NDA Supports Center for Arts

The Express-Times reports that the Nazareth Downtown Association made a contribution to the Center for the Arts from the proceeds on the Martin on Main Event this year (read the article here).

Martin on Main Update

From all accounts the Martin on Main Festival was a huge success despite the early Saturday thunderstorm.

The Morning Call had this report and the Express-Times had this one and a follow-up.

Congrats to all parties for putting together such a wonderful new community event.

Martin on Main - Today!

Martin Guitar's 175th Anniversary Party - August 2nd Noon til 9 pm ~ Main Street, Nazareth

Nazareth celebrates the 175th anniversary of Martin Guitar on Saturday, August 2, from noon until 9:00 p.m. Hundreds of owners of Martin Guitars who belong to a Martin owners' club will converge on Nazareth ready to play and party. C. F. Martin & Co. will put many models of their guitars on display, and a new guitar, a DX 175 anniversary model, will be raffled off to one very lucky person, with raffle money going to the nonprofit Nazareth Downtown Association. Everyone is invited to attend. Listen or bring your instruments!

Nazareth's downtown will welcome visitors with food and drink for sale, and space for jamming. Fine art will be displayed along the sidewalks. For one day the small, quiet town will transform itself into an open air festival of music and art.

Sponsored by the Nazareth Downtown Association and the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce.

175th Anniversary of Martin Guitar

Came across a post on Harmony Central (read it here) about the Martin enthusiasts 3rd annual tour of Nazareth.

They are expecting about a 1000 Martin Guitar fans to visit the factory and community on Friday, August 1, to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the company.

Accompanying the events at the factory, will be a festival in downtown Nazareth sponsored by the Nazareth Downtown Association and Nazareth Chamber of Commerce. This event will be on August 2 from noon until 9:00 p.m. and will feature food, music and the arts.

Downtown Design

For the second year the Northampton Community College has used the downtown district in Nazareth as a hands-on learning center for design students.

JD Malone explains the program and perspective from leaders of both the college and community in an article Monday (read it here).

Nazareth Downtown Update

On Monday, the Nazareth Downtown Association (NDA) had its first ever passing of the gavel.

The NDA's first Board President Joe Biernat ended his term and Ken Trionfo became the organization's new President. Aggie Koe was elected to serve as President-Elect and Karen Trionfo as Vice President.

At the meeting, held on Main Street (next to the learning center with the Northampton Community College Banners in the windows) Ken spoke about a project he was working on related to design and the downtown district. Imagine it as a layman's guide to what works and doesn't work so well when renovating in a small town business district. It included terminology, examples of actual buildings, and was well laid out. The NDA agreed to form a committee to discuss how to best utilize the work.

Ken also announced that students from his design program at Northampton Community College will again be visiting Nazareth, tonight on Wednesday, April 23 - 7 p.m., to show their concepts based on buildings and streetscapes in Nazareth. Having attended last year I can say this was quite an amazing display and really opened ones eyes to the possibilities all around us.

Karen Trionfo reported to the organization on the progress her committee has made for an all-new downtown event that will coincide with the annual Martin Guitar Enthusiasts Weekend. Up until this year, the Enthusiasts Weekend was confined to the factory and a softball game at Borough Park. This year visitors from around the country who come to tour the Martin Factory on its 175th anniversary will be encouraged to visit downtown Nazareth where shops will be open, music will be played at a variety of locations and food stands will be out. More details will follow, but the event will take place August 2nd.

The NDA will next meet on Monday, May 19th. At that meeting the group will review a draft proposal of its first Strategic Plan and identify projects to support it.

Anyone interested in helping can either contact me (editor@newsovercoffee.com) or come to the next meeting - I'll be sure to announce it on the site. NDA needs people with a variety of skills including those interested in planning events, putting posters out, fundraising, volunteering to work a food stand or booth, updating a community calendar, building an outreach list, etc. If you are interested in helping, I'm quite certain we'll be able to find an appropriate role that fits your skills and what you like to do.

Note on the Calendar

I got a nice comment from Papier Boy on another post, who also asked about the calendar, specifically including the soap box derby - adult version. And I'm glad he did, because I've not kept it up well. It is a lot of work to manage for one person.

As a result, I've asked if the Nazareth Downtown Association wanted to take over a community calendar as a project and service to all organizations not to mention the community and potential visitors.

The challenge again is in gathering all information, finding the best way to make it available, and then communicating it exists (both by linking on web sites to it - as I would do and to blast email out to a list of people interested in learning about community events).

The goal would be to have every group, organization, church, business, etc. that holds events for the public to participate.

If you are interested, or could bring this matter to your group or organization, please contact me and I'll coordinate through NDA.

Nazareth offers so many wonderful events, but most people aren't going to look at multiple web sites to figure it out. This project will really lift all ships.

Contact me at editor@newsovercoffee.com

Parking Restrictions Eased

JD Malone reports that the planning commission has eased restrictions on parking for new business in the borough and that these measures will be put before Council at the upcoming monthly meeting (read the article here).

Both the Nazareth Downtown Association and the Chamber of Commerce have been encouraging reducing parking restrictions to allow for more businesses to open and operate in the borough.

Parking Requirements on New Business

Both papers have reports on the parking requirement restrictions for new businesses in Nazareth following the workshop and business meetings of council.

The Morning Call article on the Council features the proposed parking change - read it here.

The Express-Times article specifically speaks to the parking issues - read it here.

Parking Requirements to Change?

Nazareth borough parking restrictions on restaurants have long hampered new business from moving into the borough.

The Morning Call reports on the issue today (read it here) and indicates a change may be coming at tonight's Council meeting (begins at 7 p.m., Council Chambers, Church and Center Streets).

What Do You Think About Downtown Nazareth?

JD Malone has an article (read it here) related to the Nazareth Downtown Association (NDA) and its request to have residents and those in and around the community to answer three questions about Nazareth:

1. What are the strengths of the downtown area?
2. What are its weaknesses?
3. And are there any specific needs for downtown?

In answering, providing why you feel this way would be helpful as well.

The NDA has received its non-profit status and is now working to become a member of the PA Downtown Association. A part of becoming a member is submitting a downtown profile and these questions will allow the profile to be completed.

Feel free to answer these questions and provide your insight here and/or attend the [DISREGARD: "NDA's Economic Development Committee meeting tonight at 6 p.m. at the Nazareth YMCA" Sorry everyone was out of town last two days and this was on Tuesday not Thursday Ross].

Regional Group to Assist Municipal Boroughs

The Morning Call has an article (read it here) about downtown development and the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation's (LVEDC) desire to bring together investors and business people on a monthly basis to different municipal boroughs and show properties available in them for development.

'We want to be more inclusive of not only the urban centers but also our boroughs,'' said Bob Wendt, the group's regional coordinator, adding that the new emphasis reflects changing demographics. ''A growing number of younger people are choosing to live in the boroughs -- where they can walk to the store and their kids can walk to school.

This is good news for communities like Nazareth, where the Nazareth Downtown Association (NDA) is forming and can serve as a point of contact and liaison between the LVEDC and local property owners. Further, if NDA becomes a PA Downtown program grant money will become available to businesses and property owners for facade improvements and other purposes designed to improve the downtown district.

Holiday Recap (ie Catching Up)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. We start part two with more family today, then new year, and finally back to the grind. Below are some articles I found/had piling up from in and around the Nazareth area.

• Last chance to see the train display in Stockertown (read the article by JD Malone of the Express-Times here). The Nazareth Area Society of Model Engineers has a massive display in Stockertown. Trains are a holiday tradition for many and the Society has several gauges and many models including mills and a replica of the borough of Nazareth.
  
• Nazareth Downtown Association's interim main street manager is featured in an article in the Express-Times (read it here).
  
• Martin Guitar produces two guitars for Led Zepellin that were sold to support the ABC Trust (a children's fund in Brazil). Read the Morning Call article here.
• The Morning Call's music editor Len Righi gives Randall of Nazareth's solo debut album an honorable mention in his best music for 2007 list (read the article here).
• Weston reunion show in Philadelphia. Many members of this band were from Nazareth or had Nazareth area connections. They played mostly in the mid 1990s and have gotten together for a few holiday shows according to an article in the Morning Call (read it here).
  
• Holy Family Ruckus. Police were called to the CYO tournament before Christmas when parents/fans from one team came onto the court to verbally accost the opposing coach. Tournament officials ended the game on the spot and no arrests were made. Read the Express-Times article here.
• Nazareth Towne Open House - did you go? What did you think? The Express-Times had a list of participating stores/businesses (available here). I was on the road Thursday and after four hours of driving had nothing left in the tank.
• There is more on the open house here, including information about the Whitefield House organ. This is one of many amazing instruments on display. Having heard it played myself it is really neat to listen too, particularly the hand pump.
• 
  

Community Arts Center Proceeding

The Express-Times reports that the Borough Council is giving the Nazareth Downtown Association some more time to develop plans and raise funds to convert the 30 Belvidere building into a community arts center (read the article here).

Council wants to see that there is community and financial support as well as a business plan or it may put the building up for sale to off-set costs of the move to the new police and government building on South Main Street.

Parking Ordinance and New Meters

A reader brought to my attention the placement of meters along East Center Street a few weeks ago and at last night's Council Workshop (my apologies for not being able to attend and give a full report) the Express-Times reports that the plan is on hold following residents' complaints (read it here).

Additionally, a change related to the borough parking requirements for businesses is anticipated to take place in early 2008. In the Express-Times article, Councilman "Herbst said the change would more or less waive the current requirement for off-street parking that the Nazareth Downtown Association has said is a block to redevelopment." (read the article here)

School Board Meeting and Nazareth Downtown Association

The Nazareth Downtown Association (NDA) will be meeting tonight at 7:00 p.m. at St. Johns UCC Church at the NE corner of S. Broad and Prospect streets in the council room. Use Prospect Street entrance, there will be signs to the meeting room. Anyone interested in helping improve Nazareth's Downtown or learning more about the organization is welcome to attend.

The Nazareth Area School District Board Meeting is also tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Board Room in the Admin Offices behind the HS. The Board Agenda is available here. There is a change to the policy regarding student medications (first reading) and to the dress code, both will have a reading (three are required prior to adoption). I'm not aware of the changes. It looks like a minor change in medications (I saw one line bolded and am assuming that is the addition) and the other policy wasn't included. Total school enrollment dropped from last month and is up 46 students (down from 58 last month) in all grades from September 2006.

Nazareth Downtown Call for Committee Volunteers

Today I am writing to you in my capacity as a Board Member for the Nazareth Downtown Association, specifically, the chair of the organization silo.

I'm seeking individuals to serve on or lead several committees. Each committee will have a focused, and thereby manageable set of tasks. There are guidelines to help each committee that have been tested and created by the PA Downtown Center and the Historic Preservation Trust.

In short, volunteers will have guidance, support, and respect for the time they are committing.

Partnerships

* identify community based organizations and contacts
* establish liaisons and relationships with these groups and
organizations

*Volunteer Development

* recruit new members and volunteers
* provide training and assistance to volunteers
* create recognition program for those who do volunteer and participate

*Communications

* conduct PR campaigns (branding, logos, etc will be done by another
committee, this committee implements and utilizes these items)
* generate public awareness
* maintain media relations
* assist partnership committee with communications to other groups
and organizations as needed.

*Governance

* Lead nomination of board and officers when needed
* provide board and committee training
* provide by-laws management

Any individual interested in participating in one of these committees,
leading one, or who would like to learn more can contact me at editor@newsovercoffee.com

Meetings Tonight

The third Monday means the Nazareth School Board will be meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the Board Room and the Nazareth Downtown Association will meet at 7:00 p.m. at the YMCA.

The NASD Agenda (available here) includes:

• Capital needs, current and future - Borrowing Capacity Update - Mr. Shearer (Public
  Financial Management, Inc.) - Also included under Business Administrator's report.
  
• Approve the design and bidding process for the proposed projects for the summer
  of 2008, as previously presented to the Board, and which becomes part of this
  resolution through reference.
• Enrollments (see below) updated as an attachment.

Didn't see a whole lot on the agenda of note, but since they came up here last mongth (read it here) and then at the meeting I thought an enrollment update was in order. It was noted that Shafer has larger class sizes than either Bushkill or Lower Nazareth, and further that while Bushkill received additional teachers to lower class sizes, Shafer did not despite having redistricted for the very purpose of increasing attendance.

The administration stated at that meeting that they would be keeping an eye on Shafer 4th & 5th grade. There was no boost over the month so the class sizes remain the same.

Also of note, from the start of 2006 until current, NASD has increased by 58 students, or a bit more than 1%. During the same time, Shafer's enrollment has increased 11%, the HS and MS have been roughly equal (0.5% or less increase), and Bushkill and Lower have decreased.

Nazareth Downtown Association Update

On Monday, September 17, 2007 the Nazareth Downtown Association (NDA) met at the YMCA for its monthly meeting.

As a new organization, NDA is doing more work behind the scenes, than in front of the public, as they try to leverage best practices of other development organizations and begin to identify and define what they can do to retain and attract new business.

One major initiative is a parking, business, and building survey. The purpose of these surveys is to aggregate the data as it is often needed by businesses when developing their business plan and to provide specific data to those looking to locate a business in the area (ie how much parking is available? how many business properties are currently available? etc). Information from these surveys can also be used by businesses and the NDA when applying for grants and loans.

Reports generated at specific points in time and on-going updating of the data will allow NDA to track this information over time and identify trends.

In other areas, members of NDA are working with the Borough Council Economic Development Committee and Insomniak Theatre regarding the feasibility of converting 30 Belvidere into a Community Theatre. While other members are tending to organizational needs (setting up an office, web site, accounting etc) and working to establish a brand, logo, and tagline.

30 Belvidere's Future?

JD Malone of the Express-Times has a blog post on a walk through that was done at the former Borough Council Building by Northampton Community College students and profs to determine the feasibility of converting the building into a community theatre (read it here).