Main Street News: December 5th

2016 Miracle on Front Street saw plenty of Christmas Spirit! The fun of having the children in grades K-2 and their teachers decorate the tree started the festivities off in a special way. Be sure to take a few minutes to look at all the animal friendly decorations and the pretty tree when you can. The Tree Lighting, Breakfast with Santa, and Holiday Happenings rounded out the events last week.

We had a lot of people who helped us make last week’s events a success, so please bear with me! The Promotions Committee is a dedicated group that has been planning all the holiday events for the last few months.  I would like to thank the committee of Lindsay Bontjes, Michelle Field, Brooke Fradet, Janet Rasmussen, Katie Van Den Einde, Kallie Frost, Carol Van Brocklin and Cindy Zander for their dedication to all the special Main Street events that they arrange each year. A BIG thank you to the K-2 teachers, Barnesville Bus Company, and Darin Allmaras and Elliot Goheen for all their effort in getting the tree decorating done again this year. Another HUGE thank you goes out to the Barnesville Public Works team for hanging the greens from Designs by Becky once again this year. I also want to thank Becky Eggiman for her help hanging the greens on the gazebo!

We were able to light the tree at Friendship Park on a beautiful night with caroling, wagon rides and treats shared by all who attended. The 6^th grade choir performed a few carols to put us in the Christmas spirit. A big thank you goes to Stoneridge Software for providing cider and hot chocolate and the Barnesville Grocery for providing the cookies. We also can’t forget to thank Polly Thorsness who provided wagon rides and Mrs. Gylland and her kids for the wonderful singing! We appreciate their generosity in sharing their holiday cheer! I also can’t forget to thank Guy Swenson for all of his hard work making such an awesome switch to light the tree. It was so nice to have our Miss Barnesville Alexis Peterson, 1^st Runner-Up Anna Smith and Princess Blue Eagle there to light the tree as well!

We also need to thank Santa for taking time out of his very busy schedule to visit with the children at St. John’s Lutheran Church last Saturday. His long-awaited arrival was a hit for young and old alike. The children certainly gave him a long list to take back to his workshop. Seeing the looks on the children’s faces was indeed priceless and reminds us of the joys of being a child. The children colored pictures and some even wrote him letters that day. Several others helped to make the Saturday morning events happen. The Thursday Nite Lions provided and served the breakfast, everyone at the St. John’s Lutheran Church were such considerate hosts and Wanda Lokhorst Photography took the photos with Santa. There was a lot going on in just a few hours. But a great deal of fun too!

An opportunity to shop for a few gifts was made possible at the Holiday Happenings. We had a few home-based businesses help us kick off the local holiday shopping. Remember to think of all our local businesses – store front and home based when shopping this holiday season. If you have need to find a business remember, to check the Business Directory on the city’s website at www.barnesvillemn.com.  Also, take a look at the local Gift Buying Guide in today’s paper for more shopping ideas!  And don’t forget to register for a turkey at many Main Street member businesses. Maybe you’ll be one of the lucky winners!

Main Street News: November 28th

Now that November is coming to a close, the ‘official’ countdown to Christmas begins! Although I’ve been working toward Christmas for quite some time around the office, it is hard to believe that the days are now numbered and there is much to do. But first a lineup of Barnesville Miracle on Front Street events and opportunities are before us.

Bundle up the whole family and head downtown on this Wednesday, November 30th at 6:30 pm to enjoy the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at Friendship Park right on Front Street. Join in singing a few Christmas carols to warm our hearts, give us a dose of good cheer and start the season out right!   Refreshments are provided compliments of Stoneridge Software and cookies from Barnesville Grocery. Polly Thorsness will again be giving horse drawn wagon rides. The big evergreen tree at the park is being decorated with homemade ornaments by the Kindergarten, 1^st & 2^nd Grade students this year. The Tree Lighting is a nice way to warm our hearts and spread some holiday cheer with your community friends. 

On Saturday, December 3rd, the fun will start again as Santa Claus comes to town!  He will meet everyone out at St. John’s Lutheran Church for Breakfast with Santa from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. The breakfast will be provided and served by the Thursday Nite Lions with a free will donation. Santa will be there during breakfast and will have lap space for children to share their holiday wishes. You can also get your hands on keepsake photos of the moment for optional purchase at a low cost. Surprises for the kids are given from the Main Street Program. Activities are provided for the children as well so that parents can take a few minutes to shop from our local vendors on hand!

Don’t forget to register to win a turkey!  Then Main Street Program will be giving away several delicious birds from Barnesville Grocery on Dec. 19.  You can register until then at the following Main Street Program businesses:  Azure Eye Clinic, Barnesville C-Store, Barnesville Chiropractic & Fitness Center, Barnesville Grocery, Barnesville Record-Review, Barnesville Drug & Hardware, Cenex, Eagle Café, Midwest Bank, Priority Real Estate, Firehall Liquors and Rehab PLUS. 

The Miracle on Front Street promises to be a busy time of activities for all ages. Come enjoy some Christmas spirit! And don’t forget to get those lights up and turned on for the Home Lights Contest.  Turn your lights on Thursday, December 15th, the Christmas Cruisers will be out.  Call the Main Street Office at 354-2479 before then to vote for the People’s Choice Award!

Main Street News: November 14th

During this time of year – and a many other times too – I am thankful for and reminded of our volunteers.  Our Main Street Program volunteers are so needed and I hope they realize how much we appreciate them.  We have a dedicated group who give their leadership to the committees and board on a regular monthly basis and manage the special events.  There are those who pitch in for special tasks like folding 3,000 newsletters, playing Santa, serving food, staffing a registration table, and planting and watering flowers. Often times, I pick up the phone and ask someone for a special task or for some assistance and rarely do I hear the word “No”.  Time and time again our volunteers give of their time and talents with a giving heart to help the Main Street Program.

As a busy time of year kicks in gear here at the office, I realize how much I depend on them.  As always, I am appreciative of the unselfishness they show as they take on task after task.  The Main Street Program would absolutely fold if not for their efforts.

As we count our blessings this Thanksgiving season, take a moment to thank a volunteer.  Barnesville is full of them – they are not just at Main Street, but everywhere we look.  We need them.  Let’s be sure they know we appreciate them. I hope you all have a very blessed Thanksgiving.

Main Street News: November 14th

Saturday, November 26 is Small Business Saturday all across America. Firmly planting its roots between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, this annual event has rallied and strengthened Americans in support of small independently owned local businesses that create jobs, boost the economy and invigorate neighborhoods across the country.

This day is one in which consumers are asked to shop at their favorite small business and help fuel the economy. On one of the busiest shopping weekends of the year, this Saturday especially recognizes the small town business owner and the importance they bring to our country.

That can’t be more true than right here in our small town of Barnesville. All our businesses, whether a retail business or not, depend on their customers to remain open, to retain their employees and to make a living. Remember these business owners and employees are your neighbors and friends. They live here, their children are educated here, they go to the same events that you do and are committed to making our community, just that - a community.

I would like to take the Small Business Saturday a little further to beyond Saturday and into the following weeks ahead. I encourage each of you to visit any of our fine businesses here in town and give them your business. Services that we utilize are just as important as retail. Insurance, banking, vehicle repair, tires, medical services, and others are necessities that we have right here! No need to take your dollars outside of town. Give some serious thought as to whom you can support locally rather than taking your business elsewhere. 

As we all work together we can indeed make our economy stronger and our community stronger.  When we all shop small, it can be huge!  

Main Street News: November 7th

If you’re like me, you don’t really know what to think of our country now-a-days. Finally, the craziest election in our nation’s history is about over, and it’s time for us to start talking about something else. Halloweens is past us and it seems like everyone is gearing up for Christmas. CHRISTMAS? Wait…we forgot a holiday! Wait- we are forgetting about two holidays, not to mention some of the most important days on the calendar! Yes, you’re right. I’m talking about Thanksgiving. But some of you might not realize the other holiday I’m talking about is Veterans Day.  Honestly, growing up I didn’t realize how important Veterans Day was. I didn’t have many connections to any veterans, as so I thought.  It wasn’t until my Junior year in high school where I realized I was wrong. In my 11^th grade history class, we had a long lesson on the Vietnam war. Our assignments included history reports, reflection papers on videos we watched, and interviews with someone who was directly affected by the Vietnam war. Then to complete the project, we needed to use our creativity to physically display what we learned. I had the pleasure of visiting Washington D.C. in the middle of the project, where I found a t-shirt, some patches, and took pictures of the Vietnam Memorial. I went home knowing exactly what I was going to do for my project! My finished project was a quilt that portrayed the jungle of Vietnam, pictures of soldiers and my personal pictures from the memorial. I also included the t-shirt and patches I found. The next year, I helped my school plan their first Veterans Day service. I spoke about how much I learned through our Vietnam project and just how important it is to thank our veterans, because they aren’t told that enough. My quilt is now on display at the Breckenridge high school year-round for everyone to enjoy.

My story doesn’t end there. In 2011, I was involved in a group that brought over 1,200 quilts to soldiers stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Both my aunt and grandma get together with a group called Quilters Embrace. Quilters Embrace is a non-profit organization of giving people in Otter Tail County, donating their time to making quilts for Quilts of Valor. We loaded up a bus and headed south! Of course, we had some fun along the way, but we had one goal. To thank some of the many soldiers who serve our country and present them with a hand-made quilt. I had the opportunity to take pictures and blog about our travels. It was so much fun to capture all the emotions of the trip and thank these soldiers in person!

Through all of this, I learned that you don’t need to personally know someone to appreciate and celebrate Veteran’s Day. There are a countless number of soldiers who don’t know me, but they are out there fighting for my freedom. Now I have some homework for you guys! I want you to thank a veteran this week. Maybe you call up someone you know or see someone wearing a hat or jacket around town. As Thanksgiving gets closer, please join me in showing them we appreciate their service!

Main Street News: October 31st

As every year, the stores are full of holiday merchandise…left over Halloween candy, Thanksgiving decorations and of course, Christmas ornaments. Here at the Main Street office, I and a great group of volunteers are planning for the upcoming Miracle on Front Street activities. Each year the community looks forward to events that weekend to gather with friends and family to share some holiday spirit, kick off the holidays and hold events in which we again can come together as a community.

A few weeks ago, I let you know of National Home-Based Business Week and encouraged you all to utilize those local home-based businesses and the products or services they offer.  Those independent business owners contribute to our economy in a variety of ways and need our support as we strive to build a strong local business base. We are looking for businesses to participate in the Home-Based Business Holiday Happenings event that is held on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9:00 am-12 Noon. It’s a great way for a business to get their name out there and display their products for purchase or in some cases customers can order in plenty of time for gift giving. There’s always something unique and it helps many people with their shopping check list. This event is held in conjunction with the Breakfast with Santa. Over 150 children and their families attend each year! If you are a home-based business owner and would like to participate, please contact me and I’ll fill you in on the details. While we do have extensive lists that we utilize, we can’t possibly know everyone’s business venture. We rely on input from everyone in the community to make this holiday celebration a special time for our residents. New businesses are popping up every week in the ever changing realm of home based businesses. We look forward to this event to help them grow and prosper and to showcase them to the public. And help our residents get some of their Christmas shopping done too.

Together we can make this a meaningful Christmas season. Watch this column and other community publicity for ongoing information about the Miracle on Front Street event. Join your friends and neighbors as well as the Main Street Program in beginning this season by participating in those activities. Let’s make this year a shining example of community holiday cheer. 

Main Street News: October 24th

Marketing. It can be a very scary and costly word for most businesses, especially in a small town like Barnesville. Running a small business in a small town, comes with its own unique challenges. Spending one-on-one time with clients and customers is crucial when it comes to promoting your business in a small town. Since communities like ours are often tight-knit in rural areas, residents of these small towns rely on word of mouth from friends and family. Word of mouth is the oldest method of marketing and is a highly trusted way to promote your business. In fact, members of small communities may feel more inclined to give your business or brand a try based on what someone they know says rather than reading an advertisement or searching on the internet. Being a small business in a small town gives you the benefit of having a personal relationship with each of your customers. Although word of mouth marketing is one of the cheapest and highly successful, sometimes you need to do a little more. That is why it is important to tailor your marketing plan to the culture of the community and the residents where you’re setting up shop. That could mean a number of possibilities. You can learn more at our “Let’s Talk About Marketing” lunch this Thursday, October 27^th on the 2^nd floor of the Wells Fargo Bank from 12-1 pm. The cost is $5 and includes a delicious lunch. Take advantage of this great opportunity to learn some tips on low-cost marketing and hear what is working for other businesses and organizations in town!