TO THE EDITOR:

When first moving back to Washington, I was just going to “live here as a retreat,” but after a year of being here with my stepmother, I said Washington is my “home.” Then, it became a farm.

I believed that Washington would support my tours, my B&B, and activities offered to the community. I thought, realizing I could NOT count entirely on Wilkes County as well as the Chamber, partially because of being in the county, and not historical. In spite of this, Second Time Around Mini Farm plugged on, of course always in the red. Through MY mistakes, we are now closed. But note, we traded locally for everything we needed and could get.

Pals with Paws will be purchasing the farm, but the owners Kristein and Jeff, have wonderful ideas, such as taking advantage of government grants, co-op advertising, which I have been fighting for years, and many fresh ideas, that perhaps I and others have become stale.

As merchants and businesses, the chamber can not help you. I visited the location two weeks ago Saturday. NO one was in the location. A lovely couple was there and I thought they were the volunteers! It so happened that they were from Athens and loved Washington. My future buyers thought, “only in Washington could be a building just opened.” They liked the idea NO Walmart, they liked the fact of how NICE the people were, but they also know what is ahead of them, and they want it!

My father, Alfred Moses, said your competitor may be your customer, and I am sorry to say that as a whole, businesses do not support their fellow businesses. There is more concern as to who is doing what, than for how to help each other survive! They should ALL help each other for them to survive. Yes we are set in a tourism industry, but you must open your businesses seven days a week, have consistent hours, and YES cater to you clientelle. This will be the ONLY way downtown and the tourism can survive!

Agritourism is on the move, women owned businesses, minority business owners, and the list goes on. Work a bit, go out and fight for these grants. Work as a whole as Washington, Georgia, and Wilkes County and do not rely on those who can or will not help!

I’ll be leaving Washington soon. The animals are gone, but new ones will begin to come in. Second Time Around Mini RANCH will be new, with great people that are doing a great service for those who are handicapped with their teachings with their service dogs. The B&B will reopen, the enthusiasm, the knowledge will inspire all that meet them. I encourage you to make an effort to do just that!

And to conclude with just a bit of nostalgia, I did as well find the promised land once again, and I will miss it very much.

Good Luck to ALL.

VICKY LYN MOSES