As we enter into another great Spring weekend, I want to pause to congratulate several of our members, and others, who were recognized earlier this week. Promotional Assistance Grants were given to the following organizations for their events; the Buck Fifty; Southern Ohio Forest Rally; Ohio Jeep Fest; Scioto Society/Sleepy Hollow Experience; and Chillicothe Halloween Festival. The grants totaled $6,000. Also, recognitions were given to the Chillicothe Tree Commission; Bridget Coe, Hampton Inn & Suites; Becky Helterbridle, Scioto Society; Andrea Davis, Christopher Inn & Suites; and Bob Leach and Dick Rutherford, Camp Sherman Days. These awards were given by the Ross Chillicothe Convention and Visitors Bureau as part of National Tourism Week. The travel business is a $43 billion industry and in 2017 impacted nearly 400,000 jobs in Ohio.

Chillicothe and Ross County is certainly a destination for tourism. We see visitors every day who come to our community to enjoy the scenery and events that often times we as locals take for granted. Just this week, I had the opportunity to meet visitors from Vermont and Florida who stopped in the chamber looking for information on area events and local shops and eateries.

As we enter into this coming week, expect to see thousands of more visitors as we welcome riders and drivers from the Tour of the Scioto River Valley and Southern Ohio Forest Rally. These two events, alone, will bring thousands of dollars to our local economy and fill our hotels and restaurants. Let's make them feel welcome and show off our community with pride.

 

This weekend, however, we want to pause and say, 'thank you'. On Sunday, moms will be given special homemade cards, flowers, special lunches and dinners...and so much more. Of course, they deserve so much more. I can remember when I was much younger, I would walk around the block to the local nursery and go into the shop to pick out that one carnation that stood out. Mom would always react with such excitement and thanks, making me feel like the best son ever. It was only a .50 cent flower. But to her, it seemed to mean so much more. Or at least she made sure that I knew my little gift was the most important part of that day. Many of us have lost our mothers, but others have entered into our lives that still fill that loving part of family and relationships.

So, thanks moms (and wives who are mothers to our children) for all you do. For the long hours of hard work in the day, to not stopping when you get home to make dinner, clean, usher kids to ball games and dance practice and of course, picking up after us messy husbands.

You deserve more than one day a year to celebrate you. So, Happy Mother's Day, and I hope you enjoy your entire weekend.