Get involved in Envision Rumford

To the Editor:

If you want to make downtown Rumford a better place and be part of an organization that is making a difference, than get involved with Envision Rumford.

Envision Rumford has formed four committees to focus on promotions, design, organization and economic restructuring in downtown Rumford. Rumford residents, workers, business owners and others in the community are invited to join and participate in any or all of these committees. Below is information about the priorities for each committee, the current membership and the place, date and time of the next meeting.

Design: (1) Repair downtown sidewalks, (2) add greenery and pots in the downtown to make it more attractive and welcoming, (3) fix up the storefronts that are vacant with art displays, photography, etc., (4) clean up the entry ways to Rumford (e.g., Route 108, Hancock Street, and River Street) so they make visitors to the area feel like coming downtown and shopping.

Committee members are Charlotte Davis, Carol Parise, Dan Richard, Curtis Rice, Catherine Johnson, Patty Duguay, Cherry Smith, Jennifer Kreckel, Kevin Saisi, Diane Mitchell and Seth Carey.

Meeting: To be announced.

Economic restructuring: (1) Adopt the Pop-Up program that Gardiner and Biddeford have tried to attract businesses to locate in the downtown, (2) make existing businesses in the downtown a priority, (3) evaluate existing businesses and their needs, (4) contact out of town landlords about fixing up their building(s).

Committee members are Jim Rinaldo, Nancy Allen, Dick Lovejoy, Rich Allen, Ted Hotham, Dieter Kreckel, Lynda Hebert, Jack Davis, Diane Mitchell, Kevin Saisi, Patty Ladd, Justin Thacker and Seth Carey.

Meeting: Wednesday, February 27, 6 p.m. at the Town Hall conference room across from the police station.

Organization: (1) Establish a more formal structure, (2) create a budget/funding, and (3) outreach to the community.

Committee members are Linda Macgregor, Jolene Lovejoy, Greg Buccina, Diane Mitchell, Kevin Saisi and Seth Carey.

Meetings: To be announced.

Promotion: (1) Create a slogan for downtown Rumford that builds on the natural resources in the area (river, mountains, falls, etc.), (2) plan more events and activities that attract people to downtown Rumford, (3) build on the history of Rumford, such as offering walking tours of downtown Rumford and creating a video about the town's history.

Committee members are Tammi Lyons, George Kimball, Barbara Bartash, Linda Dupill, Natalie Dupill, Emily Dupill, John Soucy, Bill Gates, Jack Davis, Bob Anderson, Kevin Kaulback, Leah McKay, Kevin Saisi, Diane Mitchell and Seth Carey.

Meetings: Wednesday, March 6, at 7 p.m. in the town hall auditorium.

Mia Purcell,

Program Manager,

Western Maine Economic Development Council