Local store raises awareness of homeless-pets issue

AFP

Maurices at Waynesboro Town Center and Augusta Regional SPCA are teaming up to raise awareness, help and hope for homeless pets during the month of September. “This campaign is called Rescues & Runways, and maurices stores across the country are involved, in partnership with the ASPCA,” said maurices store manager Jessica Haggerty. “It’s a great…

Congregation gains new burial ground and meditation area

AFP

A strikingly contemporary sculptural screen and fresh new landscaping is the first thing to catch your eye as you pass by Grace Lutheran Church in Waynesboro. New lighting and an inviting bench at the covered entrance at 13th and Wayne further enhance this corner of the property. Visitors who follow the gently sloped path curving…

Surplus campaign funds at issue for councilman

Chris Graham

It was reported in the local media in June that Jeff Freeman had donated a total of $600 in surplus City Council campaign funds to the Waynesboro Senior Center and to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge. The campaign-finance report on file with the city voter registrar’s office that gave us that…

WHS upset bid comes up just short

AFP

Waynesboro opened its 2009 season with a 49-0 loss at Western Albemarle that set the tone for a 1-9 season. The Little Giants came up short again on Friday night in their 2010 season opener with the Warriors, but it was nothing like the game we saw a year ago. WHS was threatening upset until…

The World According to ChrisGraham.com: Special tax district-Yeah, a good idea, that one

AFP

Q: Why haven’t you weighed in on the idea to set up a special tax district in Downtown Waynesboro to provide a stable source of funding for downtown-redevelopment efforts generally and specifically for Waynesboro Downtown Development Inc.? A: Um, well, actually, I did so back in March. Link to Special Report on AugustaFreePress.com: Moving Downtown…

City looks to boost tourism sector with new marketing, website efforts

Chris Graham

Good news: The Waynesboro tourism sector brought in $27 million to the local economy in 2009 and contributed $4 million in taxes to the city. Sobering news: We’ll have to wonder how we would have done if we’d been trying. The city, for instance, doesn’t even have a tourism website, the tourism department’s presence on…

Free business seminar, assessment will tell it like it is

Chris Graham

Marc Wilson isn’t in the business of sugarcoating. “I’m not related to you, and I’m not necessarily your friend. So when I leave, you’re going to get the truth, but you might not like hearing it,” said Wilson, a retail industry consultant at the Virginia Small Business Development Corp. and 35-year veteran of the retail…