Main Street Skowhegan
...It's On The Move
April 2010 |
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Town of Skowhegan
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| Greetings! |  Here comes summer, ready or not! We've planted some beautiful seeds, and they are flowering quite literally, all over downtown. From the Farmer's Market, rooted in Downtown, to the light pole banners, public plantings, and facade improvements that our volunteers have invested in, to the donations of "green" that keep us growing, we're cultivating a downtown to make us all proud. And at the speed of a Maine summer, no less! Read on for the latest...
Please help MSS continue to increase awareness about downtown revitalization by forwarding this e-newsletter to others in our community who do not already receive it.
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State Conference
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 REGISTER NOW FOR REVITALIZING MAINE COMMUNITIES CONFERENCE June 3-4, 2010 - Historic downtown Augusta To learn more and to register go to www.mdf.org or contact Conference Coordinator Roxanne Eflin, Program Director, Maine Downtown Center, at 626-3117 |
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Community Enterprise Grant (Facade Grant) important dates and details
|  The Town of Skowhegan was recently awarded a grant for downtown building improvements, and important dates and deadlines for this project are listed below. FMI contact Jeff Hewett, Economic Development Director, at skowecon@skowhegan.org or 474-6905 - May 28, 2010
Application Deadline: Applications/preapplications
must be submitted
- June 25, 2010 Work
Estimates Deadline: Applications must be
completed, with estimates and all property taxes must be paid.
- June 30, 2010
Scoring: Citizen Review board
will score applications.
- July 1, 2010 Award Notification : Applicants will
receive notice of projects that have been awarded funding
- July 9, 2010 Maine
Historic Preservation Deadline: Project descriptions must be submitted to the state and a
copy to the Economic and Community Development office
- December 31, 2010
Completion Deadline: Round One projects have to be finished
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Committee Schedules... | | Organization Committee: meets 2nd and 4th Fridays of the month, 7-9am at the MSS office.
Promotions Committee: meets 1st Monday of the month, 5:30-7:00pm at the MSS office.
Economic Restructuring Committee: meets the 2nd Thursday of the month, noon-2pm, at the MSS office.
Design Committee: meets the 1st Thursday of the month, 5-7pm at the MSS office.
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River Fest is Here
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Skowhegan River
Fest '10 &
Upper Kennebec
Valley Outdoor Expo
June 25-27, 2010 http://www.skowsavings.com/riverfest/
Celebrating
the Kennebec.....
Bringing people
together to enjoy a weekend of outdoor activities, showcase whitewater paddle
sport and raise awareness about the Run of River project
Schedule
of Events
Friday, June 25th
- Outdoor Expo Open 1:00 - 9:00 @
Municipal Parking Lot
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3:00-9:00pm
Watering Hole @ Municipal Parking Lot Come & Enjoy live entertainment, beverages,
food & fun! ID required, must be 21 & over.
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Live at the Opera house! Aztec Two Step!
Saturday,
June 26th
Expo
open 9:00 -6:00 @ Municipal parking lot
9:00-2:00pm Rolling on the River Raft Rides @ Mill
Street, Canoe Portage
Moxie
Outdoor Adventures will be offering free peaceful & educational river raft rides
down the river for ages 5 to Senior Citizens down the gorge. All safety gear will be provided. Youths must be occupied by an adult.
9:00-1:00 Fun Family Events: Activities Include:
Municipal
Parking Lot: Rock Climbing Wall, Face Painting, River Rock
Painting, Entertainment, Watermelon Eating Contest, Farmer's Market, Poster
Contest Display & Results, Raffles, Food, Fun and Much More!
Hight
Trout Pond: Fly Tying, Casting & Youth Fishing
Tournament
Municipal
Parking Lot next to the Federated Church: Big Indian ATV Safety Course
*KVCAP Bus Transportation Provided 9-3:00
Live - under the tent! Rustic
Overtones
8:30pm "Glow Stick" River Run @ Rt. 2 Boat Landing
Be Creative! Light up your canoe/kayak while we
ride on the river. Life vests &
flashlight required. $5.00 registration
fee includes glow stick. Additional
glow sticks available for purchase.
Sunday,
June 27th
Expo open:
9:00 - 1:00
8:00am 5K
Road Race @ at Coburn Park
Enjoy scenic views of Skowhegan as our route takes
you through Coburn Park and across Skowhegan's walking bridge!
9:00-2:00pm Rolling on the River Raft Rides @ Mill
Street, Canoe Portage
Moxie Outdoor Adventures will be offering free
peaceful & educational river raft rides down the river for ages 5 to Senior
Citizens down the gorge. All safety
gear will be provided. Youths must be
occupied by an adult.
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Memorial Day
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Skowhegan Gears Up For Memorial Day
Ceremony and Parade
Again this
year on Memorial Day, May 31st at 10:00 am, Skowhegan will be having
it's annual Memorial Day Parade. This
annual event draws out many community members to honor our local veterans, and
many look forward to it every year. Thanks to a collaborative effort between American Legion Post # 16 out
of Skowhegan, the Skowhegan VFW, the Federated Church and the Skowhegan Area
Chamber of Commerce, the organizers are proud to be bringing back the event
again this year.
This year's
focus, as always, will be on the veterans and supporting our troops of the past
and present. The grand marshal for the
parade this year is Alfred Carpenter a long-time supporter of the area. Alfred has touched many people with his
generosity of time and the consistent effort of putting area events together,
whether that is through the Skowhegan- Madison Elk's Club or through various
other activities. It goes without
saying that Alfred is very supportive of the veterans in the area, but more
than that he is gracious to those around him and so many have been touched by
his efforts that on a day that honors those that have given back to the
community through actions and deeds, Alfred is a logical choice.
There are
still spaces in the parade open if you are interested in participating. To do so contact Cory King at the Skowhegan
Area Chamber of Commerce office at 474-3621, or show up the morning of. Set-up for the parade will begin that
morning, May 31st on Dyer Street with line up beginning at 9:30 and
parade participants expected to arrive there between 9:00 and 9:30. Most anything is acceptable in the parade as
there area a few bands, local organizations and unique vehicles. Do
remember though this is a veteran-focused
event so some float ideas may be rejected if they are viewed to be in conflict
with the goals of the event. Lastly,
any politician in office or running for office is welcome to walk in the parade
however to keep with the goals of the day no political signage will be allowed
in the parade, including but not limited to signs, t-shirts, pins and/or
banners.
The parade
will start promptly at 10:00am and proceed south on Madison Avenue towards
downtown, take a left onto Water Street and finish at the Veteran's Memorial
Park beside the Skowhegan Municipal Building. Following the completion of the parade Rev. Mark Tanner of the Federated
Church will commence a 15-20 minute ceremony for remembering the day with
selected readings, a few patriotic songs and traditional ceremonial Memorial
Day activities as well.
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A Warm Welcome to River Roads Artisans Gallery
| "River Roads Artisans Gallery" is re-locating from North Avenue, Skowhegan, to a
beautifully remodeled DOWNTOWN storefront!
They will open on Saturday, May
29, followed by a "GRAND OPENING" on Saturday, June 5. Featuring work from
LOCAL Maine artists including . . . Fabric Art, Jewelry, Paintings, Pen &
Ink Illustrations, Pottery, Stone Art, Wood Products, and more!
Please
come and join in the celebration with food, beverages, and fabulous
ART!
75 Water Street 10:00-4:00  |
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Update from the Farmers' Market | CONTACT: Sarah Smith, Market Manager 474-6864
The Skowhegan Farmers' Market announces an innovative partnership with
Redington Fairview General Hospital, The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
Foundation, and The Wholesome Wave Foundation to create better access to fresh,
unprocessed foods in rural Somerset County. Support from this coalition will fund
a "Double Dollars" public assistance matching program. Through the Double Dollars program, people
who previously could not afford to purchase fresh foods can now redeem W.I.C. benefit
vouchers for double their value, allowing them to buy more, better food
locally.
Skowhegan
was one of the first farmers' markets in Maine to purchase electronic benefit
transfer (E.B.T.) technology and to require that all market vendors accept
E.B.T. and W.I.C. benefit vouchers. Aligned with a Federal Department of
Agriculture initiative to increase voucher redemption at farmers' markets,
Skowhegan is watching E.B.T. payment sales continue to grow.
"Fresher,
local food means healthier kids - so Harvard Pilgrim is pleased to support the
Skowhegan Farmer's Market's efforts to make sure all families can purchase the
best of Maine's seasonal fruits and vegetables," said Karen Voci, Executive
Director of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation.
In
addition, Skowhegan Farmers' Market will become the first community in Maine to
offer a pilot "Veggie Prescription Program" with support from Wholesome Wave,
Skowhegan Family Medicine, and area physicians. Local doctors can now offer their
patients "Veggie Prescription" vouchers worth $5, redeemable at the market.
Groundwork
for these new programs has been accomplished by the grassroots organizing
efforts of the 20-member farmer's market, along with community volunteers. The
market was founded in 1997 by a single organic farmer guided by the principle
that "Good food is a right, not a privilege." Skowhegan is the county seat of
Somerset County, historically one of the poorest counties in Maine. In a
community of 8,000, where over half the population earns an income in the
low-moderate range, there is limited access to affordable, fresh, healthy food.
Skowhegan
Farmers' Market members have created a series of year-round programs to offer a
welcoming atmosphere of free family fun for community members unfamiliar with
shopping outside of a traditional grocery store. With weekly entertainment, a
designated children's booth with art materials and books, and an active
outreach program to area schools, the farmers are committed to making their
market a customer- friendly, educational environment. Other projects at the
market include "Taste of The Market" with area chefs demonstrating how to cook
with whole foods.
A new
Children's Garden on site will be used to teach gardening skills to kids. As market manager Sarah Smith of Grassland
Farm shared: "In order to change our food system, one in three people need
to be growing food. Not one in a thousand. If people are concerned with where
their food comes from, they should not only support their local farmers but
they should also learn to grow their own food."
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Key Bank forges new partership
| Main Street Skowhegan
Board of Directors was recently honored with a visit from representatives of
KeyBank to receive financial support for their efforts to improve the Downtown.
Julie Buffington, Area Retail Leader, and Belinda Harfoush, Branch Manager of
KeyBank, visited Main Street Skowhegan to deliver the award. In an effort to
bridge the gap between the business community and access to capital, more
lenders are seeing the wisdom of investing in these small, volunteer-based
groups that produce special events, organize marketing efforts, provide sound
fiscal management, and leverage funding for small business development.
"We are very fortunate that KeyBank
can support the efforts of Main Street, especially in these tough economic
times," says Rosie Bradley, President of Main Street Skowhegan's Board of
Directors, "This demonstrates the confidence that large businesses and
financial institutions have in the strength of our program; these donations
make it possible for MSS to continue serving Skowhegan and continuing the
healthy collaborations that our organization creates. We're very grateful to
KeyBank for this gift."
Main Street Skowhegan was
established in 2005 through the Maine Development Foundation. There are
currently 9 communities throughout the state that have implemented the Main
Street Four Point Approach to downtown revitalization, which is part of the
National Trust for Historic Preservation. For more information about this
program, contact the Maine Development Foundation, www.mdf.org,
or access the local program at www.mainstreetskowhegan.org
L to R: Steve Govoni, Jen Olsen,
Belinda Harfoush, Becky Richardson, Rosie Bradley, Laurie Denis, Amber Lambke,
Bill Primmerman, and Julie Buffington
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I Am Main Street... | |
As a spin off to the successful "I Am Main Street" poster campaign created several years ago; MSS will be highlighting in the e-newsletter individuals, businesses, and organizations who are the many faces of MSS.
MSS would like to congratulate and recognize several of our "I Am Main Street" volunteers and partners this month for continually making a difference in our downtown and our community.We are pleased to welcome the following two new members of our team:
New Board member Bill Primmerman, from Somerset Heart Health
New Promotions Chair: Lyn Govoni, a building owner in Downtown
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Topics in the Next E-newsletter...
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- National and State Preservation and Downtown Conference recap
- Block Party details, August 28
- Bike Night information
- Quarterly Municipal Visit
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Sincerely, Jennifer Olsen, Executive Director and Main Street Board of Directors
Main Street Skowhegan email: info@mainstreetskowhegan.org phone: 207 612-2571 Main Street Matters |
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