My Turn - Kudos to those who help Portales thrive

My 80-something-year-old cousin called me recently to ask me what was going on in downtown Portales. She'd driven through the evening before with her husband and found Main Street parked up solid for a several blocks.

"It reminded me of how Portales used to be on Saturdays when I was a kid," she said.

In a time when Main Streets are struggling and town centers are suffering, Portales is not only holding on, but thriving.

It didn't happen by accident.

Credit goes to an enthusiastic Chamber of Commerce, and Main Street cheerleaders such as Danny Woodward and Greg Erf, who have poured their hearts and souls into this community.

Kudos to the long-time business owners who have stood by this town through thick and thin, and new business owners who are digging deep to take a chance on Portales.

Musicians such as Andy Mason and Travis Erwin and the Blackwater Draw Boys deserve pats on their backs for making local live music a regular happening.

ENMU and Clovis Community College continually freshen our world with new people and new ideas and great programs.

It's been a long time since it was this hard to find a parking place downtown. What a good problem to have.

Betty Williamson may whine when she has to walk, but secretly she loves having to search for parking in downtown Portales. You may reach her at [email protected].