This story originally appeared in The Pilot on October 1, 2008.

The Southern Pines Appearance Commission on Monday unveiled new downtown banners.

The first one went up on a street lamp post in front of the depot. More banners went up later in the day and Tuesday on street lamp posts along Broad Street, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania avenues.

Commission member Bud Wallen pulled a cover off the banner at almost exactly noon Monday, revealing a drawing of the depot with a green and yellow background and the words "Discover the Charm" written above "Southern Pines."

"I think they are lovely, very lovely," said Mary Jackson, the winner of the contest to design the banner. "It will add a nice bit of charm to the downtown area."

Commission member Greg Zywocinski said it was a long process, but the commission is happy with the final product.

"There is a lot more to this than we ever thought in the beginning," he said. "I can't say enough about it. It was a huge collaborative effort."

The banner contest judges, Town Manager Reagan Parsons, downtown business owner Claudia Miller and Pilot Publisher David Woronoff, attended the unveiling.

"I think it's lovely," Miller said.

The Appearance Commission announced the banner design contest in February. More than 60 entries were submitted. The judges named the winning designs in May.

The Appearance Commission, working with Mosca Design of Raleigh, incorporated elements of the top three entries into the final banner.

The completed banner came before the Town Council in July. After gaining council approval, Mosca produced the final product.

Zywocinski and Wallen had hoped to unveil the banner Friday, but the weather refused to cooperate.

"We're very pleased," Zywocinski said. "It took forever. But better late than never."

Everyone who's seen the banner design seems to like it, he said.

"So far, I haven't heard one negative comment," he said.

Contact Matthew Moriarty at 693-2479 or by e-mail at moriarty@thepilot.com.