[OMS_MANAGERS] Downtown Update - March 2025 Newsletter

[La Grande Main Street Downtown]

Email from La Grande Main Street Downtown March 2025 Newsletter LA GRANDE MAIN STREET DOWNTOWN About Us Support Our Mission Hello OMS, Spring is almost here and it’s time for the Third Annual Shamrock Shuffle, La Grande Main Street Downtown’s (LGMSD) biggest fundraiser and the best way to kick off a year of fun-filled events. According to Angie Harris, you can register up to and even on the day of the event on March 15th (but no tee shirt). If you’re so inspired, check out the link in the Shamrock Shuffle story below. After you have achieved your personal best with the Shuffle, our next event is Community Clean Up Day on April 26th, where you will have a chance to make Lovely La Grande even lovelier with a bit of spring tidying. We are also introducing a new feature, a monthly spotlight on some of the valued organizations, businesses, and individuals in La Grande that contribute so much to the vitality, strength, and ambiance of our community. This March, we are highlighting Soroptimist International of La Grande! A NOTE FROM SUZANNAH MOORE and SHAWN RISTEEN, Co-Presidents, LGMSD Board of Directors As spring begins to take shape and our downtown starts to bloom with energy and activity, we’re excited to welcome the season with one of our favorite community traditions—the 2025 Shamrock Shuffle! This festive event brings people together to celebrate community spirit, and we hope to see many of you there—whether you’re running, walking, volunteering, or cheering from the sidelines. Spring also offers a perfect opportunity to continue supporting our incredible downtown businesses and partners. Whether you’re grabbing coffee from a local café, shopping at a boutique, or enjoying a meal out with friends, every visit makes a difference. Our vibrant downtown thrives because of your support. There’s so much to look forward to in the coming weeks—events, activities, and opportunities to connect, collaborate, and celebrate all that makes our community special. We encourage all of our members and partners to get involved, stay engaged, and help us keep the momentum going. Here’s to a season of growth, connection, and community pride! A NOTE FROM SARAH MARCOTTE, Executive Director, LGMSD It is with great excitement that we welcome you to another season of events and celebrations in our beloved city! As we step into spring, we're thrilled to host the 3rd annual Shamrock Shuffle on March 15th. This event has quickly become a favorite, bringing together runners, walkers, and revelers to embrace the St. Patrick’s Day spirit with fun, camaraderie, and a touch of Irish luck. Our commitment to keeping La Grande vibrant continues with our legendary Clean-Up Day, featuring exciting activities to spruce up our city. Stay tuned for details on how you can join in and bring extra magic to our community spaces. Looking ahead to summer, we are absolutely thrilled to announce the return of Crazy Days on July 19th, with this year's entertaining theme—Disco Rodeo! Imagine bell bottoms meeting cowboy boots, platform shoes stomping alongside spurs, and a fusion of funk and country creating an unforgettable downtown experience. Alongside the classic car show, fantastic vendors, and unbeatable sidewalk sales, we'll be unveiling some seriously groovy surprises leading up to the event. Your enthusiasm, creativity, and dedication make La Grande the vibrant, welcoming, and fun-loving place we all cherish. Let’s make this year one for the books!   COMMITTEE NOTES  The committees of LGMSD--Design, Promotion, Economic Vitality, and Outreach--have been busy this past month. The Promotion Committee has been gearing up for the Shamrock Shuffle and also looking ahead to Crazy Days. The Design Committee is putting together Community Clean-Up Day for Earth Day, as well as working on a brochure highlighting "ghost signs" throughout downtown La Grande. The Economic Vitality Committee is making preparations for the Real Estate Roundup to be held on May 17th for businesses looking to expand or occupy a storefront in La Grande. The Outreach Committee recommended including a Community Spotlight in our newsletter to highlight organizations, businesses, and individuals that contribute to making La Grande a very special place. MARCH COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: Soroptimist International of La Grande March is celebrated worldwide as International Women's Month, dedicated to honoring the achievements of women and advocating for gender equality. It's a fitting time to highlight Soroptimist International of La Grande (SILG) and their significant contributions to the community. Founded in 1921 in Oakland, California, Soroptimist International empowers women through education and opportunities, growing into a global volunteer organization with around 66,000 members in 130 countries. The La Grande chapter, chartered on October 16, 1941, offers various grants and scholarships, including the Live Your Dream Award, Women in Business Grant, Continuing Education Funding, and Pro/Tech Award. These programs support women in Union County by providing financial assistance, fostering entrepreneurship, and encouraging education in technical fields. SILG also hosts community events like the Festival of Trees and Breakfast in the Park to raise funds and awareness. For more information about their programs, visit lagrandesoroptimist.org. The Shamrock Shuffle is Back! It’s almost Shuffle Time! The 3rd Annual Shamrock Shuffle 5K/10K, hosted by La Grande Main Street Downtown (LGMSD), is happening on March 15, 2025. The 10K race starts at 9:00 AM and the 5K starts at 9:30 AM. This is a fun run event with participation encouraged for all ages and experience levels. This exciting annual community event serves as a vital fundraiser for La Grande Main Street Downtown, supporting initiatives aimed at enhancing and revitalizing our historic downtown area. By participating or attending the Shamrock Shuffle, community members contribute to the ongoing efforts to create a thriving, attractive, and economically vibrant downtown environment. You can still register right up until the start of the race. There’s still time to sign up at https://shamrockshufflelagrande.itsyourrace.com/register/ If you’re not running, amble on down to downtown La Grande and cheer on all of the intrepid runners! Community Clean Up Day Do you want to help make Lovely La Grande even lovelier? Then Saturday, April 26th is the perfect day to help fellow volunteers spruce up our downtown by cleaning out tree wells, gathering up trash, planting flowers, etc. in our pocket park and around town, and generally spiffing up the town. La Grande Main Street Downtown and La Grande Rotary are teaming up to host the annual Community Clean Up. There will be activities for kids and the "Clean Up Goats" with The Compost Chick will be making an appearance. To volunteer or for more information, please email Sarah Marcotte at director at lagrandemainstreet.org or give her a call at 541-805-2820. Check out Cook Memorial Library’s Happenings for the Remainder of March: Oregon’s Poet Laureate, Ellen Waterston, will be doing a reading on Tuesday, March 18 at 5:30 PM. Based in Bend, Waterston is an award-winning poet and instructor. Storytime will be held on Thursdays, March 13, 20, and 27 at 10:30 AM in the Story Circle. Join us for stories and crafts. The EOU Community Writing Center is open Thursday, March 13, from 2 PM to 4 PM. EOU student tutors are available for help with resumes, cover letters, essays and other text-based projects for school, creative writing, editorials, and other public writing. CHD is providing an art program, "Art Out Loud," for ages 5-17 where kids can explore and express their feelings and experiences through creating art. This free group is on Fridays from 3 to 4 PM in the Community Room. Contact Bobbye Guentert at 541-962-8800 for more information. Mysteries ‘n’ More Book Club meets Friday, March 14 at 1 PM. The club will be discussing “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig. New members are welcome. Copies of the book are available through inter-library loan. 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 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 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 Edge Home Finance - Team Klebaum 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! Growlers, LLC Teal Cactus The Laurel The Potter's House Timothy Bishop Travelodge Tyler Photo Co Union County Chamber of Commerce/Tourism United Finance Wheatland Insurance Wild Child Birth and Photo Woodsy Wicks Yuri Books ​Ziply Fiber   Upcoming Events   Contact Us     Share This Email Share This Email Share This Email About Events Calendar Projects Contact La Grande Main Street Downtown | 102 Depot St | La Grande, OR 97850 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice
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