Annis McCabe showing off her Pride of Place creation

The Comprehensive Plan for the future of Bedford County is now being composed. If you live in an area that contains….

A. Important natural resources such as water, watersheds, and old growth forests.
B. Historic communities and landmark structures.
C. Wildlife habitats.
D. Farmland and beautiful scenery.

Then you owe it to your community to call attention to these areas by documenting these attributes. It is impossible for the members of the Bedford County Planning Commission to be aware and knowledgeable about all the exceptional places throughout this large county. They want to hear form you about what you consider valuable in our community. Include a simple, Bedford map showing the location of your study. Get as many like-minded neighbors as possible involved in this project. It makes it easier for you and builds support for your effort.

The Process

1) Go out and photograph what you think is important to protect and preserve. The best hours for photographing landscapes and structures is before 11 A.M. and after 3 P.M. Inform the landowners of why you are taking photographs.

2) Request double prints when the film is developed.

3) Choose the most representative photographs and lay them out on paper.

4) Write descriptions for the photos, telling what is important in the scene and why it needs protection. Cut out the typed or computer-printed descriptions and lay on the page next to, over, or under the photos. When satisfied with the page arrangement, attach everything (photographs and written portions) to the paper with double-faced scotch tape-glue makes lumps. Number the pages so that they remain in proper sequence for viewing. On the last page write your name and a phone number for future contact. Include the name of your supervisor and representative on the Planning Commission.

5) Take your pages to a printer who can reproduce them on a color-copier. (Crofton Duplicating Series on RT. 221, Forest, did mine).

6) The printer not only reproduces your pages, but also can add a front and back page made of heavier cardstock. Then all can be secured with a plastic spiral binder at the print shop. This makes a booklet that can be easily handled and read.

7) Be sure to get enough copies made to present to all the Bedford County officials who are involved in the Planning Process and several to keep in your community. Bedford Citizens for Land Preservation (BCLP) will reimburse you for three copies which will be added to the BCLP Resource display at the Bedford Central Library. Then other people can learn from you and about your community.

For further information call Annis McCabe, 586-4697.

Regardless of how the project is organized you will still need text and images. Images can be taken with a regular or digital camera, text should be produced on a computer. Images and text should be sent to James Jones via e-mail or regular mail if you want it posted on the web.

James Jones
1314 Coltons Mill Rd
Bedford, Va 24523