)
You folks up north feel your transportation system is inadequate? Fix it.

It's not that we want to do what our western counties did in 1863 and walk away from our troubles. We here in southern Virginia - particularly those of us in Southwest Virginia - simply need to solve our problems and work to bring our way of life into the 20th century - before we assist you in taking yours into the 22nd.

So. You all go along and take care of yourselves. You certainly have the means. We'll be along directly and will be happy to pitch in and help.

But first we have problems of our own that need fixing. Starting with the turds floating in the drinking water in Callahan Creek.

Monday, June 19, 2006

On Tourism - A Firsthand Report

It was recently reported that 9th District Congressman Rick Boucher (D-Abingdon, VA) took the plunge and recited the marriage vows with his new bride as they stood astride the Virginia Creeper Trail here in Southwest Virginia. Not my idea of sanctity but who am I to judge. I'm Lutheran; he's Methodist.

Buried in the press blurbage about the wedding was a statistic. According to those who have need of the Virginia Creeper trail being considered a good federal tax dollar investment (a huge investment), there are 200,000 visitors who walk or bike the trail annually. You'll also find that statistic cited on Boucher's never-ceasing campaign website:

Virginia Creeper Trail Wooden Trestle Improvement Project—Washington County
At Rick's urging, the federal government has provided $750,000 to perform repair and upgrade work on the trestles of the Virginia Creeper Trail between the Towns [sic] of Abingdon and Damascus. One of Southwest Virginia’s most popular tourism assets, the Virginia Creeper Trail is enjoyed by more than 200,000 visitors annually. (link)
When I first saw that stat, I scoffed. There's no way 200,000 people traverse that trail in a year's time.

Well, yesterday I had the chance to put Boucher's claim to the test - albeit in a very unscientific way. I sat in an open-air restaurant across from the trail in Damascus for an hour and counted people. Also, for the better part of the day, I drove the length of the trail, taking in the sights and enjoying a few unscripted hours with Paula.

Now, I need to give foundation to the study. End of Spring/beginning of Summer. Mid-afternoon. Perfect day (though a bit warm). A holiday weekend. Peak season.

Results: 10 hikers; 8 bicyclists. All afternoon.

There were, beyond these 18 souls, quite a few campers here and there and the road traffic going through Damascus was, at times, moderate.

But Gatlinburg it wasn't.

The small restaurant we stopped at (where we contributed to the local economy to the tune of $18) was doing a brisk business but nothing compared to say, the Dairy Queen here in Bland. We drove past the Old Mill restaurant and it looked to be nearly empty. As best I could tell, these were the only two "fine dining" establishments in town. I also stopped by Mount Rogers Outfitters and found myself to be the only customer there (at that point in time) talking to the only employee (or owner).

At one point Paula - as she was munching on what she deemed a fabulous chicken pita - mentioned that she thought there would be more people taking in the wonders of nature in beautiful Damascus on such a fine day.

But no. We weren't stepping over people in order to get to the trail or to the nearby riverbank. No wait in line at the restaurant.
Which gets us back to that 200,000 number. Does that reflect the number of people who walk or bike the trail AND who drive into/through town in a year's time? Does it include those who commute to town to work at the Dollar General each day? Has to. Because I can confidently say that at the peak of the season, the tourist traffic was sparse along the Virginia Creeper Trail in Damascus, Virginia on Fathers Day 2006.

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Martinsville Bloggers Conference


How about a blast from the past? Here's a photo taken in 2006 at a conference in Martinsville, Virginia in which I was included on a panel to discuss the then-burgeoning weblog medium. I was, at the time, regional sales manager for Oldcastle, Inc. and, at the same time, a columnist for the Roanoke Times.
Seated on the stage are (left to right): Me, Dan Radmacher, then-editorial page editor of the Times, Norm Leahy, who contributes to the Washington Post and a number of other publications, and Jeff Shapiro, a columnist for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The discussion essentially revolved around "old media" vs. "new media." That new media being the scourge of the dinosaur press - Facebook, Blogger, and a brand-new upstart - Twitter. The back-and-forth was a hoot.

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Ben Tribbett, Kat Wilton, Me, Alton Foley.
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An additional photo above.  The setting is the continental breakfast nook at the Hampton Inn in Martinsville. The time? The morning of the blogger's conference.

Seated with me at the table are Kat Wilton and respected Richmond Times-Dispatch columnist Jeff Schapiro.

The guy on the left with the big grin?  Democratic Party suck-up and Russell County Commonwealth's Attorney Brian Patton.  Note the fact that he sits alone.  Speaks volumes.
A day in the life ...