[OMS_MANAGERS] Downtown Update - November 2024 Newsletter

[La Grande Main Street Downtown]

Email from La Grande Main Street Downtown November 2024 Newsletter LA GRANDE MAIN STREET DOWNTOWN About Us Support Our Mission Hello OMS, La Grande Main Street’s Halloween Safe Trick or Treat 2024 is in the books and was about as delightful as an event can be. There were over 70 businesses and organizations handing out treats, along with a couple of haunted house experiences and the haunted bus from Mid-Columbia Bus Company. The costume contest brought out extreme cuteness and amazing cleverness and prizes and crowns were awarded (see narrative below). Thanksgiving weekend brings the kickoff to the holiday season with the Thatcher’s Ace Hardware Holiday Parade of Lights, Plaid Friday, and Small Business Saturday (again, more below). Breaking News! The City of La Grande is continuing the tradition of suspending the downtown two-hour parking limit on FRIDAYS ONLY beginning this Friday, November 29th. This is a cooperative effort started over ten years ago at the request of the Union County Chamber of Commerce to give people a little extra time on Fridays to shop in downtown La Grande. The City’s suspension of the two-hour parking limit for this year’s Holiday Season will run through Friday, December 27, 2024. Please help get the word out. A NOTE FROM SUZANNAH MOORE, President, La Grande Main Street Downtown Board of Directors The holiday season is here, and there’s no better place to celebrate than in downtown La Grande! Our Downtown Trick-or-Treat event was a huge success, with hundreds of little ghosts, goblins, and superheroes filling the streets. It was wonderful to see such a creative mix of cute, clever, and downright impressive costumes—thank you to everyone who came out to make it such a fun day! But the celebrations don’t stop there! We’re thrilled for the upcoming Thatcher’s Ace Hardware Holiday Parade of Lights, a beloved community tradition that concludes with our annual tree lighting down at Max Square. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there to help us kick off the season in style. If you’d like to join the fun as a parade participant, we’d love to have you—reach out to sign up and be part of the magic! Next, mark your calendars for Black/Plaid Friday—a fun way to shop local and an excellent time to support our downtown businesses by finding unique holiday gifts and dining at our local restaurants. Make a day of it by browsing the shops and treating yourself to a meal or treat along the way. Bundle up and enjoy walking the downtown - it's also a great way to burn off some of those Turkey Day calories! Finally, we’ll be welcoming 2025 with our annual New Year’s Eve Ball Drop at the corner of Adams and Depot Street! Join us for an evening of family-friendly fun, with burn barrels to keep you cozy and activities for all ages. Bundle up, bring your loved ones, and help us count down to the New Year in style. We’re also growing our team! If you’re passionate about our community and looking to get involved, we’re actively recruiting for new members to join our Board of Directors and volunteer on various committees. Whether you want to contribute to events, beautification projects, or community outreach, there’s a place for you! Reach out to our office or contact any board member to learn more. Thank you for your continued support of Main Street and for being part of what makes La Grande so special! We are excited to celebrate with you throughout the entire holiday season! A NOTE FROM SARAH MARCOTTE, Executive Director, La Grande Main Street Downtown Halloween was a spooky, spunky success. The real treat was seeing all of the youngsters of La Grande, roaming around in costumes, and leaning into the mischief and mayhem of the night (aided by ample amounts of sugary treats)! There were prizes for the best costumes for ages 0-6, 7-12, and group costumes. Crowns and sashes were awarded, as well as gift cards to various local businesses. All in all, the night was a success, even though Main Street ran out of candy way too early (sorry about that). We look forward to bringing you more seasonal sassiness when we team up with the crafty, clever chamber-folk at the Union County Chamber of Commerce for their Sip and Shop holiday market this Plaid Friday, November 29th. Its going to be a madcap rollicking collection of drinks and delicacies, with joyful holiday activities sprinkled in for spice-like Downtown Scavenger Hunt. After that, get ready to ooh and aah with pure wonder at the dazzling electrical splendor of Thatcher's Ace Hardware Holiday Parade of Lights. Your heart will pound with the fury of a thousand reindeer hooves as you watch your fellow townsfolk unleash their creativity with some artistic float designs, marching proudly down Adams Avenue. No need to search the skies, because Santa himself (along with Mrs. Claus) will be making an appearance right here in Max Square! That's right, Jolly Old Saint Nick has volunteered to light up La Grande's own Christmas tree in a sparkling spectacular sensation of lights and magic and then meet with the wee ones for a collecting of wishes. The only question that remains is....are you ready? 2025 Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant (OMSRG)  Applications are now being considered for the 2025 Oregon Main Street Revitalization Grant (OMSRG). This is a program designed to support the revitalization of downtown areas across Oregon. Established in 2015, this grant aims to acquire, rehabilitate, and construct buildings in designated downtown areas, fostering community revitalization that leads to private investment, job creation, and a stronger tax base. The application process for the 2025 grant involves submitting proposals through the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department’s Grants Online system by March 13, 2024. Successful applicants will be notified in May 2025, with projects to start no later than July 1, 2025. The grant can provide up to $400,000 in funding, requiring a 30% match from the applicants, which can include cash, in-kind donations, and volunteer time. This initiative has been a cornerstone in enhancing the economic vitality and historical preservation of Oregon’s downtowns. In La Grande, the OMSRG is being facilitated by La Grande Main Street Downtown, receiving and evaluating grant proposals. If interested, click on this link for the evaluation form for the OMSRG: https://www.lagrandemainstreet.org/revitalization-grant-evaluation. HALLOWEEN SAFE TRICK OR TREAT PHOTO GALLERY 2024   COMMITTEE NOTES Facade Grant/Design Committee, Sam Delano, Chair (meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 4 PM) We are excited to introduce Sam Delano as the new Chair of the Facade Grant/Design Committee for the La Grande Main Street Downtown Organization! Sam has been involved with the committee for a little over a year now. He moved to La Grande nearly four years ago, and lives here with his wife and three children. He volunteers on the County Planning Commission Board and is very active with the Freemasons throughout the Valley. He also is the owner of Whiskey Chipmunk Woodworking. In his new role, Sam will guide the committee in reviewing applications for facade improvements and other design-focused projects that help beautify and revitalize our downtown area. His vision is to enhance the aesthetic appeal of our historic buildings while fostering an environment that supports local businesses and strengthens the community. We look forward to exciting developments in the La Grande Main Street district. Please join us in welcoming Sam and stay tuned for upcoming updates and opportunities to get involved! Currently, the Design committee is working to get some wreaths for holiday decorations along Adams Street. We'll be discussing what we can further work on to help beautify the area. If you have ideas or suggestions, please feel free to reach out! Promotions Committee, Tori Gandy, Chair (meets on the 1st Wednesday of the month at 4:30 PM) Shine up the sleigh bells and fire up the carols, the holiday season is here! The Thatcher’s Ace Hardware Holiday Lighted Parade is Friday November 29th. Lineup will be at 5:30, the parade will begin at 6. The theme is Hometown Christmas, and there will be five awards given to parade participants: Ace’s Holiday Award – float that best represents the theme; Christmas Star Award – best business entry; Star Volunteers – best organization/group; Tin Soldier Award – Best marching/walking group and Best Motorized Sleigh Award – best motorized float. The parade ends at Max Square where Thatcher’s Ace Hardware will drop off Santa so he can light the tree, then take time to meet the kids. The Press Room will be serving cocoa and coffee, and Christmas music will fill the air. Saturday November 30th is Small Business Saturday, where American Express has partnered with various organizations across the nation to encourage supporting small businesses. Plans are in the works for the New Years’ Eve Ball Drop as well as the Member’s Annual Banquet scheduled for January 29th. We meet again the first Wednesday in December at 4:30 PM in the LGMSD Office on Depot--join us if you want to get in on the fun. If you’re interested in participating in the parade, visit our website at or call the office. PLAID FRIDAY/SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY Thanksgiving Weekend (November 29th and 30th) is going to be awesome in Downtown La Grande. Plaid Friday kicks off the holiday festivities, with businesses in our Downtown area focusing on “Shop Local” with special sales and activities, giving a more neighborly feel to the biggest shopping day of the season. The “Shop Local” theme continues on Small Business Saturday, a nationally designated occasion initiated by American Express to put the spotlight on small businesses and encourage keeping dollars in the local area.   THATCHER’S ACE HARDWARE HOLIDAY PARADE OF LIGHTS Do you love a parade? Is being in a parade a life goal? Well, La Grande Main Street Downtown has the parade for you! On November 29, lining up at 5:30 PM and starting at around 6:00 PM on Adams Avenue in La Grande, the Thatcher’s Ace Hardware Holiday Parade of Lights is the perfect opportunity to kick off the holiday season and cross an item off the old bucket list. There are many avenues of entry into being in a parade. You can walk, march, or dance along the avenue festooned in lights. You can bling out your rig with seasonal festiveness. You can also harness your imagination and craft skills and come up with a float embodying the parade theme, Hometown Holidays. There will be five awards given out, recognizing the creativity and inventiveness in La Grande and Union County. These are the Ace’s Holiday Award for the float that best embodies the theme, the Christmas Star Award for the best business entry, the Star Volunteers Award for the best organization/group float, the Soldier Award honoring the best walking/marching group, and the Best Motorized Sleigh Award for (you guessed it), the best motorized float. Santa and Mrs. Claus will be riding on the Thatcher’s Ace Hardware float, bringing up the rear of the parade, which ends at Max Square. The tree lighting will take place then with the Clauses hosting a meet and greet for the young and young at heart. Hot cocoa and coffee will be provided by the Press Room. So, if you or your organization (or business or extended family) would like to let your Hometown Holiday creativity spring forth and fly, go to the La Grande Main Street Downtown website and fill out the form at https://lagrandemainstreet.org/thatcher-s-ace-hardware-holiday-form. Any questions? Call Sarah Marcotte at 541-805-2820 or email her at director at lagrandemainstreet.org.  Check out Cook Memorial Library’s Happenings for the Remainder of November The library will be closed on the following days: Monday, November 11 for Veterans Day, and November 28, 29, and 30 for Thanksgiving. LEGO Club is Tuesday, November 5. For children up through age 12, the program runs from 3 pm – 5 pm the first Tuesdays of the month. EOU students are invited to create accounts with us! Starting November 1, current EOU students creating new accounts will receive a goody bag and be entered into a prize drawing. GO-STEM is here on Wednesday, November 13 at 4 pm in the Community Room. We’ll explore, “Where Sunshine Meets Science” with color-changing slime. Children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult. The EOU Community Writing Center is open Thursdays, November 7, 14, and 21. EOU student tutors are available for brainstorming, project planning, homework help, grammar, and more! Discover and Go: Cultural Passes now available with a library card. Free passes are available for the Maryhill Museum of Art, Columbia Gorge Museum, OMSI, and more. See the link from the library’s webpage. Provided by the Libraries of Eastern Oregon. CHD is providing an art program, "Art Out Loud," for ages 0 - 18 where kids can explore and express their feelings and experiences through creating art. This free group is Fridays, with ages 0-11 from 3-4 pm, and ages 12-18 from 4-5 pm in the Community Room. Contact Taylor McCarrell at tmccarrell at chdinc.org for more information. No Art Out Loud on November 29. Storytime will be held on Thursday, November 14 at 10:30 am in the Story Circle. Join us for stories and crafts. No Storytimes on November 21 or 28. Spells & Stars Book Club for adults meets Saturday, November 16 at 3 pm. The book up for discussion is “The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making,” by Catherynne Valente. Get weekly updates on events, the latest additions to our collections, and more with our newsletter through Wowbrary. Visit wowbrary.org to sign up. All library activities are free and held at Cook Memorial Library at 2006 4th Street in La Grande, unless otherwise noted. Visit CookMemorialLibrary.org, follow the library’s social media pages, or call 541-962-1339 for details. We're always looking for volunteers! Give back to your community through work on one of our main committees (Promotion, Design, Economic Vitality, or Outreach) or help downtown clean up, or event a specific event! Click HERE to see all the different opportunities Interested in being a Partner? Learn more about our impact in the community and our available partnership levels on our website here. LGMSD Partners Ad Dad Advantage Mortgage Aguilera's Amazing Aromas Allied Mortgage - a division of Mann Mortgage LLC Anderson Perry Associated Design and Engineering Becky's Burger Wagen/Barn BELLA Mercantile Be Well Studio Benchwarmers Pub & Grill Birddog Glass Blue Summit Realty Blue Mountain Outfitters Cam Credits Carol Summers Christ Church of La Grande City of La Grande Clanktronix/The Archives Claudson's Sew and Soak Community Bank Community Kindness of Eastern Oregon Community Merchants Connected Professional Accountants LLC Country Financial, Paul Swigert Designs By Stef Dirty Girls Detailing DraWiki Eastern Oregon Title Edward Jones - Shawn Mangum Eleven Fifteen Spa Elkhorn Media Group EOAliveTV Eastern Oregon University Elkhorn Media Group Fairway Independent Mortgage Fit Fuel LG Fitzgerald's Flowers Flying Cloud Gifts Grande Ronde Hospital Grande Ronde Soap and Bath Guyer and Associates JC Woodworks Katie Martin Custom Designs K Voelz Wines La Grande Theatres Laurence's Auto Body & Paint Le Bebe Cakes Bakery and Coffee House Les Schwab Tire Center Let 'Er Wrap Longbranch Lucy's Boutiques at the Market Place Underground Lush Boutique Salon Mamacita's International Grille Market Place Fresh Foods Mary Ann and Arlan Miesner Merlyn's Catering MJ Goss Motors Mountain Valley Therapy Mountain Works Nate Conklin State Farm Nature's Pantry Northwest Furniture & Mattress OTEC Peak Lifestyle Studio Papa Murphys Take & Bake Perky's Play Cafe Raul's Taqueria Real Deals RE/MAX Real Estate Team Rising Tide Soulpothecary Rob's Speedy Delivery Rosewood Cottage Savage Serpents Scott's Heating and Air Side A Brewing Sure Shot Virtual Range Sorbenots Source One Business Consulting Tap That! 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