Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 27, 1993 TAG: 9310270229
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
With less than a dozen business people attending, an unusually low turnout for the twice-a-month Alliance sessions, it was impossible to decide on how best to expand the hours.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, there are sometimes 30 to 40 people awaiting seating at the Renaissance Restaurant on Main Street, said Alliance Vice Chairman Paul Etzel, who owns the restaurant. The people wander into nearby shops and browse if those shops are open, he said.
Etzel said he planned to advertise expanded hours for his restaurant and it could be mutually beneficial if Main Street businesses expanded their hours in similar fashion. ``It's pretty much a matter of who wants to come aboard and reap the benefits,'' he said.
Alliance representatives will visit merchants along Main Street to discuss the possibility of changing the hours. Extending hours on Friday and Saturday nights will be suggested as a starting point.
At its last meeting, the Alliance voted to support the Pulaski County Jaycees' efforts to stage a Winterfest Parade in downtown Pulaski Nov. 20.
The Jaycees hope to line up eight to 10 bands for the parade, and already have acceptances from bands at Fort Chiswell and Carroll County High Schools, Hillsville Intermediate School, a school in Peterstown, W.Va., and the Cougars Band at Pulaski County High School.
Some people have expressed concern that because the parade is scheduled so early, commercialization could be edging out the religious meaning of Christmas That is not the intent, said Jaycees President Terri Fitzwater.
She said the scheduling had been early because that was when bands would be available to participate. Several churches have already registered to enter floats in the parade, she said.
Etzel said if downtown merchants contributed financial support to the parade just because it would bring more shoppers, they were doing so for the wrong reasons. He said there are some things business people do just to create a certain downtown spirit and entertainment, and urged merchants to contribute generously when they are approached to give their share.
In other business, artist P. Buckley Moss will visit downtown Pulaski Nov. 24 at Main Street Galleries. Her visit is expected to draw several thousand people, Etzel said, ``so that's an awful lot of people on Main Street.''
by CNB