focusing heavily on the arts.This push is transforming the city into a more vibrant and engaging place for residents and visitors. Stewart outlines some of the key cultural initiatives underway. “We have murals going up, similar to the mural trails you see in larger cities,” she explains. One of the first installations celebrates local history, honoring Dinah Shore, who hailed from Franklin County. The murals are part of a broader effort to tie the city’s arts scene to its rich historical roots. COLLABORATIONS DRIVING GROWTH The remarkable progress Winchester has made in recent years is the result of city planning and development and strong public and private partnerships. Rhoton highlights the importance of these partnerships, especially in relation to the city’s major wastewater project. “We had to really think outside the box to get this project done,” she says. “The county, Winchester Utilities, and the city are all paying a portion of the costs. None of us could have accomplished this on Photo Credit: Kathy Bennett, KatBox Photography 316 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 05, ISSUE 11
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