Dear Friend,

Have you ever been to church and as the pastor gets into his sermon, you begin to squirm a little, not because you're getting bored and sleepy, but because he is stepping all over your toes? After reading this column, I hope you begin to have that same feeling because I honestly believe we're all guilty of bashing our quaint little town at some point or another.

For example, when you're out of town and people ask where you are from, do you proudly say "Cheraw, South Carolina" or do you quietly answer, "This little town you've probably never heard of." And then aren't you surprised when the person replies, "Oh, I know Cheraw. What a beautiful town!"

Or how about when visitors come to Cheraw for a day, a weekend or longer. You overhear them commenting what a charming community we have, how friendly everyone is, how much they are enjoying their time here. They are from towns like Charleston, Southern Pines, Charlotte, Atlanta. And whether you say it or not, you're thinking, "They said that about Cheraw. You've got to be kidding."

Well, people, I think it's time that we all begin reevaluating our attitude about our town and start taking pride in this place we call home. Whether you want to admit it or not, our town is facing serious economic challenges. Over the past several years, we have lost many of our textile jobs to outsourcing. No longer can we depend on textiles to support our community. It's time we go in survival mode, to get creative, and begin thinking what we can do to make sure Cheraw has a future. It's time we all come together and begin working as a true community.

I certainly don't have all the answers, but I do believe the first thing we can all do is to take pride in our beautiful town, verbally share that pride with others, and support the efforts of our town officials as they look for ways to create jobs and generate a healthier economy. Cheraw has a lot to offer. Take a really close look at other small towns and then come back home with a fresh pair of eyes. Cheraw has a history other towns envy, incredible landscapes, smiling faces, a variety of great restaurants and shops, awesome recreational opportunities and the list goes on and on and on.

The time has come to reinvent ourselves and look to a prosperous future. It's time we evaluate our resources, develop ways to showcase our town to our neighbors and beyond, entice tourists to visit and welcome new residents. It's time we all begin seeing the glass as half full instead of half empty. I believe with a little entrepreneurial spirit and teamwork, we can get our economy back on track, and in our eyes, Cheraw can become the town our visitors have already come to love.

Sincerely,

David W. Sides
Editor