Welcome, May, and with it the promise of warmer drier days and blooming flowers.
Main Street volunteers, with the help of Girls Scouts and Women's Club members, will be cleaning, refilling and planting the barrels around the Square early this month. Thank you to Mary Schmidt and Sue Barrett for recruiting and organizing this team of volunteer gardeners.
Later in the month, new banners will be hung around the Square as a result of the Cultural Coalition and the Business Improvement District collaboration to bring area artists' work into public view through "Art Banners on the Square." Artwork contributed by Kaitlyn Allen, Caitlyn Ambrose, Jeanne Ausmus, Carolyn Bishop, Nikki Cooper, Kathleen D'Angelo, Dawn Meier, The Farris Family, Sue Ivanko, Dunnell Kendrick-Parker, Lynn Lokken, Tara Lund, Suzanne Miller, Katherine Pecora, Dean Prevolos, Kerry Prevolos, Danielle Riese and Joan Stackpole has been transformed into banners by Canton Promotions. Once hung, the banners will be accompanied by the stories behind the art in the form of an ordered information sheet that will be available throughout the downtown.
By the end of May, the lot at the southeast corner of the Square will come alive with 10 panels created by area artists, inspired by the historic buildings featured in the Main Street Walking Tour of Downtown Monroe. "Art in the Park" is being coordinated by Richard Daniels as part of our yearlong celebration of Monroe's sesquicentennial.
Adding to the beauty of the barrels, banners and panels, Market on the Square returns on Wednesday, May 21, running from 2 to 5 p.m. each Wednesday and from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday mornings through October. The weather has put some products behind schedule, but we can look forward to a strong market, as the growers catch up with new participants this year. Jams, jellies, honey products, flowers and bedding plants will be available from the start.
The big news is that Main Street Market on the Square is going green! The Farmer's Association voted to encourage their customers to avoid disposable bags and packaging. An earth-friendly reusable bag has been created especially for Main Street and will be available from the vendors for $5. Also new will be the addition of participation by members of SmArt Communities on the second Saturday of the month starting in June. The Market is open to any area grower or producer. More information is available from Market Manager Eva Didier at 329-7848 or the Main Street office. Market registration information is available from The Monroe Times' online site by clicking the Main Street icon.
May is shaping up to be a busy and colorful month on the Square. I invite you to venture downtown this Sunday, May 4, for the Cinco de Mayo celebration to be held on the north side of the Square. "The New Song" will be performing from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. This group is comprised of multiple generations of the Rubalcava family. They are an acoustic group that employs authentic instruments in making their music. The games that will be conducted starting at 1 p.m. include Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Musical Chairs, Hot Potato, Mexican bingo and, of course, the ever-popular smashing of piñatas. This year's piñatas are themselves works of art, having been created by Rainbow Childcare for our event. The Monroe Noon Optimists also will be on hand to serve treats. Hope to see you Sunday on the Square.
(I'll be the one in the sling.)
- Barb Nelson is director of Monroe Main Street. She writes a monthly update on the organization for the Monroe Times. She can be reached at 328-4023.
Main Street volunteers, with the help of Girls Scouts and Women's Club members, will be cleaning, refilling and planting the barrels around the Square early this month. Thank you to Mary Schmidt and Sue Barrett for recruiting and organizing this team of volunteer gardeners.
Later in the month, new banners will be hung around the Square as a result of the Cultural Coalition and the Business Improvement District collaboration to bring area artists' work into public view through "Art Banners on the Square." Artwork contributed by Kaitlyn Allen, Caitlyn Ambrose, Jeanne Ausmus, Carolyn Bishop, Nikki Cooper, Kathleen D'Angelo, Dawn Meier, The Farris Family, Sue Ivanko, Dunnell Kendrick-Parker, Lynn Lokken, Tara Lund, Suzanne Miller, Katherine Pecora, Dean Prevolos, Kerry Prevolos, Danielle Riese and Joan Stackpole has been transformed into banners by Canton Promotions. Once hung, the banners will be accompanied by the stories behind the art in the form of an ordered information sheet that will be available throughout the downtown.
By the end of May, the lot at the southeast corner of the Square will come alive with 10 panels created by area artists, inspired by the historic buildings featured in the Main Street Walking Tour of Downtown Monroe. "Art in the Park" is being coordinated by Richard Daniels as part of our yearlong celebration of Monroe's sesquicentennial.
Adding to the beauty of the barrels, banners and panels, Market on the Square returns on Wednesday, May 21, running from 2 to 5 p.m. each Wednesday and from 7 a.m. to noon on Saturday mornings through October. The weather has put some products behind schedule, but we can look forward to a strong market, as the growers catch up with new participants this year. Jams, jellies, honey products, flowers and bedding plants will be available from the start.
The big news is that Main Street Market on the Square is going green! The Farmer's Association voted to encourage their customers to avoid disposable bags and packaging. An earth-friendly reusable bag has been created especially for Main Street and will be available from the vendors for $5. Also new will be the addition of participation by members of SmArt Communities on the second Saturday of the month starting in June. The Market is open to any area grower or producer. More information is available from Market Manager Eva Didier at 329-7848 or the Main Street office. Market registration information is available from The Monroe Times' online site by clicking the Main Street icon.
May is shaping up to be a busy and colorful month on the Square. I invite you to venture downtown this Sunday, May 4, for the Cinco de Mayo celebration to be held on the north side of the Square. "The New Song" will be performing from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. This group is comprised of multiple generations of the Rubalcava family. They are an acoustic group that employs authentic instruments in making their music. The games that will be conducted starting at 1 p.m. include Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Musical Chairs, Hot Potato, Mexican bingo and, of course, the ever-popular smashing of piñatas. This year's piñatas are themselves works of art, having been created by Rainbow Childcare for our event. The Monroe Noon Optimists also will be on hand to serve treats. Hope to see you Sunday on the Square.
(I'll be the one in the sling.)
- Barb Nelson is director of Monroe Main Street. She writes a monthly update on the organization for the Monroe Times. She can be reached at 328-4023.
