The Culpeper Ruritan Club was mentioned in the Culpeper Star-Exponent’s printed newspaper and website dated March 9, 2014. The newspaper article was “above the fold” on Page A1 (front page news!) and continued on to page A4. The online version of the story can be found by clicking on this link: Culpeper Ruritan Club In The News
Culpeper Ruritan’s President Gary Close’s color photograph was part of the printed story on page A1. Following is a copy (sorry you can’t actually read it from this image because of the poor quality…. but the text of the article can be read below the image, and at least you can see that it existed!)
Culpeper Star-Exponent Page A1 March 9, 2014
This is the text of the story in both the print and online version, copied and pasted from the Culpeper Star-Exponent’s website:
Culture, business higlights of ‘State of Community’
By Jeff Say jsay@starexponent.com (540) 825-0771 ext. 115 | Posted: Sunday, March 9, 2014 12:00 am
Culpeper County is a vibrant, artistic community that is seeing growth again, according to the “State of the Community” luncheon hosted by the Culpeper Chamber of Commerce Friday.
Fourteen speakers from throughout the business and non-profit community spoke at the luncheon, detailing how Culpeper is continuing to grow and the needs the area faces.
Culpeper’s artistic scene is one of those areas of growth, with the addition of the State Theatre in 2013, and now a possible art center.
Gary Close, of the Culpeper Arts Council, talked about an art center possibly moving into the former Museum of Culpeper History building on South Main Street. The museum will open its new location at the Depot in April.
The seven-person arts council was formed to promote arts in the community and one of the missions of the council was to find a permanent arts center location.
Close said the council is looking very closely at the old museum site as it has “great access and visibility.”
“It would need very little modification for an art center,” he said. “It would be one of three cultural jewels (along with the State Theatre and the Library of Congress’ Packard Campus) of Culpeper.”
The council has also approached the Culpeper Ruritans Club about hosting a juried art festival in May 2015 at Yowell Meadow Park.
Close said prospective businesses will look at cultural impact for places to locate.
Another key proponent to drawing businesses is having a strong retail presence, which Culpeper has on Main and Davis streets. Kelsey Carlson, president of Culpeper Renaissance Inc. and owner of Green Roost, talked about the strength of Culpeper’s retail. “Retail is on an upswing,” Carlson said. “We’re finding consumers are starting to spend again.” She remarked that nationally, online spending is growing but that Culpeper residents are embracing on spending locally.
One of the groups that is spending more online is seniors, which Aging Together executive director Chris Miller said is one of the largest groups in Culpeper. “We’re not planning for the age wave anymore, we’re riding it,” she said.
She said that a study conducted in 2010 showed that 52 percent of residents 50 or older were satisfied with quality of living in the county, compared to a national average of 40 percent.
She said Culpeper’s attention to family caregivers could help position it to draw in more business. Miller said 70 percent of all care giving is done by family caregivers and 45 percent of that number also provide medical care. “Having a community that will address family care giving will strengthen the work force,” Miller said.
John Marshall, Bingham and Taylor, and on the Major Industry Committee spoke about how major industry is impacted in the county and talked about improvements major industry businesses have made. He pointed out Merchants Grocery, which has been in the county since 1917, recently put on a 27,000 square foot expansion.
“There’s a lot going on at major industry companies and there’s no better place to be (than Culpeper County),” Marshall said. Cole Johnson, of the Northern Piedmont Community Foundation, echoed that sentiment for 501c3 organizations. She pointed out that there will be a day of giving May 6 for non-profits where residents can donate online and non-profits will be eligible for prizes through the foundation. “We want to be a catalyst for charitable growth in Culpeper, Madison, Fauquier and Rappahannock counties,” Johnson said.
The day wrapped up with Chamber CEO Jim Charapich thanking the speakers for coming out and sharing information about the community.
“Let’s keep making Culpeper a great place,” Charapich said.
Ruritan Rapidan District 