Laurens Main Street Thanked for Assistance

  The Keynote Speaker for the Annual Main Street Laurens Meeting Tuesday night was Katherine Brackett, City Administrator of Pickens. After lobbying her city for a year, they’re now opening aMain Street program there Ms. Brackett displayed branding being introduced in Pickens. Capitalizing on the Pickens High “Blue Flame,” the City is about to launch a community pride initiative called ‘I Fan the Flame’

 “We are the Pickens Blue Flame, so everyone’s real big into the high school football there. And the city is in the process of purchasing the old football field which sits right downtown. Kind of neat, we’re not quite sure what we’re going to do with it yet, but of course, we’re talking about events and concerts and being able to have large craft shows there where you don’t have to touch the roads.”

    Katherine Brackett thanked Main Street Laurens for the assistance Jonathan Irick has been to Pickens in getting their Main Street program started. A Pickens Main Street Director begins work on the 1^st of the month.  

    Brackett presented a video and still pictures on Bath,Maine– a town of 10,000 where she grew up. She told of a vibrant downtown that’s a finalist for a National Main Street award this year.

    Laurens Main Street Director Jonathan Irick reviewed highlights of 2011 for the Laurens program, including an event with 150 youth working on a clean-up project in town. They began painting fire hydrants pink, in honor of the pigs celebrated annually during “Squealin’ on the Square.”

    Named last night as the Master Retail Merchant for 2011 were Robin Todd and Jeannie Willis of the Green Door on North Harper. The Master Service Merchant Award was presented to Kim Putnam, owner of the salon Kim’s onMain. The Downtown Service Award – also known as the Hometown Hero – was presented to James Latimore for his extensive volunteer duties in 2011.  

   Also Tuesday night, Laurens Main Street Director Jonathan Irick outlined plans for 2012, including development of more ‘retail events’ for Downtown, a seminar on tax credits for investing in a historic district, and working with the County Museum Board to plan their new facility on Main Street. Main Street Chairman John Young oversaw the election of Gary Bailey and Adam Taylor as the newest Main Street Board members.