Young Walhallan emerges as community leader

A new member of the Walhalla Planning Commission is a familiar sight at city meetings and at other get togethers that address community issues. She’s Sarai Melendez, fluent in both English and Spanish and someone with an understanding of the problems Latinos face in melding into a pre-dominantly English speaking community. We sat down with Melendez to learn more about the young woman who is being touted by some as a potential candidate for elected office in Walhalla. We learned that the woman who is considered a spokeswoman for local Latinos has a wide interest in community affairs affecting not only Latinos but English-speaking residents, as well. For instance, she’s a promoter of the new Healthy Oconee Coalition and a voice for children as a volunteer in the county Guardian ad Litem program. She’s active in the effort to bring bus passenger service to Walhalla and the surrounding areas, and she’s part of a new group that is meeting to try to re-develop a public park in the vicinity of the city swimming pool. Melendez will be the guest on this Sunday’s noon hour “Community Sound Off.”