The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE — Clifton Forge Town Council has agreed to support the creation of a Virginia Mountain Region, for the purposes of tourism marketing.
Council voted to support the idea during a Tuesday night meeting.
Currently part of the Shenandoah Valley, which extends from Winchester to the Roanoke Valley, the Virginia Mountain Region would stretch along the Blue Ridge to Virginia’s Western Highlands and potentially include: Alleghany, Bath, Bedford, Botetourt, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Highland, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Roanoke counties.
Counties in the proposed region have agreed to support this resolution except Floyd and Craig counties, which have not taken action yet.
“Though Shenandoah has great name recognition, visitors either want to go to the beaches or the mountains,” said Teresa Hammond, executive director of the Alleghany Chamber of Commerce and Tourism. “By creating a new, more appropriately defined Virginia Mountain Region, we now have an opportunity to unite ‘like’ tourism assets into one which would then be recognized and marketed collectively by Virginia Tourism Corporation,” added Hammond.
“The Virginia Tourism Corporation would like to fast track this resolution for inclusion in the tourism guides which come out around August of next year,” concluded Hammond.
Councilman Robert Johnson said an emotional goodbye to council at his last meeting Tuesday night.
Johnson thanked the citizens for coming out and Hammond for her presentation. He also thanked Vice Mayor Gayle Hillert and her husband, John, for moving to Clifton Forge and for their contributions to the town.
He thanked Town Manager Darlene Burcham for coming out of retirement and working so hard to improve the town.
“I love Clifton Forge and enjoyed serving on the board. It’s been a pleasure,” concluded Johnson.
Each council member thanked him for his service. Mayor Carl Brinkley shook his hand and said, “We appreciate your service and most of all we wish you good health.”
Brinkley also welcomed Bob Umstead, who will replace Johnson in January. Umstead walked to the table and shook hands with council.
“Hopefully we can get off on a fast track and keep things moving forward,” added Brinkley.
In other action, council:
— Approved required documents for the Roxbury Community Development Block Grant project. The project is set to begin early next year.
— Received a report on bike racks, which have been installed throughout the downtown area. One is located at Jack Mason’s Tavern, another on the bench east of the Antique Store and a third will be placed at the amphitheater. The racks were donated by the Ride’s Solution Program to encourage bike riding, said Burcham.
— Received an update on leaf pickup, which will conclude at the end of this week.
Bulk and brush pickup will resume next week, bulk on Tuesdays and brush on Thursdays.
“This will improve drive time and efficiency,” concluded Burcham.
— Reviewed the town’s holiday schedule. Town offices will be closed on Wednesday through Friday, Dec.24-26 and Thursday through Friday, Jan.1-2, due to the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
