They say first impressions are lasting. Well, if that be the case, I encourage every prospective Suffolkian to have lunch with real estate broker Harry Cross at Holland’s Gourmet Country on their first visit to Suffolk. Doing so will give you a positive impression of the city and its people that will last a lifetime.

Harry was kind enough to spend some time telling me about the community.

Harry told me about Suffolk and its people and enlightened me with background on the growth Suffolk has recently enjoyed and the community’s approach to planned, controlled, growth.

We talked some about hobbies, and he recalled times when the city of Suffolk and his high school were state champions in tennis.

We talked about education, healthcare and industry.

And I learned the downtown has seen a great deal of revitalization in recent years, spurred by a number of new restaurants and other attractions. I also found out that there are more restaurants coming to downtown.

In addition to what I learned from speaking with Harry, I also took away the new found knowledge that Holland’s has great food; but you best be hungry, because they give you servings big enough for two.

My temporary home is the Hilton Garden Inn. What a prize that hotel is for this city. The staff has delivered exceptional service and good, old fashioned, hospitality. They have greeted me with a smile at each opportunity. Waking up to the nice view of the Nansemond River is a terrific way to start a day.

Our team at the News-Herald is exceptional and it is enriching each day to get to know them better and to be involved in the daily process of making the newspaper better, more relevant and interesting for you.

I look forward to getting to know each of you better as I get about meeting people and learning more about my new home.

Lindsey is the publisher of the Suffolk News-Herald. Contact him at jesse.lindsey@suffolknewsherald.com, or 934-9611.