Despite extensive advertising and media coverage,

several public meetings hosted by the city to discuss the comprehensive plan and the possible takeover of road maintenance were poorly attended.

Such wasn’t the case Monday afternoon at a &uot;Downtown After 5&uot; event organized by the Downtown Business Association.

With little more than a brief item a couple days in the newspaper

and a mailed invitation from the DBA, Pisces restaurant was packed to capacity.

How did the do it? Developer Mickey Garcia sprang for food and open bar.

I happened into Mayor Bobby Ralph and City Manager Steve Herbert at the event and suggested they have an open bar at the next public meeting if they want to bring in the crowds.

Ernest Hefferon served as master of ceremonies for the event and did a great job. I overheard

Garcia tell someone Hefferon had a background in radio. It shows. He was obviously at home behind the mike.

It was nice to see so many people turn out for an afternoon event. Despite the lure of free booze, the presence of so many people shows that downtown Suffolk is a happening place.

A couple of announcements were made at

the event. Garcia announced that the old Gurley Press building at the corner

of W. Washington and Saratoga will be occupied by an attorney. I had apparently been misinformed last week by one of the workers at the site that it would be a bar. The bar would have been cooler.

Hefferon also announced the Chinese takeout place on East Washington is open for business, please give them a try.

I’d like to personally thank Garcia for hosting the event. It was a great networking opportunity and I hope we see more such events .