The History of Fluvanna Leadership Group (FLAG)

More than 20 years ago, the Fluvanna Leadership Development Program (FLDP) was formed to educate new and current residents about what Fluvanna County has to offer including the workings of county government and the richness of county history. The program was very successful averaging a couple dozen class participants for each annually-offered class.  Through the years, FLDP leadership expressed the need to develop some sort of Alumni group so individuals could keep in touch, assist with the FLDP program, and possibly provide a vehicle for Alumni to remain engaged in projects after their graduation. 

 

This need was clearly demonstrated in 2018 when a Class 15 FLDP project team decided on an expansive project involving sprucing up the Village of Palmyra. Their established goals were far too extensive to complete during the length of the class.  Kris Krechoweckyj approached Steve Nichols, the county supervisor at the time, about options to continue with the project after FLDP graduation. Nichols suggested forming a Board of Supervisor (BOS) supported committee. After making a detailed presentation to the BOS, the FLDP class project members were authorized to continue their work for two years under the auspices of the Board of Supervisors.

 

Thus, the new Palmyra Area Revitalization Committee (PARC) was created and included 5 citizens who were FLDP graduates, Kris & Kornel Krechoweckyj, Jan Pavlacka, Jackie Bland, and Kathleen Kilpatrick. Each member brought their own special talents to compliment the committee’s work.  In a two-year time frame the committee accomplished several of their goals:

• Solicited sponsors to purchase 5 park benches that are installed in the village of Palmyra

• Revised and expanded the self-guided Historic Village Walking Tour of Palmyra

• Installed seven slate signs to mark historic sites and buildings in Palmyra

• Developed two information posters installed onto the Historic Old Courthouse

• Donated and installed wreaths for the two Historic Courthouse doors

• Developed the “4 Miles 4 Museums and a Historic Courthouse” Program

 

Then the pandemic hit. It slowed down finishing up projects, but it did not stop PARC’s work. During the pandemic the committee:

• Developed and installed a self-guided Palmyra Rail Trail Nature Walk tour for the Palmyra Rail Trail including several markers along the trail

• Designed, built, and installed, by Kornel Krechoweckyj and Jan Pavlacka, a large kiosk in the village of Palmyra. The structure includes a protected information board and a kiosk box for the village and rail trail walking guides. They also built a small kiosk box to store guide brochures on a fence closer to the rail trail

 

The two-year window for the committee expired during the pandemic, however, certain in-process PARC projects were overseen by other county staff to completion:

• As a result of PARC’s application to Virginia Historic Resources, a replacement historic marker for the Historic Courthouse was installed under guidance by the Fluvanna County Public Works Department.

• PARC’s initial work on design for a new “Welcome to Palmyra" sign set the stage for the installation of a sign along route 15 through leadership of the county’s Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Council (EDTAC).