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Streetscape – If you have driven by or walked down the sidewalks from Steward Street on E. Market Street to Spring Street on W. Market Street, you can’t help but notice the improvements in downtown Blairsville, thanks to a cast of a thousand people!  From the grant writer, Leann Chaney, to the numerous local, county, state, and federal supporters of this project, to the advocacy of the Cambria and Indiana Trail Council, and the Blairsville…Downtown Main Street Program, Blairsville was the recipient of $200,000.00 for design of the project from The Department of Conservancy and Natural Resources and $967,150 from Governor Rendell’s Home Town Street Program….which used Federal Highway Administration Money through the Transportation Enhancement Funding, administered through PennDOT. This project was facilitated by the Borough’s Manager, Tim Evans, the Borough’s Engineering Firm, Remington, Vernick and Beach, a volunteer steering committee, who was engaged in the early stages to make suggestions for the project.  The construction crew of Baiano Construction, the Borough crew and lots and lots of patient storefront owners, pedestrians and vehicle drivers all cooperated amazingly well through the summer of 2007 to bring us a beautiful, level, 16 new lampposts make for well-lit sidewalks, complete with 30 new urban forest specific trees, that any town would be thrilled to have…with a small fraction of the cost being born by the Borough.  Thanks to local assistance by the Blairsville Municipal Authority, Dominion Peoples Gas, Wyotech and Clark Metal Products. Sure, there are things that we learned along away that we would do differently the next time, given a next time is provided! 

The Ribbon Cutting – nearly 100 people attended for this event!  The PennDOT representative at the event stated that he was thrilled that there was such enthusiasm among the Borough residents and elected officials!  All three County Commissioners, Tracy Stack, from The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Elected Borough officials, Mayor Zedick, Mary Ugoletti, Jeff Marshall and Borough Manager, Tim Evans, cut the ribbon to celebrate the project! 

Open Houses and Grand Openings – Denise Jennings-Doyle, as interim Main Street Program Manager, spearheaded a very fun and successful event.  People milled around the West end of Blairsville, visiting all of the businesses that were open.  Lisa’s Main Event, Dianna’s Blairsville News and Gift Shoppe, Blairsville Floor Covering and Kelly’s Stompin’ Grounds.  There were wonderful donated foods and beverages at each store.  The Blairsville…Downtown office displayed literature from all of the businesses in downtown.  All businesses were encouraged to participate.  A violinist performed at the Stompin’ Grounds to a very receptive audience.  The evening had a wonderful “feel” to it and it has created a great deal of “buzz” of a Blairsville’s downtown that is emerging as a place to shop, dine, walk and have a very good time!

CMAQ – Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program (CMAQ) funding.  On November 5, Blairsville Borough submitted an application for funding for Federal Highway Administration funding to do the next Phase of Blairsville’s Streetscape project.   All necessary parties supplied Letters of Support. On December 14, Blairsville…Downtown’s President and the grant writer, Leann Chaney, defended our proposal to be evaluated as a CMAQ project at Southwest PA Commission.  The committee agreed that our proposal would be included in the evaluation process…the application was for $1,697,000, enough to complete the streetscape to Morrow Street.  Keep your fingers crossed.  They have asked for more information, the Grant writer will comply.  We are told that it is unlikely that we will receive the entire amount….but nothing ventured, nothing gained!  Working with the Borough government to secure necessary details for the upcoming Evaluation.

Trail Town – A trail town is a hub on a regional trail system.  Blairsville moved closer to that designation this month as the West Penn Trail Bridge over the Conemaugh River from near Westinghouse in Westmoreland County to the Newport Road area in Indiana County.  This bridge was funded by DCNR and PennDOT, etc. and the Conemaugh Valley Conversancy sees the promise of construction in the summer of 2008.

Another very exciting “Trail Town” happening was the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Indiana County Parks and Trails, Blairsville Borough and Blairsville…Downtown met to discuss the renewed “Lease of the Army Corps of Engineers Government Land” down by the Conemaugh River.  I have received a letter saying that after the Borough Manager, Tim Evans, submits his 25 year Management Plan (which has been completed in 2004, with the help of the Blairsville…Downtown group) and his yearly Maintenance Plan, the ACOE will renew the lease and the Indiana County Parks and Trails will sub-lease the property for the trail and apply for funding to construct the trail.  As soon as the Lease is renewed, and Ed Patterson gives the “go ahead” local volunteer help can begin to clear the corridor for the trail!  This has been a 6 year hurdle that we recently cleared….bringing us another step closer to being a “Trail Town”!  Ready to solicit vendors of all sorts of trail related goods….and ready to complete the “Trail Town Assessment”…which is another discussion!

Overview Park Pavilion – As one of the goals of the Your Town Workshop in 2006, the Bork Foundation has granted $2,500 to make improvements to the Pavilion behind the Swimming Pool.  Lots of history in that forgotten structure.  No, it is not in the Main Street, but plays into the “quality of life” that is in our Mission Statement.  The Bork Foundation (through the Community Foundation of the Alleghenies in Johnstown) money was given to the Borough.  The project will be administered by the Recreation Department.  The Borough Crew is scheduled to do the work.  Generations of people remember picnicking, partying, celebrating in that pavilion.  It will be exciting to return that forgotten structure to a useful purpose.  Perhaps there can be some partnership with other organizations and historically correct information can be

Displayed through signage and a connection can be made with the fabulous overview of the Pack Saddle Gap of the Conemaugh River, part of the Harrisburg to Pittsburgh Mainline Canal Greenway!

Farmers’ Market – This summer Blairsville hosted the first Indiana County Farmers’ Market.

As Blairsville joined the Indiana County Farmers’ Market organization and Linda Gwinn was elected to the Board, Michael LaMantia donated his newly acquired property near the Diamond for the Farmers to come and sell their locally grown produce and the residents of Blairsville got to support the local farmers by buying locally and the taste and health benefits were icing on the cake!

Dianna Messenger and Diana Baca, the chairs of the Promotion Committee of the Blairsville…Downtown Main Street group, along with volunteers, facilitated the very well received market.  The Farmers sung the praises of their newly found outlet….Blairsville! 

The Market ran from May until mid October.  We hope that 2008, with the relocation to the Shoemaker Funeral Home parking lot on N. Walnut Street, and the increased awareness of the Market, that this will turn into just another “quality of life” improvement in downtown Blairsville.

Night of Comedy – February 23 is the date of the 6th Annual Night of Comedy.  It is booked at the Chestnut Ridge Golf Course and Conference Center in the London Ballroom.  Cash bars, live music, two professional comedians and the Chestnut Ridge buffet will be punctuated by the 50/50 drawing and the raffle of prizes!  This event is always a sell-out event!  A good time is had by all!  Tickets go fast!  Call:  724 459 8588.

Golf Outing – Blairsville….Downtown Main Street Program’s 6th Annual Golf Outing is taking initial steps.    Jim and Denise Friedline and Denise Jennings-Doyle will be taking the lead.  Watch for dates, prices, sponsorship opportunities, etc.