We hope everyone’s New Year has started off to a great start! You may have been wondering what changes can we expect to see in Shenandoah for the New Year, well for starters we can expect to see our new Burger King to open soon. They have made a lot of progress on the building and just this week their new signs arrived and were installed.
From the council minutes we have also learned that a new restaurant is coming to Shenandoah and will be located behind the Shenandoah Grocery. Workers have already started giving the former Marina's Tropical Restaurant a new coat of paint. We will let everyone know more about this new restaurant as soon as we get the details.
From the towns website we noticed that the Mayor Lucas position and 3 council seats are up for reelection this year (Kite, Jenkins and Fox).
We asked Shenandoah Town Manager Juanita Roudabush what other things are happening this year in Shenandoah and this is what she had to say:
Mayor/Council Action/Plans: If all goes well, Mayor and Council plans to: Replace some aging equipment that is used/needed regularly like the backhoe and lawn mowers (we are applying for loan/grant for some of these expenses); pay off some loans this year and begin to save money to start to replace aging water and sewer lines; begin work on other infrastructure as funds are available and at the same time have some savings for emergencies.
-Vision Team - has now broken down into 4 "work" (really volunteers) groups. See below attachment.
Please contact each Group Coordinator for more info and updates. Updates thus far that I am aware of: Russ Comer, Jr. - Museum Group is meeting with the Shenandoah Heritage Center today to discuss options for rehabbing the caboose and begin the train museum in there with plans to build on as funds/grants are obtained in the future.
-Matt Queen - Events and Activities Group has met with Council several times and received approval for an area at Big Gem Park (with a good backstop bank) to install archery range targets. They are also scheduling some other events to help raise funds for the targets. This will be open to the public - walk in/walk out - type range.
-Romeo Pugliese - Gathering Places (more for locals while events and activities would be geared toward locals and tourists, these 2 groups overlap somewhat). They have met and discussed the needs and possible actions. Some sort of heritage type festivals/events were discussed. From this the idea came to hold special events at several restaurants. For instance, I believe a first responders day may be held at Rudy's North Side Diner (decor at the restaurant is for first responders already) this year on 9/11/18. The idea is there would be emergency response vehicles and displays where people could meet the first responders and hear safety related things, etc. More plans to follow for the other restaurants too for different types of special events during the year.
-Craig Lancto - Communications and Marketing - I am not sure if this group has met yet independent of the whole team or not yet. Their original stated goals was to increase communications in Town so everyone is aware of events, upcoming news and activities, etc. for locals and tourists too. Craig did start a Vision Team Facebook and an electronic newsletter to keep everyone advised of the Vision Team activities and I know a "Welcome Wagon" type thing was discussed as something being needed for new residents, but I have not had any updates on this groups work yet.
-The entire Vision Team plans to meet again on January 11th at 8 a.m. at the Computer Center to discuss where to go from here.
-We are working closely with the new Page County Economic Development Director Liz Lewis (who has already been here to tour the Town and our businesses) to try and attract new businesses and tourist too.
Action Group Contact List:
Communications & Marketing (internal and external to Shenandoah) - Volunteer Coordinator Craig Lancto, with other volunteers as follows:
Committee Coordinator Craig Lancto - Email:
Phone: 540-271-8818
Brent Clark - Email:
Phone: 540-271-8250
Jackie Sullivan-Smoot - Email:
Phone: 540-271-2688 (cell) or 540-652-8239 (home)
Nancy Boyer - Email:
Phone: 540-652-1401 (home) or 540-818-7611 (cell)
Events & Activities - Volunteer Coordinator Matt Queen, with other volunteers as follows:
Committee Coordinator Matt Queen - Email:
Phone: 540-742-8636
April Queen - Email:
Phone: 540-742-8636
Nancy Karnes - Email:
Phone: 540-742-1141
Debra Mardino - Email:
Dorothy Pendley - Email:
Phone: 540-218-4037
Craig Lancto - Email:
Phone: 540-271-8818
Nancy Boyer - Email:
Phone: 540-652-1401 (home) or 540-818-7611 (cell)
Romeo Pugliese - Email:
Phone: 540-652-6062 or 540-435-2131
Mary Ellen Smith - Email:
Phone: 865-292-4261
Johanna Hicks - Email:
Phone: 540-860-1765
Jonathan Comer - Email:
Phone:
Gathering Places - Volunteer Coordinator Romeo Pugliese, with other volunteers as follows:
Committee Coordinator Romeo Pugliese - Email:
Phone: 540-652-6062 or 540-435-2131
Nancy Boyer - Email:
Phone: 540-652-1401
Mary Ellen Smith - Email:
Phone: 865-292-4261
Karen Miller - Email:
Phone: 540-652-2003
Jackie Sullivan-Smoot - Email:
Phone: 540-271-2688 (cell) or 540-652-8239 (home)
Craig Lancto - Email:
Phone: 540-271-8818
Mindi Carroll - Email:
Phone: 540-742-1977
Jonathan Comer - Email:
Phone:
Johanna Hicks - Email:
Phone: 540-860-1765
POSSIBLY Harleigh Dean - Email:
Phone: 540-560-3486
Train Museum - Volunteer Coordinator Russell Comer, Jr., with other volunteers as follows:
Committee Coordinator Russell Comer, Jr. - Email:
Phone: 540-652-6123
Nancy Karnes - Email:
Phone: 540-742-1141
Mike Uram - Email:
Phone: 540-778-2155 (home) or 860-1573 (cell)
Eric Benson - Email:
Phone:
Dorothy Pendley - Email:
Phone: 540-218-4037
Richard Pierce - Email:
Phone: 540-652-6277
Nancy Boyer - Email:
Phone: 540-652-1401 (home) or 540-818-7611 (cell)
