There are times when I read, hear or watch something that sends me into deep thought. My brow usually crinkles, my head sometimes tilts and my eyes gaze upward through the transoms of my hundred year old Victorian home. In those moments, visions of sugar plums dance in my head. I guess one could call it a transom trance.
I had such an experience this morning upon reading a CNN article and proclaimed, "
This is it!" This is just one of the visions that we, Goree...rrrr bigger than that...Knox County, could encapsulate. Here are some of the 'buzz' phrases* that I picked up on while reading that article which was sent to me by a Goree home comer, Jan Roberts, who still longs for her hometown to be the best it can be.
- "Once we understood the vision, we chose to come here," Keith Brown said...
- He sees it as an opportunity to help his native area, and he likes being able to keep a fishing rod in his office that he sometimes uses on lunch breaks. The Browns are happy to be close to his family, and think this is a safer place to raise their daughter...
- They are both classical musicians...
- They miss the arts...
- Julia Brown is a little troubled by a lack of ethnic diversity...
- I think it's much better for her (daughter) to live in a more wholesome place where we're not caught up in this rat race all the time," Julia Brown said...
- The Browns can fly kites in their front yard when the wind is good, and Keith Brown likes to pack a picnic supper and take his daughter on walks up the hill behind their house to view the rolling landscape. Wendy is a big fan of the night sky, a spectacle masked by city lights. 'We'll get out of the car and she'll look up and she'll go 'Wow!' when it's a really clear night,' Julia Brown said. 'How many 3-year-olds notice that?'*
My question is how can we beckon 'big city' professionals to come home to their roots even if they've never called here home to begin with? We, KCVG, already have a plan to draw professionals with Knox County roots home, which is great. But, I thought this angle was worthy of attention, too. Let's face it, we have valid challenges. There is somewhat of a resistence from country folk towards the efforts of bringing the theatric, classical arts, music, ethnic diversity, and technological advances into our backyards. But, as the story articulates, Rural America needs to advance without losing its' sense of wholesome place in order to attract. How do you have a Starbucks lifestyle without a Starbucks? I don't know the answer, 'cuz this country girl sure loves an occasional vente caramel frappucino! (See? Even my spell check doesn't know what to do with vente or frappucino, for Pete's sake?)
*The Associated Press: CNN.com/living
Goree got money from the Government??? Why, yes they did! The Mayor of Goree signed the paperwork for a USDA-RD grant in the amount of $9900.00 and a low interest loan for $2600.00. The City was previously awarded a grant through ORCA, but still had to come up with the 10% matching funds of $12,500.00. Goree is in desperate need of work on the water system and this money will complete a project that was left half done in a previous effort.
According to Larry Clements, Rural Development Specialist (far left), communities need to know that you can get money from the government for help with your problems. He added, "The towns who do benefit from our programs are those who have 'a mover and a shaker' like Nancy Birkenfeld." Nancy Birkenfeld is a City Councilperson who has gone the extra mile in making sure her community gets a fair shake. She, with the guidance of Mr. Clements, worked through much paperwork in order that the matching funds were sought and found. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your hard work. It, literally, paid off!
