8 minute read
Meg’s Specialty Womenswear Celebrates Thirty Years in Radford..............24
2022! Not only is she recognized as the owner of a key business in downtown radford, Meg is also famous for pioneering a group called ‘The Lunch bunch’, which meets every tuesday at bt’s restaurant on tyler avenue. at these meetings, Meg gives talks on a wide variety of fashion subjects. Past talks have included what’s new for the upcoming season, market reports, new styles, how to look younger or thinner with clothing, and history of fashion. she has also begun a series that focuses on regional characteristics of fashion, starting with fashion choices from the southeastern united states.
These meetings are not only attended by clients. Clothing vendors and suppliers also make time to attend. as a perk for being there, Meg also provides discounts for anyone visiting the store after the meeting.
Looking back over the years, Meg notes how the fashion business has changed with the information age. in years past, clients would come into a store and simply choose from what was available on the shelves and racks. today, however, people have the ability to search the internet and they can see fashions available from all over the world. in today’s world, clients have become more specialized in their desires and needs. When they shop for clothing, they have ideas that often go far beyond the four walls of the store, so there are more special orders. some folks just want something new, so Meg also keeps an eye out for new fashions in the market to give people a reason to buy. she carries labels such as brighton, tribal, Liz Claiborne, Merrell, and Joseph ribkoff. and since people can get products from all over the world now, a store really has to offer services to get folks to come in and shop. as for those special orders, if her clients don’t find what they need in the store, Meg tries her best to get it for them. she also continues to provide advice and consultation, delivering clothing solutions for different needs. she even offers complementary alterations!
Meg also makes sure her staff are trained so they, too, can provide these five-star services. ann is on hand to help with buying for the store. she also does a wonderful job with the display windows, making a positive impact on the downtown aesthetic.
shoppers are also likely to meet the lively and wonderful Peggy who can brighten anyone’s day on the sales floor. in addition to sales, garrett (not related) also provides support as Meg’s online media person. Filling out the sales staff are donna, as well as havva and evan – two radford high school students who bring a youthful look to Meg’s. Then there’s teitum, part-time seamstress and fashion design student at radford university, who facilitates those complementary alterations.
Finally, Meg tells us we must also mention Kevin, who graduated from radford university with a degree in accounting. Kevin has been garrett’s and Meg’s accountant for thirty-three years, and Meg is grateful for the consistency his service has provided to the operation of her businesses from the beginning. “Fashion itself has gotten much more casual,” says Meg, reflecting on more of the changes she’s seen over the years. “When we first opened, ladies wore suits and high heels to work. Now many companies allow shorts and flip-flops and no one thinks anything about it.” Meg goes on to tell us that though much has changed, the prices for clothing haven’t seen the same increases as other consumer products. Prices may have increased a little, but they are not so different as they have been over the past few decades.
Looking forward, Meg tells us the plan is always as it has been. “you constantly need to change and reinvent yourself. update the stores and the sales floors. brainstorming new ways to reach out to clients in special ways, such as birthday boxes. Perhaps adding online shopping.”
Meg is super thankful to all their clients, especially for their support through the pandemic. she is honored to be part of the radford community and to serve the New river Valley and beyond. “service is our trademark. We started the store with this motto, and this is why we are still here.”
Meg’s Specialty Women’s Wear • 540-639-3841 • Meg Weddle 1136 East Main Street, Radford, VA • 10AM - 6PM Tues-Fri info@ClothingMustHaves.com • www.ClothingMustHaves.com
Photo Courtesy of Giles County
Community Efforts Keeping the New River Clean
By D.J. Matthews
The New river is a body of water whose headwaters begin near blowing rock, North Carolina. Though it has been a source of life for countless species of plants and animals, as well as home to native humans for over sixty-five million years, it is only in recent times that adjacent communities, like giles County, have utilized it for economic development.
Now that tourism has become the second largest industry in the state, county officials are beginning to consider the potential of the New river. during discussions about improving the appearance of the entire community, it was decided to include the New river in the clean-up plan, as it winds through the middle of the county. according to giles County administrator, Chris McKlarney, there was originally talk in 1999 about having a countywide cleanup. as a result, about ninety volunteers waded along the shores to pick up trash in 2001. Lots of discarded tires were found during that first effort. by 2016, however, there were close to three-hundred volunteers. some worked to clear trash near the river, but most floated out in canoes and other small watercraft to clear the
waters of the New. in just over twenty years, volunteers have removed 200,000 pounds of trash and debris. but it wouldn’t have been possible without the reNew the New Committee, along with cofounders, ann goette and Paul Moody. since 1990, Moody has owned a private retreat on the New river called ‘The New river’s edge’, complete with boat rental. he became familiar with the New river as a boy, splashing around in its waters during family vacations near his boyhood home in Monroe County, West Virginia. Now he goes rafting and fishing with his brother-in-law or with friends, including the much younger, Chris McKlarney. When Moody heard about the county’s newest development plans, he became involved with helping the river. Cofounder, ann goette, was Paul Moody and Ann Goette, head organizers for “ReNew the New” Committee, stand on the edge of Moody’s private retreat bordering the New in Giles County. Photo by D. J. Mathews brought up in Louisiana, near the Mississippi. according to goette, that river was “muddy and flat.” When she moved to this area in her early twenties, goette was amazed at the New river’s clarity, and she enjoyed swimming in it. Wanting to keep it that way, she contacted Paul Moody and left a message on his voicemail. she let him know she wanted to do something for the river and asked that he call
Students carrying trash back to the entry site.
Photo Courtesy of Giles County
her back. in 2005, goette and Moody got together with Chris McKlarney, as well as the Virginia department of game and inland Fisheries and several more concerned citizens. also involved were three outfitters: Moody’s New river’s edge, The Nr angler, and i Canoe the New, now called Nr Outdoor Company. it was eventually decided there would be two cleanups a year. One, called ‘Fall into the New’, would focus on the river. The other would be called ‘ramps and roads’ and would be devoted to cleaning up land litter and boat ramps. during the organization’s first year, roughly 150 volunteers cleaned along the New river from ripplemead to bluff City. using rafts and canoes, they were able to extract a significant amount of garbage, including close to four-hundred tires. according to goette, it was also discovered that the river had an even larger polluter than fishermen and their beer cans. From Norfolk southern railroad Company, the volunteers found items like grease pots, railroad ties, and rusting nails. it took several years and a lunch with officials in eggleston to get the railroad involved but it’s made a huge difference. “We’ve really cleaned the river,” says goette.
Thanks to those early efforts, as well as Moody,
Participants gather for the yearly “ReNew the New” cleanup on the New River.
Photo Courtesy of Giles County The New River Valley’s Comprehensive Audiology Service Provider
The World health organization stated that by 2050 nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss and at least 700 million - or one in every ten people - will require hearing rehabilitation. Don’t become part of this statistic. protect your hearing instead! Get the best protection with custom ear molds!
• Lawn Mowing Plugs • Musicians Plugs • Concert Plugs • Shooter Plugs • Anesthesiologist Plugs • Racing Plugs • Speech Filter Plugs • Ear Buds • Swimming Plugs • Sleep Plugs
