Start Today!

What might our political leaders and citizens have accomplished, if we had collaborated and launched a long-range creative goal for Huntington thirty-five, or fifty-years ago, and had worked away at it - one issue at a time - one day at a time? Just think about what a difference it would have made! However, it is so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays! Let's start today to fulfill our responsibility to our fellow citizens of tomorrow who will live, raise families, work, study and play here, long after many of us are gone. Visit http://www.creativehuntington.com/ and get in on the ground floor of the long-term evolution of our beloved Huntington into a creative and green community during the decades to come. What are your hopes and dreams for Huntington and Cabell County's neighborhoods for the decades to come during this century? Speak up! Post your comments by clicking on "Post Comments", which is located just below this posting.

Surprise in September 1 2008 Issue of Time Magazine

When I opened up the September 1, 2008 issue of Time Magazine, I was duly surprised to find three local residents looking back at me.

There they were, real as life: Betty and Eddie Barrett, Co-chairs of the Tocqueville Society of the United Way of the River Cities and Larry LaFon, owner of the Advantage Toyota dealership in Barboursville. Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. was announcing that LaFon has received the Toyota President's Award for the 3rd consecutive year.

Our community is well aware of the long years of community service and leadership of Betty and Eddie Barrett. Our community is hearing for the first time that Larry LaFon has been an anonymous and on-going benefactor to several of Huntington's social service organizations, including United Way of the River Cities, based in Huntington.

The Toyota announcement states, "This year, however, a supporter of that agency, Eddie Barrett, convinced LaFon to go public with his support, believing it would help the fund-raising campaign if potential donors knew that a community leader like LaFon was a major contributor. The plan worked, with several new donors coming on board."

Barrett explained, "I knew Larry would be seen as a role model for others. Now, we've been able to recruit additional people who found out about his support. He sets an example for big giving, and by deciding to no longer be anonymous, he has helped to change some people's minds."

LaFon is a member of the United Way Tocqueville Society. To qualify, members give a minimum of $10,000; LaFon donates twice that amount every year. He also serves on the agency's Board of Directors.

The announcement quoted LaFon: "I've never been interested in any acknowledgement." I am interested in helping the underprivileged in the community from every angle. That's why I've been donating to the United Way for years."

A tip of our hat to three community workhorses - Larry LaFon, Eddie Barrett and Betty Barrett.

Create Huntington Is All About Community Collaboration

According to several internet sources relating to neighborhood renewal there are five factors that lead to neighborhood deterioration: housing factors, zoning factors, property maintenance and building deterioration, concentration of social and public services and the pull to the suburbs.

The City of Huntington and its citizens must address these factors, if we are to renew our city. Since Huntington is unable to expand its boundaries, our best opportunity is to look within.

Maybe, we can attract some of the people who have left for the suburbs to come back and be part of the renewal of our community. For that to occur, the City of Huntington and its citizens must demonstrate that when a city and a neighborhood come together to address problems, the results can be phenomenal. That is what Create Huntington is about - community collaboration.

Check it out at www.createhuntington.com.

Want to get involved in Huntington's Revival?

If you are serious about being involved in our area's revival, go to the Create Huntington website. If you want to share your positive ideas for creating a Huntington of the future, sign in and give us your positive ideas for creating a Huntington that we will leave to future generations who will thank us for our initiative.

Let's talk - http://www.createhuntington.com/

Create Huntington Organization Wants Your Input

Create Huntington, the organization that is working to move Huntington forward, wants your positive ideas and suggestions about how our city can be developed into a quality city, in which we Huntingtonians, and future newcomers, will be proud to live, raise a family, work, play and pursue educational opportunities. You surely have ideas related to modernization, historic preservation, the arts, infrastructure improvements, parks and recreation and our educational system. You may have creative ideas that know one has ever considered.

Create Huntington would like to hear your thoughts and receive your creative input about the way we want to present our city to future generations. Go to http://www.createhuntington.com/ and participate in the discussion about our home town's future. Get involved and help us make Huntington the best it can be!

Please Note: This discussion forum is for positive discussions about Huntington’s future ONLY. Posting that only complain and do not provide possible solutions or postings that say we can "never" accomplish something will be eliminated at the discretion of the forum facilitator.

Restoring Brick Streets Should Be Included In City's Plans For Beautification

Throughout the years brick streets were covered with asphalt; now the trend is to restore these streets and many cities are discovering that by doing so it has brought back the beauty of the brick streets in addition to enhancing property values. Pavement Savers Inc., with the cooperation of the City of Orlando, has produced the technique and equipment to be able to accomplish this task.

Here is the link that will allow you to see the equipment and the results of a city's decision to "recover" its long-lost character and beauty, while reducing its operating costs, through the restoration of their historic brick streets.

http://www.smoothroads.com/psi/brick-street-restor.html

Together, we will accomplish anything we can imagine!