By Jennifer L. Johnson
Published Tuesday, November 24, 2009
WINTERVILLE - The people running the newest shop in Winterville know they won't be able to pay their workers a dime this holiday season, but that's OK.
The proceeds from every sale at the Front Porch Bookstore will be donated to the Winterville Library.
"One hundred percent of the profits goes right back to the library," said bookstore Manager Ron Wetherbee, a volunteer with the nonprofit Friends of the Winterville Library. "Nobody gets any money, and the library gets every penny."
The bookstore opened ahead of schedule in preparation for its grand opening Dec. 4, the evening of the Christmas in Winterville holiday celebration at Pittard Park.
The used books sold at the store are modestly priced, from a quarter for mass-market paperbacks to $3 for hardbacks. Things like audio books, DVDs and special collections cost a little more, depending on the item.
The bookstore is on Marigold Lane, just off the square in a tiny single-room house crowded with wooden bookshelves and a few rocking chairs in front of the children's section.
The Winterville City Council offered the former city hall building to the Friends after Mayor Jim Mercer saw a small bookstore in another state operated by a group supporting its local library.
Most libraries sell some books at once- or twice-a-year book sales, but those fundraisers don't have the consistency of a full-time, full-fledged store.
"When we got this opportunity, all the Friends thought it was a great idea, so we all just came together and got it going," said Friends President Jan Mazzucco. "Hopefully, we will make more money by having a continual store, rather than just selling books at the Marigold Festival."
The council had the empty building refurbished, added a coat of paint and acquired a few shelves that Wetherbee repaired. The city is paying for the electricity and isn't charging the group to use the building.
"The city council is 100 percent behind us," said Wetherbee, who founded the Friends of the Winterville Library in 1998.
"(The bookstore) helps the city, because the building is in use, and we're donating money and support to the library - things they would have to pay for out of their budget."
Some Wintervillians are just glad there's now a bookstore in their community.
"The community really needs a place where we can go to get a book," said Martha Beach. "This is a good thing for Winterville, and I hope it succeeds."
Susan Reese and her 13-year-old daughter, Lizzy, recently brought in three boxes of books they hope their neighbors might want. "It benefits everyone. There is no downside to this."
Winterville Librarian Lizz Bernstein put out the word that the new store is looking for donations to fill the shelves, according to Reese.
"This really represents Winterville - not just the brick and the mortar and the wood, but reusing the historical buildings," Reese said. "They're giving back to the community, and not just financially."
Before the store opened, the 1,500-square-foot library had only enough room to display a handful of titles for sale. Now with the new designated space, Front Porch Books can accommodate a few thousand books.
Wetherbee has been to about 20 homes in and around Winterville in the past few weeks to pick up book donations - fiction, self-help, travel, biography, children's books and romance novels.
Martha Beach was the first paying customer when the store opened Nov. 9. Wetherbee framed the dollar she spent and put it on the wall behind the register - only to be perplexed later that night when recounting the drawer. When Wetherbee realized why he was $1 off, he replaced the money with a bill from his wallet.
Wetherbee has given a lot more than that to help the bookstore open its doors.
Aside from the time he's donated to fixing bookshelves, fetching books from people's homes and manning the store, Wetherbee has recruited his family to help. His brother, sister-in-law and wife have shelved books, hung Christmas decorations and painted signs, and all are picking up hourlong shifts when the need arises.
The new bookstore is staffed by volunteers and always needs more, according to Wetherbee.
Potential volunteers may call (706) 372-1236 or e-mail fowl1012@yahoo.com.
The bookstore is open during the same hours as the library, in part because there are no restroom facilities in the one-room building. Front Porch will be closed Wednesday and Thursday for the holiday. While the store normally will be closed on Fridays, it will open Dec. 4 from 5 to 8 p.m. to celebrate its official grand opening.
Nov 9, 2009
Winterville School plan talk of town
By Jennifer L. Johnson
Published Saturday, November 07, 2009
WINTERVILLE - The historic Winterville School might become government offices, a senior citizens community center or home to the city's library.
"Everybody's been talking about this project for years, and we wanted to hear what the citizens of Winterville really want from this space," Jo Mercer said as citizens gathered Thursday to tell her and other members of a restoration committee what they see as the future of the school. "I wanted them to think past what everyone has said before, to be practical but also think outside of the box."
Some people want city hall moved into the renovated school, they told members of the restoration committee.
The current city hall is an old market building with about 200 square feet, estimated Mayor Jim Mercer, who is Jo Mercer's husband.
"Instead of saying city hall, why don't we call (the school building) a municipal government property?" said Wintervillian Wayne Gabriel. "We could have city hall, the police department and the library all in one building."
The 9,000-square-foot building, acquired this summer along with an opera-style auditorium, is large enough to accommodate offices, a courtroom and city council chambers.
One of the more practical uses for the school building on North Church Street might be housing the Winterville Library, which is part of the Athens Regional Library System.
The library is squeezed into a 1,500-square-foot building, so cramped that the city is allowing the Friends of the Winterville Library to begin selling books in the tiny house city hall once occupied.
Along with general meeting spaces, a health center, an all-purpose artists' venue and a community center, the old school could be become a historical museum with the building restored to its former purpose, perhaps spotlighting its use in the 1920s.
Councilwoman Mary Quinn included the school on a walking tour of Winterville's historic district this fall, and in preparing for the tour, created a history of the town that needs a home.
"Mary has accumulated stacks and stacks of historical data on the history of Winterville that needs a place," Jo Mercer said. "The school would be an excellent place to house the history of our city."
Some of the proposed uses might even bring the city a little money.
Grants may be available to turn the school building into a senior center, according to Committee Chairman Bob White, a place that could host meetings, computer classes and workshops on canning, knitting or other crafts.
The committee is considering residents' suggestions to turn the school into a place for learning and continuing education.
University of Georgia adjunct professor Harriet Allison struggles to find places where her education students at UGA can get experience.
"I'm drifting toward the different possibilities to do education-type things," Allison said. "That includes everything from a senior center and computer classes right on down to the kids and after-school tutoring."
Committee members are entertaining ideas of housing a consignment or thrift shop in the school building, in part because they can apply for certain grants if the building is used to serve low-income people.
But they rejected one group's suggestion - a coffee shop - because the city won't lease any of the school as retail space. The city might allow people to rent part of the building for weddings, meetings and other events. The school building's cafeteria could become banquet hall and could better accommodate public hearings and forums than the Winterville Depot or tiny city hall.
If planners relocate existing services and offices - like the library or city hall - to the school building, it would free up other buildings in the city square.
But those types of changes are a long way off.
"This isn't going to happen tomorrow," White said. "First, we want to try to stop the deterioration of the buildings."
The dilapidated school needs major repairs from the roof down. Committee members caution that the historic school can't be used in some ways - like for a functioning school or day care - because both buildings contain lead paint, and removing all of it isn't practical. Asbestos abatement is planned for both buildings, but the committee hasn't yet decided how to take care of the lead paint.
One thing is clear - the 450-seat opera-style auditorium will be restored for its original use, with a few upgrades like audio/visual equipment and a screen for showing family-friendly movies.
"I think that auditorium is going to be the next torch that's going to light up the area," Jim Mercer said. "It will be one of the best things that can happen to Winterville."
The auditorium is the logical first rehabilitation project, said Jo Mercer, as it's in the best shape and will require the least amount of work to restore. Committee members hope that the completed auditorium will drum up funds to complete the restoration of the school.
"Whatever we do, I think that it's an important thing that when we get to the end of this, it's something every member of the community can be proud of," said committee member George Chandler.
A second forum will be held in January before the committee determines the future of the historic school. Citizens who couldn't attend the public forum can submit their ideas for the school building to winterville@charter.net.
Published Saturday, November 07, 2009
WINTERVILLE - The historic Winterville School might become government offices, a senior citizens community center or home to the city's library.
"Everybody's been talking about this project for years, and we wanted to hear what the citizens of Winterville really want from this space," Jo Mercer said as citizens gathered Thursday to tell her and other members of a restoration committee what they see as the future of the school. "I wanted them to think past what everyone has said before, to be practical but also think outside of the box."
Some people want city hall moved into the renovated school, they told members of the restoration committee.
The current city hall is an old market building with about 200 square feet, estimated Mayor Jim Mercer, who is Jo Mercer's husband.
"Instead of saying city hall, why don't we call (the school building) a municipal government property?" said Wintervillian Wayne Gabriel. "We could have city hall, the police department and the library all in one building."
The 9,000-square-foot building, acquired this summer along with an opera-style auditorium, is large enough to accommodate offices, a courtroom and city council chambers.
One of the more practical uses for the school building on North Church Street might be housing the Winterville Library, which is part of the Athens Regional Library System.
The library is squeezed into a 1,500-square-foot building, so cramped that the city is allowing the Friends of the Winterville Library to begin selling books in the tiny house city hall once occupied.
Along with general meeting spaces, a health center, an all-purpose artists' venue and a community center, the old school could be become a historical museum with the building restored to its former purpose, perhaps spotlighting its use in the 1920s.
Councilwoman Mary Quinn included the school on a walking tour of Winterville's historic district this fall, and in preparing for the tour, created a history of the town that needs a home.
"Mary has accumulated stacks and stacks of historical data on the history of Winterville that needs a place," Jo Mercer said. "The school would be an excellent place to house the history of our city."
Some of the proposed uses might even bring the city a little money.
Grants may be available to turn the school building into a senior center, according to Committee Chairman Bob White, a place that could host meetings, computer classes and workshops on canning, knitting or other crafts.
The committee is considering residents' suggestions to turn the school into a place for learning and continuing education.
University of Georgia adjunct professor Harriet Allison struggles to find places where her education students at UGA can get experience.
"I'm drifting toward the different possibilities to do education-type things," Allison said. "That includes everything from a senior center and computer classes right on down to the kids and after-school tutoring."
Committee members are entertaining ideas of housing a consignment or thrift shop in the school building, in part because they can apply for certain grants if the building is used to serve low-income people.
But they rejected one group's suggestion - a coffee shop - because the city won't lease any of the school as retail space. The city might allow people to rent part of the building for weddings, meetings and other events. The school building's cafeteria could become banquet hall and could better accommodate public hearings and forums than the Winterville Depot or tiny city hall.
If planners relocate existing services and offices - like the library or city hall - to the school building, it would free up other buildings in the city square.
But those types of changes are a long way off.
"This isn't going to happen tomorrow," White said. "First, we want to try to stop the deterioration of the buildings."
The dilapidated school needs major repairs from the roof down. Committee members caution that the historic school can't be used in some ways - like for a functioning school or day care - because both buildings contain lead paint, and removing all of it isn't practical. Asbestos abatement is planned for both buildings, but the committee hasn't yet decided how to take care of the lead paint.
One thing is clear - the 450-seat opera-style auditorium will be restored for its original use, with a few upgrades like audio/visual equipment and a screen for showing family-friendly movies.
"I think that auditorium is going to be the next torch that's going to light up the area," Jim Mercer said. "It will be one of the best things that can happen to Winterville."
The auditorium is the logical first rehabilitation project, said Jo Mercer, as it's in the best shape and will require the least amount of work to restore. Committee members hope that the completed auditorium will drum up funds to complete the restoration of the school.
"Whatever we do, I think that it's an important thing that when we get to the end of this, it's something every member of the community can be proud of," said committee member George Chandler.
A second forum will be held in January before the committee determines the future of the historic school. Citizens who couldn't attend the public forum can submit their ideas for the school building to winterville@charter.net.
Nov 5, 2009
Winterville planners won't back new class of zoning
By Jennifer L. Johnson
Published 11/4/2009
Athens Banner-Herald
WINTERVILLE - The Winterville Planning and Zoning Commission voted Monday night to recommend that the city council not adopt a new zoning class that would allow assisted-living communities.
The proposal for an "assisted residential district" would accommodate Sycamore Ridge, a proposed community for developmentally disabled people. A nonprofit proposed building the community on an 87-acre tract of land stretching from Parkview Drive across to South Main Street that supporters hope to buy.
"I've heard no one give me - not one - one concrete example of how the city of Winterville benefits from such a district," said commission member Jack Eisenman, who voted to recommend denial. "This, I think, would compromise tremendously the (city's) comprehensive plan."
Georgia communities are required to prepare comprehensive plans every 10 years; Winterville's plan was last adopted in April 2008.
After trying to rezone the tract of land - and failing because the existing zoning classes don't include a use like Sycamore Ridge - supporters worked to create a text amendment to Winterville's zoning codes to allow a development like theirs.
Lee Carmon, a Northeast Georgia Regional Development Commission planner hired to advise city leaders, said the proposed district doesn't fit into the city's land-use plan and its terms are vague.
"This proposed zoning district doesn't fit with any of the character areas in its comprehensive plan," Carmon said. "It's not a tightly written ordinance."
Jon Williams of Williams and Associates, the firm that drafted the text amendment and spoke for Sycamore Ridge, heard Carmon's assessment for the first time Monday night.
"I'm sure that I can work with her and add things to the zoning amendment," said Williams. "A community like this could definitely be beneficial to the city of Winterville. We just ask that you keep an open mind."
The proposed zoning district would allow commercial, agricultural and retail facilities on the property, Carmon said, a fear that other speakers echoed.
"We don't have any guarantees about what's going to go there," said Wintervillian Nikki Crew.
Sycamore Ridge's plans include family-style cottages with private rooms for residents and businesses like a garden center, an artist market and a cafe that would be open to the public, but provide meaningful jobs for the developmentally disabled adults living there.
Citizens worried that if Sycamore Ridge fails, a commercial or industrial buyer might turn the property into something bad for Winterville.
But the people who drafted the proposed district worked to make sure that wouldn't happen, Williams said.
"If the community goes away, there can't be a McDonald's on the site, or a vegetable stand on the site," said Williams. "Everything that is specifically enunciated in this zoning district is there for the benefit of the developmentally disabled people that will reside in this community."
Commission member George Chandler recommended that Sycamore Ridge supporters look for a tract of land in Clarke County, though he recognized the need for services for developmentally disabled people.
"We want to stay a single-family residential community," said Chandler.
The decision to deny the proposal was not unanimous. Commission member Shawn Kotch voted against recommending denial, and commission Chairman David Dreesen abstained.
"I try to keep a very open mind," said Dreesen. "If I was required to vote, I think I'd almost have to flip a coin."
The commission voted on the merits of the proposed zoning district, and not on the merits of Sycamore Ridge's program, according to Dreesen.
Sycamore Ridge supporters were disappointed with the commission's recommendation, but haven't given up.
"We really feel that this concept, as written, is in keeping in your comprehensive land-use plan, at least in spirit," said David McKenna, one of the people who proposed Sycamore Ridge. "We need to work on the words."
Williams plans to approach the mayor and city council at its workshop meeting Dec. 1, the first time the council will take up the zoning proposal.
Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday, November 04, 2009
Published 11/4/2009
Athens Banner-Herald
WINTERVILLE - The Winterville Planning and Zoning Commission voted Monday night to recommend that the city council not adopt a new zoning class that would allow assisted-living communities.
The proposal for an "assisted residential district" would accommodate Sycamore Ridge, a proposed community for developmentally disabled people. A nonprofit proposed building the community on an 87-acre tract of land stretching from Parkview Drive across to South Main Street that supporters hope to buy.
"I've heard no one give me - not one - one concrete example of how the city of Winterville benefits from such a district," said commission member Jack Eisenman, who voted to recommend denial. "This, I think, would compromise tremendously the (city's) comprehensive plan."
Georgia communities are required to prepare comprehensive plans every 10 years; Winterville's plan was last adopted in April 2008.
After trying to rezone the tract of land - and failing because the existing zoning classes don't include a use like Sycamore Ridge - supporters worked to create a text amendment to Winterville's zoning codes to allow a development like theirs.
Lee Carmon, a Northeast Georgia Regional Development Commission planner hired to advise city leaders, said the proposed district doesn't fit into the city's land-use plan and its terms are vague.
"This proposed zoning district doesn't fit with any of the character areas in its comprehensive plan," Carmon said. "It's not a tightly written ordinance."
Jon Williams of Williams and Associates, the firm that drafted the text amendment and spoke for Sycamore Ridge, heard Carmon's assessment for the first time Monday night.
"I'm sure that I can work with her and add things to the zoning amendment," said Williams. "A community like this could definitely be beneficial to the city of Winterville. We just ask that you keep an open mind."
The proposed zoning district would allow commercial, agricultural and retail facilities on the property, Carmon said, a fear that other speakers echoed.
"We don't have any guarantees about what's going to go there," said Wintervillian Nikki Crew.
Sycamore Ridge's plans include family-style cottages with private rooms for residents and businesses like a garden center, an artist market and a cafe that would be open to the public, but provide meaningful jobs for the developmentally disabled adults living there.
Citizens worried that if Sycamore Ridge fails, a commercial or industrial buyer might turn the property into something bad for Winterville.
But the people who drafted the proposed district worked to make sure that wouldn't happen, Williams said.
"If the community goes away, there can't be a McDonald's on the site, or a vegetable stand on the site," said Williams. "Everything that is specifically enunciated in this zoning district is there for the benefit of the developmentally disabled people that will reside in this community."
Commission member George Chandler recommended that Sycamore Ridge supporters look for a tract of land in Clarke County, though he recognized the need for services for developmentally disabled people.
"We want to stay a single-family residential community," said Chandler.
The decision to deny the proposal was not unanimous. Commission member Shawn Kotch voted against recommending denial, and commission Chairman David Dreesen abstained.
"I try to keep a very open mind," said Dreesen. "If I was required to vote, I think I'd almost have to flip a coin."
The commission voted on the merits of the proposed zoning district, and not on the merits of Sycamore Ridge's program, according to Dreesen.
Sycamore Ridge supporters were disappointed with the commission's recommendation, but haven't given up.
"We really feel that this concept, as written, is in keeping in your comprehensive land-use plan, at least in spirit," said David McKenna, one of the people who proposed Sycamore Ridge. "We need to work on the words."
Williams plans to approach the mayor and city council at its workshop meeting Dec. 1, the first time the council will take up the zoning proposal.
Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Wednesday, November 04, 2009
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