News From Main Street Skowhegan

Outstanding is all I have to say about our summer here in downtown Skowhegan! In this issue, you'll note our achievement of Outstanding Main Street Of the Year by the Maine Downtown Center, as well as other great happenings in and around downtown. Hope you all enjoyed RiverFest:I know I had fun taking my first trip down the Kennebec in a raft, my first concert at the Opera House with Aztec Two-Step, and first hike along the walking trail to the eddy, all from right here in downtown! And if that wasn't all for my "staycation", I look forward to the Block Party, the Rotary Lobster Bake, the Artist Tour, and the Coburn Park Music Series, so read on!

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.

Plein Air

Type caption text here.

Join us as artists Paint Skowhegan"in the open air"

Painting 9-2
Reception 4:30 p.m.
at Central Maine Artist Gallery
West Front Street
858-0797

Just Outstanding

10th ANNUAL MAINE DOWNTOWN ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS PRESENTED award

Augusta, ME...The Maine Development Foundation's Downtown Center presented the 10th annual
Downtown Achievement Awards in a ceremony held June 4th during the Revitalizing Maine Communities conference in downtown Augusta. Terry Ann Stevens, Development Project Manager with the Department of Economic and Community Development, Co-Chair of the Maine Downtown Center Advisory Council and Chair of the Downtown Achievement Awards Committee spoke before an audience of over 200. "We love this part of our annual conference, where all of us have an opportunity to celebrate excellence in downtown revitalization and share our appreciation for those who have worked so hard to make great things happen in their communities." Eaton Peabody sponsored the awards event, held in the Temple of the historic Masonic Hall on Water Street.

The coveted Main Street Maine Program of the Year award went to Skowhegan whose Board members were honored by a standing ovation. Main Street Skowhegan recently reorganized and strengthened their Board of Directors, committee structure and finances around the core Main Street principals, anchoring themselves firmly to a new vision with new energy and a new professional Executive Director.
A complete list of award winners and photos are found on www.mdf.org.

The Maine Downtown Center serves as the statewide coordinator for the National Main Street Program in Maine.The Center is a proud program of the Maine Development Foundation, a 31 year old private non-profit membership organization, whose mission is to empower leaders, strengthen communities and guide public policy. For more information on the Maine Downtown Center's mission and programs and the National Trust for Historic Preservation's Main Street Program for downtown revitalization, please visit www.mdf.org or contact Roxanne Eflin, Maine Downtown Center Program Director, at 207.626.3117 or reflin@mdf.org.

Bike Night

Saturday, July 17, 2010
Ride 2-4
Onsite events 4-11
Featuring the band Emerald Sky, Food, Bike Apparel & Accessories, Contests, and More!
FMI contact the Chamber of Commerce: 474-3621

Coburn Concerts in the Park

Nearby Coburn Park is the ideal setting for this summer concert series. Grab a lawn chair and wander over for a great Sunday evening of music. All concerts begin at 5 p.m. and are free to the public:

July 18: Borderline Express (Country Rock)
July 25: Barbie and Band
August 1: Skowhegan Brass and Quintessential Winds
August 8: Bob Lovelace
August 15: Old Liberty String Band
August 22: Skowhegan Community Band
August 29: After Six

FMI contact: Bette Austin 474-0527, Darla Pickett 474-2306, or Gene Rouse 474-8269

Wesserunsett Arts Council Open Studio Day

Skowhegan Downtown Businesses, together with the Wesserunsett Arts Council sponsor a tour of area artist studios.

We've admired the work of these participating artists at the Skowhegan Free Public Library, in the Municipal Building, in galleries, and at Plein Air painting events, for years. We hope you'll take this rare opportunity to see not only where they work, but the phenomenal body of work found in their studios.

Sponsored by:
River Roads Artisans Gallery, The Bankery, KelMat Cafe, Skowhegan Fleuriste, Old Mill Pub, Paper Klip, Lakewood Inn, WISH

JULY 24, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

On July 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. the artists will be at home and receiving visitors. Visitors will have an opportunity to see where and how these artists live.....our land, our gardens, our studios, our homes. Many of us live way out in the boondocks. Getting from one place to the next will be a nice drive in the country, a chance to see some of the beautiful Central Maine countryside. One possible itinerary is printed below. Bring along your Maine Gazetteer. Feel free to call us for directions if you get lost, (You might get lost) or if your cell phone doesn't work out there, try asking a neighbor. There will be art for sale. There will be snacks along the way.

This is our first attempt at having a Rural Open Studio day. We will welcome suggestions and comments. This event is sponsored by the Wesserunsett Arts Council. More information about the artists and about our organization is available at our website http://www.wesarts.org/openstudio.html
or on our facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wesserunsett-Arts- Council/112580818787542?ref=ts

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.

Library Notes

New Hours at the Skowhegan Public Library will be Monday through Thursday 10am-6pm and Fridays 10am-2pm.

It has been a very busy summer at the library so far this year. Many children have signed up for the Summer Reading Program and are already reading to earn cool prizes, books or coupons for ice cream at Gifford's. There is still time for children to sign up for the summer reading program.

Wed. July 14th: program on Nutrition at 1pm upstairs in the Children's Area. Downstairs we will have Jessica Hebert on hand to explain a program called KeepMeWell from 1pm-3pm.
Tues July 10th: 10-2 Make Your Own Book craft with Kristine Rinaldi. Signup is required for this activity.
Wed July 21st: Mr. Harley Music Program at 1pm in Coburn Park. Bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the music.
July 28th at 1pm: The Summer Reading final program will be a party at Lake George

Library Auction: On Sept 10th the library will be sponsoring an auction at the Tewksbury Hall on the island to raise money to support the library. The doors open at 5:30pm to preview items. The auction will start at 7pm. Light refreshments will be served. There are many exciting items already donated. We have such things as a garden bench, a time share vacation in Florida, a handmade quilt, an autographed picture and book by Ed Harris, an original unopened copy of the two volume set "Skowhegan on the Kennebec" and a lot more. Some smaller items are on display at the library. If you would like to donate an item please call Melissa at 474-9072. Advanced tickets will be on sale soon.

Skowhegan Public Library, 9 Elm Street

Rotary Lobster Bake