A Breath of Fresh Air: A Pause in the Heat and Peter Varney’s Return

People Making a Difference in Rocky Mount, NC, Stepheny's Rocky Mount, NC Reflections 1 Minute

The recent break in the weather has been a welcome relief from the brutal heat we’ve endured this summer. Unfortunately, I lost a small potted boxwood that I’ve had for years. Without the rain we’ve been blessed with, I would have lost more. I’m no longer in a hurry to drag around water hoses.

Tonight, on the eve of posting Thursday’s new blog, I enjoyed a lovely evening outdoors with my daughter Claire. As we dined, Claire captured a photo that perfectly reflects my contentment—sitting with her, feeling better after a brief illness, and savoring my chunky chicken salad.

While I know the temperature will rise again, I write for all of us when I say, “Thank you, Lord, for this reprieve.” In this brief pause from the relentless heat, my imagination carries on. I can’t help but believe that Peter Varney’s return as interim city manager, at this precise moment, plays a role in turning down the ‘heat.’

You may have read that Peter Varney has been called back to steady Rocky Mount’s ship. Mainstreetrockymount.com welcomes his return with full confidence in his experienced approach to policy decisions. What if Mr. Varney were to select an interim ‘cabinet’—a group of wise individuals to engage in some creative thinking? This group could include a banker, a real estate broker, a couple of small business owners, a CEO, an educator, a clergy member, a homeowner, and what I’ll call the “common man.” Handpicked by Mr. Varney, they would serve at his discretion, volunteering their time at no cost, to pool their insights on the current state of affairs. No elected officials or city employees would be involved during this initial process. The goal would be to develop a roadmap filled with innovative ideas, consensus, and a prioritization of action items.

I invite your prayers for Rocky Mount, for its leadership, for healing and to support the businesses on Main Street and beyond that have embraced the revitalization of the city. We owe them the leadership needed to preserve and protect their investment in a place that honors its past while building a future.

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Published by Stepheny Forgue Houghtlin

Stepheny Forgue Houghtlin grew up in Evanston, IL. and is a graduate of the University of Kentucky. She is an author of two novels: The Greening of a Heart and Facing East. She lives, writes and gardens in NC. Visit her: Stephenyhoughtlin.com

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2 thoughts on “A Breath of Fresh Air: A Pause in the Heat and Peter Varney’s Return”

  1. I do pray this will be a plus for the City. For too long the people have been crying out for help. Money has come and gone; positions have come and gone but some are still seeing ill effects of inactivity and/or misuse.

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  2. Thank God we as a city are so blessed to have Peter Varney a true public servant and a man of valid and proven integrity and morals, and his great knowledge of operations of city government that still has the capacity and the willingness to serve this city that he obviously loves more than the bozos we have serving now. What is wrong with these people and Stephany if you do not mind, which I am sure you don’t can you please write on the why it has become necessary to yet pull Mr. Varney out of his retirement once again to cover and serve this city as no one like Mr. Varney has done and will do to keep this sinking ship we call the center of it all afloat. I am sure he doesn’t mind, or he would have said NO, and all people find it a period to relax for a minute knowing that complete compentcy is at our realm again. There are so many people that are asking why Stephany, and you are the lady that always tells the story with complete HONESTY and tact and folks want to hear it from you whom we trust.

    Thank you

    Jan

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