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A quick head's up to let everyone know that as a result of the March 17th 'Roger Brooks' presentation, grass root plans are now firming up for a 'clean-up downtown day' on Saturday, April 26th. One of our new business owners (Alice Dietz, 'The Britz') will be helping coordinate the event. Hopefully, many of the businesses, property owners, organizations and community volunteers will take part in helping make this a successful 'community effort'. This 'clean up' presents a timely opportunity for an effective and much needed 'private-public' partnership of the best kind. All suggestions and offers of assistance and support are most welcome.

The 'wish list' will include, but is not limited to:

pressure washers
water access (if you can offer a hook-up, please let us know)
soil / plants for rejuvenation of the sidewalk gardens
gardening tools / brooms / shovels / buckets
additional permanent litter containers (like those already in place)
touch-up painting (curbing, benches and ?)
hanging planters for the 'new' light poles
banners for all poles
bench repair materials and tools
street drain rejuvenation (many do not drain or do very slowly)
volunteers
publicity

Given the potential amount of debris that might not be easily removed as a result of this kind of cleaning, and presuming that it shouldn't be washed into the drains, suggestions are needed. Should we sweep/shovel what we can and have the street sweeper take care of the residue the following day?

On the subject of the 'sidewalk planters' and the related suggestion to 'soften the space' between the curbs and the building fronts, should we be looking at adding/encouraging additional 'permanent' plantings (above the concrete in appropriate containers)?

On a final and optimistic note, people are asking 'what can we do to help make things better'? There is indeed a silent and caring majority. If you'd like to help in any way, please call the Longview Downtowners number listed below, and lets see what we can accomplish -- together!

Hank Sowerwine / downtown business-builder
423-1020
Downtown News, Views & What's Happening
'Helping you bring Longview to Life!'
www.longviewdowntowners.com (360) 423-1020

Purpose of this publication: To help share information with each other and the community about our businesses, organizations, promotions, and special events and to keep each other better informed.

If you have any announcements or contributions, please email them to hank@longviewdowntowners.com , or call, mail or send by pony express to:

Longview Downtowners
1339 Commerce Avenue, #316
Longview, WA 98632

In this issue:
* First Thursday / April 3rd.
* Downtowners meeting / April 10, 8 am - 9 am , Room 304 in The Merk
* Downtown 'Cleanup' / April 26 & 27
* Longview Saturday Market preparations for May 10th opening
* Good news on the downtown lighting project.

First Thursday ~~ (may be changing to 'First Friday' down the road)
This month's events:
Broadway Gallery - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, Come for the Art, to meet the artists and to enjoy the refreshments.

Horse Lover's Haven - 6 pm - 8 pm Miss Thunder Mountain, Queen Jill Kristensen, wants everyone to stop by Horse Lover's Haven and sign a card that will be sent to the Troops. Her goal is 500 cards. I am asking everyone to please help her reach her goal. All you need to do is stop in and sign a card. The cards will be provided for you. This is very important to her. Please show your support!!!!

Teagues Interior's - 5:30 pm - 7 pm Featuring 'Profiles'. Original Acrylics By: Shirley, "Poetry" reading by Lorri

Player piano 'Sing-along at The Merk' - 5 pm - 7 pm Just lots of fun! Swing by and enjoy!

(let us know if you'd like to host an evening open house May 1st )

Downtowners Monthly Meeting ~~
Our next meeting will be this coming Thursday, May 10th at 8 am, in room # 304 of The Merk. (Take the elevator to the 3rd floor and turn right.) This is your opportunity to meet many of your fellow merchants and community citizens. Participation is open to everyone. We focus on economic development and revitalization of the downtown through a broad range of activities, education and proactive initiatives.

If you missed last month's meeting, please be aware that there is 'front line employee' training program that is being offered to everyone through the efforts of the Cowlitz County Tourism Bureau. Mark Plotkin has been taking this program around Cowlitz County to businesses and organizations and can make it available to groups as small as 4 people. The program is very effective and free for the asking.
For more information about this training opportunity, Mark can be reached at 577-3137 or you can contact the Downtowners office at 423-1020.

Downtown 'Clean-Up' weekend ~~ (8 am to 5 pm, both April 26th & 27th)
As a direct result of the suggestions our community received at the 'Assessment' report given on March 17th, a 'Clean - Up Downtown' weekend is gaining wonderful momentum and enthusiastic support. The plan is to do a comprehensive makeover of our streets, alleys and sidewalks between 15th and 12th, from Washington Way to Florida, including the cross streets as well.

Saturday the 26th, will be the day for sweeping, litter and moss removal, planter restorations, and general sprucing up. Brooms and gloves and garden tools will be the order of the day.

Sunday the 27th, will be the pressure washing attack! We will need an 'army' of pressure washers, hose teams, window squeegees and towels (to clean up the splatter after the walks are made to sparkle!), more hoses, gloves and shovels and rakes and brooms and buckets. (Sound like something out of the Wizard of Oz?) The 'City' will assist us with facilitating access to the fire hydrants and maybe even include a street sweeper and vacuum truck. If you and your friends, your business or organization or anyone you can think of who might like to join in this project (fun) would like to participate, please call Hank at the Downtowners office (423-1020) or Alice Dietz at 575-8090.

We will gather at 'The Brits', 1427 Commerce Avenue at 8 am both days, go over our plan of attack and then put the beauty back into our community.


Longview Saturday Market preparation ~~ www.longviewsaturdaymarket.com

This season, the market will be on Commerce Avenue. An informational workshop and luncheon for vendors and merchants will be held at the Monticello Hotel from
11 am - 1 pm on Saturday, April 19th. The 'front line training' video will be part of the program, as well as complete information about the logistics of the market and what to expect this season. Cost of the luncheon is $12 or (covered by your market registration if you sign up as a vendor).

Opening day will be Saturday, May 10th (Mother's Day weekend) and the hours will be 10 am - 3 pm all season. (Many events are scheduled in conjunction with the LSM, and will be held simultaneously on Commerce).

For more information or to make a reservation for the workshop/luncheon, please call 423-1020.


Downtown Street Light Project ~~ (breaking GOOD NEWS)
At last week's city council, we were given the extremely good news that the much delayed installation of the intersection lighting on Commerce has been given the
'go -ahead' approval by H.U.D., and hopes are high that the project may be completed this year.
The lighting will consist of the intersections of Commerce Avenue at Florida, Hemlock, Broadway and Maple. If you would like to get an idea of what is coming, take a stroll down to the intersection of Commerce at Hudson, which was completed in 'phase one' of the project. This will be a wonderful improvement that we can all look forward to.

Once again, if you'd like to have your special event, open-house, or other news and views posted to this Downtowners Newsletter, call, write or send smoke signals to:

hank@longviewdowntowners.com
360-423-1020
Longview Downtowners
1339 Commerce Avenue, #316
Longview, WA 98632

May 3rd, 2008
     
     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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