Ruralite Cafe: Published 05/02/02

By Lisa Majors-Duff-News Editor

'Shining stars' make a difference downtown

After all, to know Beth is to love Beth. She is warm, friendly, energetic, knowledgable and outgoing, just to name some of her attributes; her presence on Main Street at the SPIR office has been a welcome addition these last few months.

Then she hit me with the question: "What can we do to generate community spirit downtown?"

Had I known the question was going to be so tough, I would not have been so eager to invite her in and offer her a chair. I'd have told her to turn around, march right back down the stairs and find someone else to bother with her impossible questions.

I wonder if it was my signature eye-rolling or overall look of confusion that clued her in first to the fact that I was perplexed by what she was asking? It could have been the exaggerated moment of silence that followed as I struggled not to blurt out my first response.

"You have to come up with something, a project, that everyone can get behind," I said, not knowing where I was going with this. "It needs to benefit as many people as possible, especially the kids."

That answer, the second thought to enter my mind, was retrieved from my memory of the 1999 Creative Play Project, when more than 1,000 area residents pitched in and rebuilt Poteet Park for the benefit of our children. When first presented to some in the community, including my esteemed employer, the idea of the Creative Play Project also seemed impossible.

"She'll never pull it off" was Jim's response to fellow Rotarian Cathy Arrington's idea of building a new playground in Sylva. We all know now how wrong Jim's first thought was. (To his credit, Jim later admitted his mistaken judgment and trumpeted Arrington's and other's accomplishment.)

While not using Jim's exact words, the way I first considered answering Beth's question - "Do something that would make everybody mad." - would have been just as unfair and just as wrong, and events downtown this weekend proved it.

Following this weekend, I am once again a firm believer that positive actions produce positive results, good prevails over evil, love conquers all... you get the picture. We can all agree that the Creative Play Project was wildly successful, but designing and building something for our children's enjoyment is not the only way to bring a community together, as was witnessed Friday evening and all day Saturday.

A large crowd of well-wishers turned out after work Friday to stand on the Hooper House lawn at the risk of getting drenched by threatening skies. We were there to show our support and give our thanks to those who recognized the value of preserving the past. Jay Spiro, as president of the Hooper House Preservation Foundation, called to our attention the efforts of everyone involved, from those who financially supported the project to architect Odell Thompson to foreman "Big" Robert McMahan.

Jay finished up by surprising his wife and truly giving credit where credit was due.

"Anyone associated with the Hooper House project will tell you that the very heart of the restoration, the heart of the effort to raise money to do this project, and the heart of the house itself belongs to Julie Hooper Spiro," he said. Here, here.

The official opening of the Hooper House proceeded Saturday's fifth annual Greening Up the Mountains festival in downtown Sylva. For five years Sylva Partners in Renewal has taken the lead in producing an event designed to showcase the downtown business district by providing an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to see Sylva as a place to gather, meet friends, do some window shopping, all while working up an appetite for Indian frybread with chili.

The idea is not a new one - towns all over America sponsor festivals throughout the year, hoping to draw crowds back downtown. Where Greening is unique is in the fact that this festival has successfully integrated three distinct missions: Downtown revitalization, Appalachian culture and heritage, and a commitment by all to operate in a sustainable manner that is environmentally and socially just.

Just as the Hooper House had its shining star and cast of support players, all of whom were essential to the success of the production, this year's festival committee was made up of individuals who took their roles seriously and performed to the height of their abilities. These people measured their success by the number of smiling faces strolling up and down Main Street Saturday.

As this year's festival committee chairman, Greg Duff is to be praised for the countless hours he devoted over recent months to assuring that every aspect of Saturday's event was as close to perfect as possible. With Greg's direction, those of us on the committee had a sense that the only thing out of his control was the weather. Luckily, a higher power showed favor on us by keeping the streets dry.

As was the case with Julie Friday night, Greg is unaware of my plans to single him out for accolades in this space. But he deserves it. The only time I can remember him not working out of his festival notebook recently was during the final day of the Master's, and as soon as it was apparent that Tiger was going to win, Greg promptly went back to mentally measuring booth spaces.

Given an opportunity to revise my response to Beth's question, I would say that anything is possible when people with vision are asked to step forward and take charge.

Though it my be presumptuous of me, I'll speak for the entire community and say, "Thank you, Julie and Greg, and keep up the good work."

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