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Past praised, future promised at chamber
BY JAMES JACENICH • STAFF WRITER
MONTEREY - "We are at a crossroads," said Highland County Chamber of Commerce executive director Carolyn Pohowsky at the chamber annual meeting Sunday. "Think progressively, adapt to and adopt change to avoid stagnation," she told chamber members. It was more of a statement of common purpose than a warning, though. Pohowsky said the county's businesses are showing they have the will and the means to prosper in the future. "I can't thank of anything more personally satisfying than having been given the opportunity to work with people who share the common goal of making Highland County a vital and viable community- one that will continue to grow and prosper - without compromising a local culture that instills good manners in our children, a willingness to lend time and support to good causes, and a sense of responsibility for the well-being of our neighbors," said Pohowsky. Highland County will continue to thrive if people recognize and use the demographic diversity of the county, she said. People who have lived here all their lives, returned here, or chosen to make Highland their new home, should share in making Highland a better place to live and work, she explained. Pohowsky gave several examples of vitality and growth in the county, including ongoing cooperative efforts between the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation and the McDowell community over development and preservation of the McDowell Battlefield, the annual Fourth of July parade in Blue Grass, and improvements made to buildings along Monterey's Main Street business district. "Over the past 10 years, I have watched an incubator business center and a farmers' market take on such vital roles in our community that it is hard to remember a time when they weren't here or how we possibly managed without them," said Pohowsky. She praised several new businesses that have taken root in Highland in recent years including Butch and Debbie Washer's embroidery company that now occupies a Main Street storefront but had its beginnings at The Highland Center business incubator; Mad Maggie Farms, also a graduate of the business incubator; and Blue Roof Catering which still makes use of the center's incubator kitchen. Over the last decade, Monterey has been introduced to a farm and seed store, a consignment shop, a Dollar General, several Main Street real estate offices, a jewelry shop, a dance studio, antique shops, gift shops, galleries and, most recently, a wool and fabrics store, she said. The number of lodging facilities in the county has grown from seven in 1997 to 22 today, she added. The future promises an increase in tourist related businesses and the development of a meat processing facility to benefit the agricultural sector, said Pohowsky. The chamber membership elected three new board members: Pam Flynn, Lisa Hevener, and Maggie Morse. Lorraine White was selected to serve on the board for another term. Lunora Doyle, David Blanchard and Byron Adams stepped down from board membership at the completion of their term.
 | | Lunora Doyle, president of the board of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce, also operates two Monterey stores, Main Street Treasures and Pass It On Consignment Shoppe. (Recorder photo by James Jacenich) |
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 | | Below: Carolyn Pohowsky, executive director of the Highland County Chamber of Commerce, says the future is bright for the county's businesses, but only if all parts of Highland's diverse population are involved. (Recorder photo by James Jacenich) |
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