To the editor:

I would like to thank all the members of our Isle of Wight Beautification Committee for their volunteer work over the past years.

This unique committee takes pride and care of our roadways incoming to all of Isle of Wight areas with the goal of letting travelers know they have come to a “special place.” The Beautification Committee of Isle of Wight has completed numerous projects such as the memorial at the foot of the James River Bridge, entry signs, plantings at our fire stations and local schools, the “Plant a Tree” program and numerous donations to local groups such as the Boy and Girls Scouts and Windsor Women’s Club.

One of our members on this committee is Ben Rideout, who, we all know, is running for the Board of Supervisors this election in his Carrsville District. Ben has contributed so much to our committee, including raising monies, soliciting donations, hands-on project management and currently laying the blueprints for an entry sign for Zuni at Route 460, coordinating with the locals such as the Ruritan Club, the Historical Society and Creason Drilling, and securing a $1,000 donation from CSX Railroad toward the project. Awesome!

Each member lives in and is assigned to a district. The five Isle of Wight districts and the representatives are Carrsville (Ben Rideout and Sarah Leggett), Hardy (Gloria Wilson and me), Newport (Peg Hoagland), Smithfield (Sterling White and Joan Lee Mikulas) and Windsor (Tony Willis and Durwood Scott). Andrea Clontz is our staff adviser.

If you know of any improvements or would like to volunteer, please contact Andrea at 357-3191. Keep Isle of Wight beautiful!

Alison Yohanan
Chairperson
Isle of Wight Beautification Committee
Isle of Wight