Celebrate, get to work

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: June 9, 2008

First and foremost, congratulations are in order to Reidsville for earning the All-America city designation. Reidsville, along with nine others throughout the U.S. – including Lenoir in North Carolina – learned of the honor during a banquet Friday night in Tampa, Fla.
Chamber president Beth Simmons and city officials last year said the time was right to pursue the designation, but earning the title would take much work and preparation. So Simmons and committees composed of community residents and leaders got to work, promoting the efforts of the Free Clinic, Outreach Center and Teen Center. It was long, arduous and tedious process, but a worthwhile effort to be sure.
The recognition is important, and surely the city will erect signs promoting the accomplishment. The aforementioned groups may find it easier to obtain grants and other funding, as Reidsville can continue to promote its All-America city status on letterhead and other publications.
Rockingham County is filled with fine people and fine towns, and we all should be proud of Reidsville’s honor. Parties are being planned, and the City Council plans to recognize those who took part in the effort during a meeting at 6:30 Tuesday night.
“This means so much to our city, which has pulled together to provide these humanitarian services to our community,” Mayor James Festerman told us.
The honor is wonderful, and it shows the city truly cares about its residents. But Reidsville is still not without problems. We must find a way to recruit more companies, which will bring jobs, and thus accelerate our transition from tobacco and textiles. We must continue to transform downtown Reidsville into a place people will want to visit to shop and to dine. We must continue to combat crime and to clean up rundown neighborhoods and broken downtown buildings.
The All-America designation is a good start, but much work lies ahead. Let’s celebrate, and then get back to work.