Annual CDDA Event Planning Underway
The Colebrook Downtown Development Association announces that the planning is now underway for the annual Harvest Fair and Late Night Madness events. Volunteers are needed for both teams, which will be meeting at least once per month to plan and prepare for the events. Each all-volunteer team works independently, and sets its own meeting schedule and plans.
The 6th annual Harvest Fair is scheduled for Saturday, October 11. This year, the CDDA is already working to broaden the scale of the event, adding a larger farmers’ market, more entertainment and exhibits, activities for children, a “Scarecrows on the Streets” workshop and display contest, the “Harvest the Savings” shopping promotion, and even broader-reaching advertising. The “Chili Challenge” helps make the event a fundraiser for the CDDA, and typically brings in nearly 50 vendors and over 500 shoppers. Volunteers are needed now to help plan the many details.
The next Harvest Fair team meetings will be on Thursday, July 10, at 8:00 am at the CDDA’s office (
The CDDA’s Promotions committee will launch its holiday preparation with a “Christmas in July” planning party, on Thursday, July 24, at 7:00 pm, at the
Both events are also in need of local businesses or individuals who will pledge to sponsor different activities or contribute to the overall event production. Levels and benefits vary. For more information, to volunteer, or pledge to sponsor an activity, contact the CDDA office at 237-5011, or e-mail at cddamainstreet@ncia.net.
Colebrook Downtown Development Association
Receives
For the seventh consecutive year, The Colebrook Downtown Development Associationhas been accredited as a 2008 National Main Street Program by the National Trust Main Street Center®. The CDDA joins over 675 other Main Street™ revitalization programs being honored nationwide by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
“We congratulate this year’s accredited National Main Street Programs for meeting our established commercial district revitalization performance standards,” says
The
The standards set the benchmarks for measuring an individual program’s implementation of the Main Street Four-Point Approach™. Evaluation criteria determines the communities that are building comprehensive and sustainable revitalization efforts and include standards such as developing a mission, fostering strong public-private partnerships, securing an operating budget, tracking economic progress, and preserving historic buildings. For more information on the National Main Street Program accreditation, visit www.mainstreet.org/nationalprograms.
The CDDA’s Executive Director,
Since 1980, the National Trust Main Street Center has helped hundreds of downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts across the nation reclaim the unique quality of life that only a thriving community center can provide. The Main Street Four-Point Approach to commercial district revitalization combines historic preservation and economic development, forging a nationwide movement for the revival of
The National Trust for Historic Preservation provides leadership, education, advocacy and resources to a national network of people, organizations and local communities committed to saving places, connecting us to our history and collectively shaping the future of
The Colebrook Downtown Development Association invites community help with completing three special projects. All are designed to help residents, merchants, and visitors get more familiar with all that Colebrook has to offer, and to promote Colebrook’s year-round activity and appeal. The role of the CDDA’s Promotions Committee is “to promote Colebrook as a central destination for commerce, culture, and community life.” The
A new “Discover Colebrook” brochure is being created to entice prospective visitors to experience Colebrook – at any time of year. This will include promoting the established, annual community events; the unique history; and Colebrook as “the Heart of the Great North Woods.”
On the web, the business directory is being completed, along with a new community calendar and more links to local attractions and partners. All Colebrook businesses, enterprises, and organizations will be listed; with
Third, a printed booklet will include the complete business and enterprise directory, with descriptions, websites, locations, and other special features (such as weekend hours or bi-lingual service); a new local map; and other handy resource information for residents, businesses, and motel guests. It will also be part of a recruiting kit for businesses and professionals considering relocating to Colebrook. This directory is not intended to compete with the Kiwanis “Moosely Information” book or the guide printed by the North Country Chamber of Commerce. The
Local photographers are invited to submit photos to help show Colebrook’s year-round appeal; such as downtown scenes and activity, wildlife and nature, or seasonal recreation activities. Photos are due to by April 30; in print or as jpg; at
New volunteers are welcome. The team meets next on April 17, at 9:00 am at Howard’s Restaurant, and on May 1, at 8:00 am, at
There are several areas downtown needing clean-up. If your group would like to participate, please contact our office to “adopt” one of them. The raking, sweeping, and pick-up can be done anytime during the Clean-Up which is most convenient for your group. We’re also glad to document community service hours for you.
On Saturday, May 3, we’ll begin at 8:00 am at the Williams Building, to round up & count the bagged litter and recyclables, and scoop up any piles of dirt that we can. We plan to end at noon, and celebrate the final results of our joint efforts with a “Thanks and Franks” light lunch.
We’re also working with the Town to try to coordinate the street sweeping schedule, and to have the recycling center open during the Clean-Up. For “Adopt-A-Highway” work, groups can sign in & out at the Williams Building, and pick up safety vests, signs, and bags there.
We’re committed to taking steps and sharing ways to “Keep Colebrook Green.” Being part of “Clean Up Colebrook” is a great way for you and your group to also show your dedication to having a healthy and attractive community.
If you have ideas or suggestions, please contact the CDDA office at 237-5011. Without volunteers for this effort, Colebrook will look very dusty and neglected!
We appreciate all the work you do year-round to improve our community, and look forward to continuing our partnership with you.
FUND RAISING
Greetings from downtown Colebrook to our CDDA Friends & volunteers!
The Board of Directors has begun their spring fundraising campaign. Watch for their letter to the editors, and a bright green “WOW!” pamphlet cheering all of the terrific reinvestment activity that’s been going on downtown. Did you know that nearly $9 Million was invested in property sales, improvements, public improvements, and promotions just in the downtown area last year?!?!?!?!
Congratulations to the CDDA – Yesterday we received word that we’ve been approved for an $84,000 grant from the Neil & Louise Tillotson fund. It’s exciting news for the
All committees have been hard at work finishing their action plans for this year – and they’d all welcome new volunteers to help out. Please feel free to bring a friend or two to any committee meeting (and to forward this e-mail.) We’ve got an exciting year ahead, and the more the merrier!
The Board’s membership campaign is also helping the Promotions committee… a new Colebrook Business & Community Directory is underway. We’re working to get a complete list of ALL businesses and enterprises in Colebrook. The directory is being updated regularly on our website first – check it out, bookmark it, and let us know if there’s a business missing!
www.colebrookmainstreet.org will become THE place to go for all your downtown information. It’s a work in progress, so check it often and send in your ideas, pictures, or comments. Thanks to Roxanne Herres of Sunny Valley Creations for being our webmaster.
Think Spring!!!
NEW HAMPSHIRE MAGAZINE would like to continue its eight-year relationship with Main Street/Downtown Revitalization Programs by getting contributions to its "The Very Best of New Hampshire" edition. Each July, NH Magazine has a VERY Best of NH issue that features hundreds of items/places/people that have been voted and selected as the best in the state. Magazine readers can submit their entries via NH Magazine’s online website poll or through the printed poll in this month’s magazine by April 6 -www.bestofnh.com. The categories are very broad (Food and Drink, Arts and Entertainment, People, Sports and Recreation, Miscellaneous). Find out more>>
There is also an “Editors Pick” section of the magazine that features items that are more creative and interesting, and do not necessarily fit into the poll categories. This is the section that for the last eight years many of you have submitted entrees that have been published in the magazine. Several of these “winners” have used this notoriety to increase their visibility and increase sales and branding opportunities. (I included several examples of past editors picks at the bottom of this email as examples)
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your “Editors Picks” to me by Friday, April 11. The following is what to include:
Submissions of anything you believe to be THE best - products, places, dishes, people, sights, songs, trends, ideas, books, CDs, treats, and events that you think really stand out from the pack. The editor would like different submissions than what has been published over the last couple of years. Typically the more eclectic/creative the submission is the more likely it will be published. When submitting your entries to me, please include all of the following information (the who, what, when, where and how):
1. Submit the title of the category (be creative and create your own)
2. Name of the selection
3. Location
4. Phone number of establishment
5. Short description of why it is THE best
6. Who exactly is submitting the entry and their affiliation with your Main Street Program (i.e. Jane Doe, volunteer of ___ Main Street Program).
Submissions without all of these details will not be used in the magazine. Submit all entries to me via email mtalwani@nhcdfa.org byFriday, April 11, 2008.
This is a unique opportunity to toot your horns about the VERY Best things in your community. Be creative and have fun with it! Pass this on to any members on your Board or volunteers who you think will come up with some good ideas.
Winners from the online poll and sometimes even some Editors picks are invited to set up a booth at the 7th Annual “Very Best of NH” event celebration, which will be on Thursday, June 26 from 5:30 – 8:30 at the Verizon Wireless Arena in
Some samples of past Editors Picks winners are (I included a couple of descriptions so you know how to submit yours):
Basement Sandwich Shop Beidermans Deli,
CLASSIC MAIN STREET GRILLE: AYLMER’S GRILLE,
Pretzels and European Baked Goods: German John\'s on Main Street in Hillsborough (428-5079) is making a name for itself with its old-style, authentic European treats, but the signature “thick and thin” German John pretzels are worth a trip from anywhere to buy fresh and hot.
Drive - in
Hidden Gem(s): Gemstar Gemstone in