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DSA Director Graham resigns
By Stephanie Salmons
Downtown Sylva Association Executive Director Sarah Graham has resigned her post.
Graham submitted her letter last Wednesday, June 4, DSA president Marybeth Druzbick said.
“With the growing demands of our family business, combined with the regular business of my life as a mother and member of the Sylva town board, I felt I needed to focus more on those priorities,” Graham said.
Graham, who served on the DSA board prior to her stint as director, said she has no plans to return to the board but will stay on to help with the transition.
The summer will provide an opportune time for the DSA to make the transition to a new director, said Graham, who was elected to the town board in November.
Graham, who has led fund-raising efforts for Sylva’s new Bridge Park, said she will continue as volunteer coordinator for that project.
“I will certainly volunteer with downtown activities as needed and will remain 100-percent accessible,” Graham said.
Druzbick said that Graham will be missed.
“She is absolutely a fabulous community leader,” Druzbick said.
Graham, who has served as executive director since January 2007, said she was proud of her accomplishments while heading the DSA.
“I think the DSA is a great organization,” Graham said. “It does a lot of great things for the town, and I’m proud of the work I’ve done for Sylva through the DSA. I will continue to support downtown initiatives through my work on the town board because I believe downtown and its vibrancy is crucial to the health of our community.”
The search for Graham’s replacement could begin as early as this week, Druzbick said.
Other changes are in store for the DSA as well, including an office relocation at the end of the month.
Currently located in Main Street’s Hooper House (Jackson County Chamber of Commerce), the DSA office will move upstairs in the building near the Coffee Shop that houses Coldwell Banker Woodruff Real Estate office at the end of this month, said Druzbick, who is broker in charge/owner of the real estate office.
The decision to move DSA headquarters was made in an effort to save money, Druzbick said.
After several weeks of controversy, Sylva town board members voted in April to allocate $12,000 to the DSA, up from the $2,500 the organization received the previous two years.
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