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E-Update from Souderton & Telford
Newsletter Subtitle
May 29, 2009 |
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Dear Reader,
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How do I know when it is time to send out another email newsletter? When my folder for story ideas is overflowing!
Pull out your calendar and take note of the family events that you do not want to miss this summer.
Catch up on the rally at the capital held this past week. The news out of Harrisburg seems to be changing a couple of times a day.
Take up a Berry special challenge and win a cool prize.
Once again, this newsletter has landed in your inbox full of news you can use.
Pam Coleman
Main Streets Manager
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Marketplace Wins a Townie!
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Locally, we are very proud of the Marketplace at Telford Station. It is home to the Indian Valley Farmers Market and the annual Field to Table Food Festival. Sitting outside at Assou's Grill has become a popular outdoor activity in Telford. Walking to Treats by the Tracks for an ice cream is the fastest growing physical exercise in town.
So it puts us over the top to be recognized by our peers at the state level for such a great project. That happened this past month at the state Main Street conference in Johnstown. Souderton Telford Main Streets and Telford Borough were awarded an award called a Townie for the category of anchor building/major project.
Telford Borough manager, Mark Fournier, traveled out to Johnstown to join office manager,  Erika Pipe, and Main Streets manager, Pam Coleman, at the ceremony. Main Street Coordinator for PA DCED, Brian Jeremiah, and PA Downtown Center's executive director, Bill Fontana, pose for a photo with local representatives after the award ceremony.
Just to keep things in perspective, Bill Fontana pointed out that all of Pennsylvania Downtown Center's 270 member
organizations are eligible to win, making the Townies a competitive award
process each year.
This is the second Townie Award that Souderton-Telford Main Streets has won in three years, but who's counting?
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They Can Hear Us!
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 We had over 80 Main Street and Elm Street managers and volunteers at the rotunda this past week to show our support for our programs. After about 30 minutes of speeches, everyone spread out to collar their respective legislators. Your Main Street manager stopped in to both Senator McIlhinney's and Rep. Godshall's offices to drop off three resolutions and nearly 500 signatures supporting the petition! Thank you to the Borough Councils in Souderton and Telford and to the STMS Board of Directors for the supporting resolutions. The staff in both offices reported that they have been receiving letters of support from you, our loyal supporters. In fact, I have had other legislators on our hit list and their staff comment on the mail they have been receiving from Souderton and Telford in support. Good work! If you have not sent in a letter of support, you can do so from our front web page. Don't let up on the pressure until the budget is passed! Things seem to change hourly in Harrisburg. |
SBA has a New Program
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Don Jefferson from our local SBA office in King of Prussia sent us information on a new program from our federal government. We posted the full press release on the STMS website.
Please feel free to call Don if you have any questions. His number is at the bottom of the article. |
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Strawberries, blueberries, gooseberries, raspberries, blackberries and black  raspberries. You can use them all to find Berried Treasures.
Start a tradition and make your best pies, preserves, cakes or salsas featuring berries. Learn how you can win fabulous prizes at the Field to the Table Food Festival with your best.
Download the information sheet and register beforehand to assure your spot in the Berried Treasure Contest! Space is limited so preregistration is recommended, bu you can take a chance and bring everything you need on the day of the festival.
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Market Opens in One Week!
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 The Indian Valley Farmers' Market will open on Saturday, July 4 at 8:30 am for the 2009 season.
You can expect the best selection of vendors we have ever featured!
From locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables to wine and locally
roasted coffee, you can start your weekend grocery shopping at the Marketplace at Telford Station.
Each week, the volunteers of the Promotions Committee will have an little something extra to make your trip to the Market memorable. Watch the website for details.
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A Second Award for Telford
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The Borough of Telford was recognized for the community partnership that made the Marketplace at Telford Station possible. An award ceremony was held at Aldie Mansion where the Heritage Conservancy awarded this honor.
We kept the news low key so we would not take over the event-I know how our volunteers love to celebrate! As it was, we had 15 people attend. Our friends at Heritage Conservancy did not mind as we took over a couple of tables and held our own party...
Here is everyone we could round up for a photo after the ceremony.
Erika Pipe from our office submitted an application for the SAVE program at Souderton High School. Her older daughter went through the program several years ago and Erika knew the value to the kids. Heritage Conservancy was proud to honor SAVE with a Youth Action Award since one of their key people got her start in preservation of natural resources through that program.
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Attention Tourist-Oriented Businesses!
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We have an opportunity to join forces to promote tourism in Souderton and Telford.
The Valley Forge Convention and Visitor Bureau has an opportunity for businesses within the borough that are visitor-ready and visitor-attractive to join the CVB at a reduced amount-$50- to participate in a multi-layer program. Catch the cool video on their special site for downtowns.
The Visitor Guide will be going into production in early July, so we need to get anyone interested in participating signed up as soon as possible. You don't want to miss having your business listed in this publication. They print and distribute 400,000 to people who want to visit Montgomery County.
This article has more details and the forms that you need to complete.
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Main Street Java Rocks
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Tonight, Seth Aaron will be performing from 7-9pm. This local singer/songwriter has been developing a refreshing style
over the last 14 years.
With influences like Jason Mraz, The Goo Goo
Dolls & Bill Withers, Seth delivers a sound all his own blending
acoustic soul and pop alternative.
Come to Main Street Java this Saturday (June
27th) to take advantage of this FABULOUS special: BUY
ANY 3 SALADS OR SANDWICHES, GET THE 4TH FREE!
When you bring in a copy of this ad.
Also from 11am-4pm they will be hosting a group of ladies who are raising funds
for the Susan
G. Komen 3-Day Walk for a Cure to raise money for breast cancer
research. Be sure to check out their table when you stop by.
Donations will be accepted...and I think I heard mention of FREE cookies! :)
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Escape to the Tropics at the Library
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Lucinda Fleeson, formerly a reporter for the Philadelphia
Inquirer, will be introducing her new book at the Indian Valley Public Library
on Tuesday, June 30, 7:30 pm.
 Waking
Up in Eden: In Pursuit of an Impassioned Life on an Imperiled Island, is the
story of Fleeson's work with the National Tropical Botanical Gardens, a
semi-private garden on Kauai. The
former director of Philadelphia's Morris Arboretum had become director of the
Kauai garden, and he asked Fleeson to join him to do fundraising and
development. There, she found that
native plants were dying and invasive species were threatening the island.
Waking Up in
Eden is being published this month by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill. Ms. Fleeson will talk about her book and
answer questions. Books will be sold by
Harleysville Books LLC, softcover $13.95.
Additional
information, please contact Linda Beck, Director, at the library, 215-723-9109. |
Commit to seeing "Fully Committed"
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This devastatingly funny play follows a day in the life of Sam,
an out-of-work actor who mans the red hot reservation line
at Manhattan's number one restaurant. Coercion, threats,
bribes, histrionics-a cast of desperate callers will stop at
nothing in their zeal to land a prime reservation.
Amid the
barrage, Sam's got his own needs to contend with-his
recently widowed dad wants him home for Christmas, and
he's up for a choice part at Lincoln Center! While juggling
scheming socialites, name-dropping wannabes, fickle
celebrities and egomaniacal bosses, can he manage to look out
for himself?
A brilliant acting tour de force, Fully Committed
has forty wildly diverse characters played by a single versatile
performer. Winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award and
was listed in Time Magazine's Top 10 Plays of 2000.
Get your tickets before they are gone at the Montgomery Theater's website!
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Concert Sundaes Continue with Show Tunes
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Don't forget that this week's concert in the park will feature Tom Baust & Friends.
Keep track of the schedule at their website. This is one of those wonderful activities that contribute to the wonderful quality of life that we enjoy in Northern Montgomery County.
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Good News Just Rolls In!
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This news flash just came in from Preservation PA.
If this legislation passes the state Senate, the national historic district in Souderton will be a real benefit to residential property owners! Currently, only the commercial property owners benefit with a federal tax credit. This would add a state tax credit!
HB 42 Passes in the House!
On Wednesday, June 24, the Historic Preservation Incentive Program was passed
by the House of Representatives by a 193-2 vote.
This legislation will provide:
· Grants of up to $15,000 for rehabilitation of historic
residential buildings;
· State tax credits of up to $500,000 for rehabilitation
of historic commercial properties; and
· Priority funding to properties located in Main Street
and Elm Street areas, Enterprise Zones and Historic Districts.
The bill now heads to the Senate. Preliminary meetings have occurred with
a few Senators to lay the groundwork for this legislation to move through the
Senate as smoothly as possible.
If you have the opportunity to speak to any Senators, please express your
interest in the bill. When the time is right for a major grassroots
effort, we will let you know what you need to do.
When I get word on their grassroots effort, I will alert you. We know what we can do when we join forces and act! -PJC
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See what I mean about a full story folder?
Our partners understand that the readers of our email newsletters care about what is happening in Souderton and Telford and they act by attending events, supporting community efforts and sharing good news. Thank you.
I apologize for any typos. Erika is off today. She normally double checks my work.
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Pam Coleman
Souderton-Telford Main Streets
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