Category: Informational Events

The Winchester-Frederick County Convention & Visitors Bureau is spearheading a photo contest to spread the word about the LOVEwork at the Visitors Center, and to remind visitors that “Love is at the heart of every Virginia Vacation.”

LOVEworks are located all over Virginia, and Winchester-Frederick County’s L-O-V-E letters are decorated with the Apple Blossom theme. “We know that Winchester-Frederick County is a wonderful place to visit, but we would like to hear straight from our visitors what it is that makes our area so special to them,” said Renee Bayliss, Visitor and Community Relations Specialist for the Winchester-Frederick County CVB.

Visitors are encouraged to take a photo of themselves with the LOVEwork in the visitors center, and visit this Facebook page – https://www.facebook.com/pages/Winchester-Frederick-County-Convention-Visitors-Bureau/134866245609 where they can click on the LOVE to Win graphic to post their photo and enter. Participants must also state what they love about Winchester-Frederick County.

The Grand Prize Winner will be selected by the Winchester-Frederick County CVB, based on the entrant’s photo and response.
The Prize Package includes:

• One night accommodations for two at Country Inn & Suites, Winchester, in the Celebration Suite (in-room whirlpool tub, fireplace, flat screen TV, high speed internet). Hotel amenities include free hot breakfast buffet, exercise facilities, free parking, and indoor heated pool.
• Two tickets and $30.00 food/beverage voucher to Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
• Two tickets to the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley
• Two tickets to a performance of Shenandoah Summer Music Theatre
• Two tickets to Stonewall Jackson’s Headquarters Museum, George Washington’s Office Museum, and Abram’s Delight Museum

The contest period runs from 12:00 AM August 1, 2013 to 11:59 PM August 31, 2013. Contestants must be 21 years of age or older and a resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.

Complete rules and regulations are on the website and at the Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center, 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Road, Winchester, VA, 22601.

The following is a release from Preservation Virginia, the statewide preservation organization. Winchester is one of the leading localities utilizing historic tax credits in Virginia and they are a vital tool in making preservation feasible for buildings like the Lewis Jones Knitting Mill, the Taylor Hotel, or the Lovett Building. Please take a moment to write to Senator Warner and Senator Kaine today (a sample letter is at the bottom of the post for you) and ask for their support of the Historic Tax Credit. Don’t forget to forward any responses to Preservation Virginia to help them track the issue.

Next week is an important week for tax reform as the U.S. Senate considers options. Your help is needed to ensure that the Historic Tax Credit remains in a reform package. Write to Senator Warner and Senator Kaine today and ask for their support of the Historic Tax Credit.

Background: Recently Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) and Ranking Member Orin Hatch (R-UT) circulated a letter to all Senators asking them for their participation in tax reform. Members were informed that the Committee will start with a “blank slate,” meaning all tax expenditures, both corporate and individual provisions (including the Historic Tax Credit) would initially be eliminated. Senators were also told that to be re-included in the tax code, a provision or proposal had to: 1) help the economy grow 2) make the tax code fairer, or 3) effectively promote other important policy objectives. Senators are finalizing their letter for the deadline on 26 July.

Contact Senator Warner and Senator Kaine TODAY to ensure that they:
1) include HTC in their list of priorities for tax reform and 2) co-sponsoring S.1141, the Creating American Prosperity through Preservation Act. Below is a sample letter and suggested points for your correspondence.
Please forward any replies to Preservation Virginia so that we can help track this issue.
Thank you for your support!
Contacts:
Senator Warner: http://www.warner.senate.gov/public//index.cfm?p=ContactPage
Senator Kaine : http://www.kaine.senate.gov/contact

SAMPLE LETTER
Dear Senator:
I write to encourage your support of the historic rehabilitation tax credit (HTC) a vital tool for historic preservation and economic development. The HTC more than pays for itself: The cost of the credit has been $20.5 billion and it has generated $25.9 billion in federal taxes.* The HTC is a proven job-creating, community-revitalizing investment in sustainable communities.
Over the last 32 years, the program has revived 38,700 vacant or underutilized buildings, created 2.35 million jobs, and attracted over $106 billion in private investment. In Virginia, 870 commercial rehabilitation projects have resulted in more than $2.2 billion in development investment and the creation of more than 35,000 jobs. It has been called the largest community revitalization program in the county. In Virginia, projects such as the Westover Apartments, Arlington; Paramount Theater, Charlottesville; Schoolfield School Complex, Danville; and the National Theater, Richmond were made possible by use of these credits.
Historic preservation is more labor-intensive than new construction, and is proven to create more, better-paying jobs. Additionally, developers of historic buildings often buy local and hire local. More than 75 percent of the economic benefits of historic rehabilitation remain in the local economies.
I encourage you to include the HTC in your list of priorities for tax reform and to co-sponsor S.1141, the Creating American Prosperity through Preservation Act. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,

* The credit cost was calculated by the IRS and the income generated came from a Rutgers University report commissioned by the National Park Service.
Additional Facts:
• The Creating American Prosperity through Preservation (CAPP) Act proposes strategic adjustments to the HTC that would enhance the credit’s economic and sustainability benefits.
• As a nation, we want to live and work in places that reflect the stories that define our heritage. The historic tax credit makes saving those places possible.
• This tax credit protects some of the nation’s most iconic buildings, defining our heritage and sense of community.

Chances are if you’re an aficionado of local architecture, you’ve glanced at this book or even own a copy. Unfortunately, it was published without an index, so it is a browsing experience more than a quick research volume. Better late than never, an index to the book was found in some files that were presumed lost. We’re happy to share this and hopefully make the book a more useful volume.

Click here to view or download a supplementary index to “Winchester: Limestone, Sycamores, and Architecture.” (3.4 MB)

We have just received word that the Winchester memorial service planned for John G. Lewis on June 11 will be postponed to this fall after his wife fell and broke her foot this past weekend. Please help us spread the word about the rescheduling. When the new date is set, we will let you know. Thank you!