If you have driven into Panora recently, you have probably noticed the new welcome signs. They are more than an inviting greeting. They are a handshake that says, “We’re glad you’re here.”

A few years ago, I expressed concern about the outdated and dilapidated welcome signs that were at the east and west entrances to Panora. My comments were met with some nods of agreement and a few blank stares. Nobody seemed to know when the original signs were built, who built them or, most importantly, who was supposed to maintain them.

Mayor Curtis Thornberry told me he would grab some shears and trim the bushes around the signs himself from time to time. That certainly wasn’t his job, but whose was it? I thanked him for caring enough to do it.

There really is something comforting about a community’s welcome sign. Some towns have simple wooden ones on the edge of town. Others have elaborate brick monuments surrounded by carefully landscaped flowers. A few look like they were designed by a committee that held seven meetings to decide on a font. Regardless of the style, a welcome sign tells you something important: You have arrived. And that matters.

Communities spend a lot of time talking about schools, businesses, parks, restaurants, festivals, ball fields, museums and all the other things that make a town worth stopping in rather than simply driving through while wondering if there is a Casey’s at the next exit. But before visitors experience any of those things, they experience the entrance. First impressions matter for people, businesses and communities. When visitors see a welcoming, well-maintained sign surrounded by attractive landscaping, they get a pretty good sense that the people who live there care about their community.

Of course, a sign can’t fix everything. If it’s beautiful but surrounded by 6-foot grass, the message becomes, “We’re glad you’re here, but we haven’t mowed since the Clinton administration.” If weeds, trash and dead flowers surround it, civic pride isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to mind. And if the sign hasn’t been updated since 1987, visitors might wonder whether they accidentally drove through a time machine.

Last summer, I attended a Panora Chamber of Commerce meeting and listened to Angie Worth talk about making new welcome signs a priority. She did exactly that. She and others who believed in her mission gathered ideas, collected bids, raised funds and made it happen. Panora is better because of it.

Now, when we drive past the new signs, they remind us that we are part of something special. When visitors see them, they should become curious about what they can find beyond them. Panora’s welcome now begins before anyone in the community even says hello. The signs are a handshake — and Panora’s now has a firm grip, a clean shirt and a welcoming smile.

Have a terrific Tuesday, and thanks for reading.

Shane Goodman
Editor and Publisher
Times Vedette digital newsletter
shane@gctimesnews.com
641-332-2707