Dear Mr. Kleckner:
 
We are writing to you because of our belief that a successful farmers market will be a great asset to Winchester, enhancing the local sense of community and the local economy as well as creating an opportunity for residents of other towns to discover Winchester. Having a strong community-building role is one of the most important keys to a successful farmers market.
 
A successful farmers market is much more than just a place to buy vegetables. It is a place where the community can gather and connect with each other in a friendly and informal way while they are shopping at the market and participating in different featured activities each week. These activities include watching local performers and craftspeople, learning about local farming and nutrition, enjoying seasonal "festivals" (such as a tomato or pumpkin festival), and participating in children's and family activities-all in a fun, festive atmosphere. A good farmers market is a family and community event that people look forward to and not just another stop on a list of weekly chores.
 
The location of a farmers market is especially important in creating this kind of community-building atmosphere. A market that is held in a parking lot is likely to be focused primarily on shopping, and the additional activities may not be possible and would not likely be as successful or enjoyable. The town common and Laraway Road are ideally situated for people to linger and enjoy the sense of community fostered by the market. The farmers market is a perfect use of the common in the most traditional sense of the purpose of a town common as a gathering place for the community.
 
As a dynamic community activity, a farmers market has an essential responsibility to be a good neighbor to local businesses. We feel strongly that the farmers market will be positive for the entire downtown area. The market will draw people into the downtown area, and they will often linger and shop at local businesses and then often return to local businesses on other days as well. We will not be selling any prepared meals at the market, so people will turn to the downtown merchants to get lunch foods to enjoy on the common as they watch and participate in the additional activities.
 
As the committee that is organizing and will run the farmers market, we are committed to working with local merchants in any way possible to make the farmers market an asset for them as well for the community as a whole. We are willing to undertake activities to promote the local merchants and to drive the farmers market customers to their businesses, such as distributing coupons or flyers at the market and in our e-mail newsletters. We will promote parking areas such as the Waterfield lot or Shore Road lot, so that the farmers market customers will not park in the spaces that are closest to the merchants, and we will actively encourage farmers market customers to walk or bike to the market whenever possible. The first half of the farmers market season in the Laraway Road location could be a trial period. We will happily work with the merchants to establish open, productive communications throughout the market season to address any concerns they have and undertake the most effective activities to promote the merchants to the farmers market customers.
 
We hope you will support the location of the farmers market at Laraway Road and the town common. We believe this location will be especially important to the success of the farmers market, and a successful farmers market will be an asset to the entire Winchester community.
 
Sincerely,
 
Winchester Farmers Market Organizing Committee