12.06.2014 Views

Happenings March 09 - Downtown Blackstone Inc.

Happenings March 09 - Downtown Blackstone Inc.

Happenings March 09 - Downtown Blackstone Inc.

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

Page E<br />

[tÑÑxÇ|Çzá<br />

`xxà|Çzá? fxÅ|ÇtÜá? jxu|ÇtÜá? 9 VÉÇyxÜxÇvxá<br />

Director shares Progress at Retreat in Luray<br />

On January 28th and 29th, Executive Director Lafayette Dickens attended<br />

a Virginia Main Street Managers Retreat in Luray. All Main<br />

Street Directors were required to attend<br />

but we wouldn’t feel too sorry<br />

for them. They stayed at the historic<br />

Mimslyn Inn. And, according to<br />

Lafayette, “The experience was made<br />

all the more magical by the snowy<br />

winter wonderland setting.”<br />

The retreat spanned two days during<br />

which Main Street managers from all<br />

over the state got a chance to share their successes and best practices as<br />

well as challenges. The sessions covered included work planning and<br />

why that is important, roles and responsibilities of managers, and effective<br />

committee management.<br />

Lafayette reports that he returned from<br />

the retreat invigorated and eager to implement<br />

some of the ideas for benefit of<br />

<strong>Blackstone</strong>. He wasn’t just talk. One of<br />

the ideas recently embraced is participation<br />

in a blog that should help <strong>Blackstone</strong><br />

businesses and residents gain<br />

some new perspective and be a valuable<br />

source of fresh,<br />

new ideas. For<br />

more information on the blog, see the inset.<br />

Visit the Virginia Main Street blog...<br />

http://dhcdvms.wordpress.com<br />

Among the timely topics: Recession Advertising,<br />

23 Ideas for Tough Times, Focus & Attitude.<br />

Add your 2¢ worth!<br />

The <strong>Downtown</strong> <strong>Blackstone</strong>, <strong>Inc</strong>. Board of Directors:<br />

• Joe Allman, Chairman - Fisher & Allman<br />

• Janette Baranishyn, Vice Chairman - <strong>Blackstone</strong> Antique & Craft Mall<br />

• Shirley Wilkins, Secretary - Moncure Insurance Agency<br />

• Joe Borgerding, Treasurer - Citizens Bank & Trust Company<br />

• Ben Green, Councilman - Town of <strong>Blackstone</strong><br />

• C. Duncan Quicke, Councilman - Town of <strong>Blackstone</strong><br />

• Beth Winn, Economic Restructuring Chair - <strong>Blackstone</strong> Emporium<br />

• Louis Malon, Design Committee Chair - APVA Preservation Virginia<br />

• Francis Gilmore, Gilmore Environmental Consulting<br />

• Barbara Gibbs, Ex-Officio, <strong>Blackstone</strong> Chamber of Commerce<br />

• Larry Palmore, Ex-Officio, Town Manager, Town of <strong>Blackstone</strong><br />

• Lafayette Dickens, Ex-Officio, Program Manager, DBI<br />

Key DBi volunteer Field Green (Promotions and Organization<br />

Committees and DBi webmaster) has been busy<br />

with other efforts as well since last Fall. She is co-chair<br />

of Leadership Nottoway, a ten-session program that provides,<br />

among other things, insight into the area’s strategic<br />

plans for economic development. This year’s class,<br />

which included DBi Executive Director<br />

Lafayette Dickens, just<br />

graduated. They concluded the<br />

program with the presentation of<br />

team projects which focused on<br />

photo<br />

ways to improve our community.<br />

The next Leadership Nottoway<br />

class will begin in 2010.<br />

DBi Committees:<br />

DESIGN<br />

Louis Malon, Chairman<br />

ctÜàÇxÜ|Çz ã|à{ ÉâÜ<br />

V|ä|v bÜztÇ|étà|ÉÇá<br />

DBi members play key roles in<br />

Leadership Nottoway<br />

DBi to team up with <strong>Blackstone</strong> Rotary<br />

to get <strong>Downtown</strong> Cleaned up.<br />

In an effort to get and keep the downtown area free of<br />

trash and weeds and other unsightly things, DBi is partnering<br />

with The <strong>Blackstone</strong> Rotary Club on a clean-up<br />

strategy. Under the direction of Myra Quicke, Rotary<br />

has held regular clean-ups including a community cleanup<br />

day each Spring. As a town, we owe them a lot for<br />

their efforts. Thank you, Rotarians!!!<br />

DBi Excited About New Community<br />

Theater Productions at Mitchell’s<br />

Have you heard? Mitchell’s now has a stage and will be<br />

the site of regular community theater productions starting<br />

in May. What a great development for downtown!<br />

The brainchild of Tilly Conley, the productions will also<br />

be directed by her. Tilly directed the popular and successful<br />

“Sound of Music” last year. The first production<br />

will be “Arsenic and Old Lace.” Acting classes are also<br />

being held. Check out the Courier-Record for more info.<br />

PROMOTION<br />

Sara Ryan, Chairman<br />

ECONOMIC<br />

RESTRUCTURING<br />

Beth Winn, Chairman<br />

ORGANIZATION<br />

Joe Allman, Chairman

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!