Four weeks are left to the Farmers' Market season. Make sure you stop between 8:30 am and 12:30 pm for the freshest local produce, a wide variety of baked goodies and even hand-made soaps and toiletries.

The market has grown in exciting and unexpected directions this past year as new vendors found the Market.

If you stopped at the Market in July, you will find a different market with new vendors and seasonal produce. Make it a part of your Saturday mornings!

Last September, Souderton-Telford Main Streets threw open the doors of the new headquarters at 18 Green Street for an Open House. What a hit! Mix in people passionate about their community, great food and exciting new projects underway in both towns. The result is a busy evening of networking, eating and socializing.

Mark your calendar for the October 4th Open House Stop in anytime between 4 pm and 7 pm to see what surprises our new office manager, Deborah Callahan and the Promotions Committee have cooked up. They have harnessed the generosity of 2Fratelli's Pizza & Family Restaurant who will be donating fabulous food for this event.

Over 30 people showed up to talk about their personal visions for the two boroughs, Souderton and Telford. The input was exciting. There are so many good people who believe in the possibilities in our towns. Better yet, they are willing to work to make a difference.

One point that really stood out was how many assets we have. From live theater and a potential new owner for the Broad Theater, bike trails that allow people to ride into town, churches and other community institutions that provide a steady calendar of fun, family-friendly activities to a business community that has been willing to reach into their pockets to help provide the amenities that make this community special. We need to remember the blessings we already have.

Work has begun internally to take the ideas and suggestions and form them into a vision statement that will encompass the myriad of ideas that were presented.

Come back to SAAC on Thursday, October 18 at 7 pm to see the draft of the vision statement. We will be discussing the specific wording that will guide the work of the Souderton-Telford Main Streets program over the next five years. This is your chance to offer feedback before the vision statement is finalized.

Once we have a set vision statement, a strategic plan and a five-year work plan will be developed to make that vision statement a reality. Then the committees will develop their workplans for 2008. The Board will complete a budget that will enable the annual workplans. Funding sources will be identified and pursued to supplement the operating budget.

The work of the Main Streets program is not done haphazardly. A full step-by-step process is required to keep our focus on measurable, professional results. Come make sure we are going in the right direction.

Anyone who would like to attend the Fundraising Workshop on Thursday, September 27 is welcome. Geoff Brace of the Pennsylvania Downtown Center will be conducting the workshop to better prepare for the ongoing fundraising necessary to maintain the Main Streets program. The workshop is at 7:30 pm at the STMS office at 18 Green Street, Souderton. RSVP to Deb.

We may be partial to the boroughs but we are fortunate to be located in a larger community that is worth celebrating. The Indian Valley Chamber of Commerce will spend a full week celebrating the Indian Valley Region with a full calendar.

Don't miss anything and bring your friends, family and colleagues to see why we are so fortunate to live and work in such a wonderful area. See you at the Business Expo on Thursday, October 11 at the Indian Valley Country Club.

Saturday, December 1 will be here before you know it. If you did not receive a letter inviting you to the 49th Annual Souderton Holiday Parade, go to our website and register. We want to see the parade full of cool vehicles, floats, music and more. The goal of the Promotion Committee is to make this parade last longer than two hours. Excitement is building already. A local gentleman will be strutting his stuff as a real Mummer! Let's see what other excitement we can find for this year's parade!

Tilly Mint's Tea Room at 20 West Chestnut Street is now open for business. The hours are 10:30 am to 4 pm, Wednesday through Saturday. Reservations are appreciated at 215-723-2620. Trish Stubbs has done a wonderful job of creating an oasis of peace in our downtown.

The Business Roundtable will be meeting there on Tuesday, October 9 for their monthly meeting. Because she will be opening just for our group, it will be important to RSVP and let us know if you want a full tea, a light tea or a lunch special. Gentlemen are forbidden to wimp out of supporting a new business.

Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 2 at noon for the official ribbon cutting for Tilly Mint's Tea Room!