Amazing Culpeper

Business Monday

Culpeper Star Exponent

Jim Charapich

December 23, 2013

I was walking up Davis Street from the Depot as the wind drifted mildly toward me from the west. One of the local restaurants uses as wood fired oven for special dishes. The smell of the seasoned wood burning was reminiscent of what it may have been like throughout the decades along the same route. I have seen pictures of the streets, full of mud and horse drawn carriages. The images were showing the buildings in much the same place as they were during milestones in our colonial and civil war era history.

The restaurant owners and shop merchants were busy in their place of business. The street was full of customers with packages in hand to and from the restaurants. Shop owners have decorated the windows with the style and charm that would rival 5th Avenue or Rodeo Drive. Yet, thankfully, this is Culpeper, a small town in rural Virginia.

 

The view from Davis Street to the west is like seeing a scene from a National Geographic magazine cover with the Piedmont - rolling hills - leading to the Blue Ridge Mountains. This is a common reason that so many come from Northern Virginia and Washington DC to visit loved ones here, taking time to dine, shop, and play. I wondered which movie star would be spotted and tweeted about this holiday season. We often have celebrity sightings in Culpeper. The word travels fast today with the local tech savvy entrepreneurs working out of the vogue coffee shops.

I actually felt like I was in the opening scene of an epic Spielberg movie, waving to the shop owners and friends on route to the County office building a few blocks away. So much is in walking distance and it was a great day to take in the sights. I could end my comments here with the picture of a vibrant community during the holidays that is renowned for such attributes.

However, my favorite part of the afternoon was taking the time to introduce one of our government leaders to a local college student. The student was interested in understanding local government. He is currently studying government in a well-known Virginia University.  The leader took some 90 minutes of his time to give a young eager mind experienced views of the variables of local government. With the backdrop of an American flag, I watched as years of tempered leadership were being valued and acknowledged by a student preparing for public service.

There are few words and yet volumes of words that could describe the quality of life in Culpeper. What an amazing place to be. We hear the name Norman Rockwell and think of treasured moments in time, displayed for others to see. Culpeper is a rich work of art, celebrating the gift of today, valuing the lessons of the past, and thankful for the bright opportunities ahead.

Merry Christmas