In Port Wentworth, near where the revolutionary cotton gin was devised, city and business leaders have slowly begun raising funds for a “Cultural Arts and Recreation Campus,” complete with a museum honoring Whitney and Savannah River plantations.

The project, on a 10-acre tract off Ga. 21, is pegged at $4 million and could take another five years to complete.

The first major fundraising effort has been scheduled for Sept. 17 at the Crosswinds Golf Club, according to Trisha Growe, executive director of the Port Wentworth Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center.

“We know this isn’t going to happen overnight,” Growe said of the museum, which would include a visitors center, library, outdoor gardens, walking track and playground. “But if we’re moving forward and making progress, we’ll get there.”

City and chamber officials had previously met with state legislators in hope of securing financial backing for the project, but so far that’s been hard to come by.

In June, city council members voted down a proposal to impose an additional 1 percent tourism tax on hotels and motels, money that would have gone toward the Eli Whitney complex.

Mayor Pro Tem Vincent Hogan, who introduced the measure, cast the lone assenting vote and was dismayed at the lack of mutual urgency.

“It’s frustrating for me,” Hogan said afterward, explaining the tax would have “opened the floodgates” for corporate sponsorships of the project.

The undeveloped land, purchased by the city two years ago, “is sitting there idling,” Hogan added. “It’s about the historical value and putting Port Wentworth on the map nationally. And it’s a pride thing. It’s a no-brainer to me.”

Other council members countered that regardless of the recent vote, the tax would take months to implement, requiring legislation at the state level.

Other projects, like a beautification effort on Ga. 21 off Interstate 95, also require attention, they said.

“The penny tax was just too soon,” Councilman James Curry said in a statement. “I do believe it will generate funds for future tourism projects, but it does nothing for right now.”

Growe said the lodging tax proposal neither makes nor breaks the museum plans.

“It’d be one of about 10 different revenue streams we’re looking at to fund this project,” she said. “But every little bit helps these days.”

In Port Wentworth, near where the revolutionary cotton gin was devised, city and business leaders have slowly begun raising funds for a “Cultural Arts and Recreation Campus,” complete with a museum honoring Whitney and Savannah River plantations.

The project, on a 10-acre tract off Ga. 21, is pegged at $4 million and could take another five years to complete.

The first major fundraising effort has been scheduled for Sept. 17 at the Crosswinds Golf Club, according to Trisha Growe, executive director of the Port Wentworth Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center.

“We know this isn’t going to happen overnight,” Growe said of the museum, which would include a visitors center, library, outdoor gardens, walking track and playground. “But if we’re moving forward and making progress, we’ll get there.”

City and chamber officials had previously met with state legislators in hope of securing financial backing for the project, but so far that’s been hard to come by.

In June, city council members voted down a proposal to impose an additional 1 percent tourism tax on hotels and motels, money that would have gone toward the Eli Whitney complex.

Mayor Pro Tem Vincent Hogan, who introduced the measure, cast the lone assenting vote and was dismayed at the lack of mutual urgency.

“It’s frustrating for me,” Hogan said afterward, explaining the tax would have “opened the floodgates” for corporate sponsorships of the project.

The undeveloped land, purchased by the city two years ago, “is sitting there idling,” Hogan added. “It’s about the historical value and putting Port Wentworth on the map nationally. And it’s a pride thing. It’s a no-brainer to me.”

Other council members countered that regardless of the recent vote, the tax would take months to implement, requiring legislation at the state level.

Other projects, like a beautification effort on Ga. 21 off Interstate 95, also require attention, they said.

“The penny tax was just too soon,” Councilman James Curry said in a statement. “I do believe it will generate funds for future tourism projects, but it does nothing for right now.”

Growe said the lodging tax proposal neither makes nor breaks the museum plans.

“It’d be one of about 10 different revenue streams we’re looking at to fund this project,” she said. “But every little bit helps these days.”

“Lauren Conrad will be at that finale event, along with Whitney Port and the whole entire cast,” The Hills creator Adam DiVello said during a Wednesday appearance on Ryan Seacrest’s KIIS-FM radio show.
“So it will be a big party and big throw down.”
Despite Conrad and Port’s absence from the actual finale, DeVillo promised that viewers will be pleased with the way the show ends.
“We have some stories I think being paid-off in the finale that the viewers will find pretty exciting. I think everybody’s coming to peace with their stories that we’ve been following along. I think a few of them have definitely found happiness and found what they were looking for,” he told Seacrest.
“So it’ll be an exciting ending and we definitely have a couple surprises up our sleeves that the cast doesn’t even know about.”
Conrad left The Hills last spring while Port departed in late 2008 to instead star in its The City spinoff.
Both Port and DeVillo recently denied rumors that the show was being canceled after it’s currently-airing second season, and he told Seacrest the show will most likely be renewed.
“It looks like it’s going to happen, we’re just waiting for the word,” said DeVillo.

In Port Wentworth, near where the revolutionary cotton gin was devised, city and business leaders have slowly begun raising funds for a “Cultural Arts and Recreation Campus,” complete with a museum honoring Whitney and Savannah River plantations.

The first major fundraising effort has been scheduled for Sept. 17 at the Crosswinds Golf Club, according to Trisha Growe, executive director of the Port Wentworth Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center.

“We know this isn’t going to happen overnight,” Growe said of the museum, which would include a visitors center, library, outdoor gardens, walking track and playground. “But if we’re moving forward and making progress, we’ll get there.”

City and chamber officials had previously met with state legislators in hope of securing financial backing for the project, but so far that’s been hard to come by.

In June, city council members voted down a proposal to impose an additional 1 percent tourism tax on hotels and motels, money that would have gone toward the Eli Whitney complex.

Mayor Pro Tem Vincent Hogan, who introduced the measure, cast the lone assenting vote and was dismayed at the lack of mutual urgency.

“It’s frustrating for me,” Hogan said afterward, explaining the tax would have “opened the floodgates” for corporate sponsorships of the project.

The undeveloped land, purchased by the city two years ago, “is sitting there idling,” Hogan added. “It’s about the historical value and putting Port Wentworth on the map nationally. And it’s a pride thing. It’s a no-brainer to me.”

Other council members countered that regardless of the recent vote, the tax would take months to implement, requiring legislation at the state level.

Go for a feminine and flirty fabric that still defines you as sophisticated and chic. Lace is perfect for this kind of look. Try the Whitney Eve black lace number (see photo above) I wore to the meeting with Joe Zee and Anne Slowey.

Comfort is key, you do not want to be sweating through a heavy dress. Try to find something flowy and strapless so that air gets to you. Try the Whitney Eve Diamond Cutout dress!!! The bright color will no doubt make you the life of the party and the silk is so easy and breezy! Literally!

Try separates!!! Wear a glitzy skirt with a simple tank or tee. Or wear a cute blouse or vest with linen slacks, silk shorts or a long breezy skirt as seen in the Whitney Eve pieces listed below. I’ve included them in the gallery in the order they’re listed.

On the red carpet at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday, we asked Port why she finally decided to face off against Palermo in a recent episode.

“That was intense. I mean, I think people saw a side to me that not a lot of people see,” she admitted. “But I can assert myself. I’m capable of it, and i think she deserved it.”

And where does their relationship stand now?

“We don’t really have that much contact,” she said. “I try to just continue to do my thing and not let that negativity really affect me.”

As for her fashion line, Whitney Eve, she says she’s trying not to let the criticism get her down.

“It’s tough, because you work so hard on something and it’s one of those things where it’s so opinion-based that not everybody’s's gonna love it,” she said. “But I’m still really passionate about it, working hard on it, and I hope people will see my point of view and want to wear it at the end of the day.”

“I had no idea you were leaving so soon,” Whitney says.

“I just thought, ‘Why not like rip it off like a Band-Aid and just get it over with?’ ” Roxy says in reply. “I can’t really take the tension here … I’m going to stay with a friend for now.”

Roxy says she thought Whitney would be happy she’s leaving, but Whitney tells her they still have unresolved issues. “I feel like we’re leaving things on such a weird note, so I’m taken a little bit off guard but no hard feelings, I guess,” she says. Whitney then offers to help Roxy with her luggage but she declines the offer.