Main Street Matters June 13, 2018

The mission of First Town Downtown is to position and promote Windsor Center as a premier New England town center that protects and utilizes its proud heritage as the basis for developing vibrant recreational, economic and cultural activity. Become a member of First Town Downtown and be a part of the growth of Windsor's downtown area and Windsor as a whole!

First Town Downtown Holds Annual Meeting First Town Downtown held its Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 6, at the Windsor Chamber of Commerce. Sharran Selig Bennett, First Town Downtown Board President and Kathy Kopacz, First Town Downtown Coordinator, provided updates. The Farmers’ Market will begin its tenth season on Thursday, June 28. The Summer Concert Series will begin on June 28th as well. The Heritage Brick Installation ceremony took place earlier in the day. Twenty-four bricks were installed. First Town Downtown members voted for the 2018-2019 Board of Directors slate. Returning members are: President: Sharran Selig Bennett, James Selig Estate Jewelry & Antiques First Vice President: Richard Esposito, Loomis Chaffee School Second Vice President: Stephen McKay, Euphoria Event Solutions, LLC Treasurer: Lynne Stanley, Windsor Federal Savings Don Trinks, Bart’s Drive-In Charles Vola Kim Burke, Hampton Inn Windsor Scott Hoffman, Windsor Ace Hardware New board members are: Mary Beth Welsh, Century 21 Diane Smith, Connecticut Housing Finance Authority Secretary: Dennis Carroll, Carroll Tax Firm Congratulations to all our Board of Directors members!

Farmers' Market The First Town Downtown Farmers’ Market is about to begin its 10th year. This well-attended local marketplace on Thursdays in Windsor center includes locally grown fruits, vegetables, flowers, baked goods, herbs, eggs, milk, yogurt, cheese and more. The Farmers’ Market opens on June 28th, runs through October 18th and is located at 240 Broad Street in the center of Windsor. First Town Downtown, an organization dedicated to promoting Windsor Center as a premier New England town center well positioned for recreational, economic and cultural activities, is once again the proud sponsor of the Market. Our vendors include: Beldotti Bakery, located in Stamford, CT specializes in fresh baked bread, homemade pesto and fresh mozzarella cheese. Blessed Creek of Suffield will be bringing homemade herbal soaps and all natural cleaners. Fanciful Flowers of Windsor Locks will be bringing fresh cut flowers. Farms of Southern New England, located on Palisado Avenue in Windsor will be bringing seasonal produce. Gragnolati’s Garlic Farm/Winlox Farms will offer seasonal produce. Forgotten Acres Farm of Windsor specializes in honey and beeswax products. For more info visit www.forgottenacresfarm.com One Song Biscotti of Windsor will be bringing homemade biscotti Rooster Rise located in Berlin,CT will be bringing fresh produce. Stefan Farms, located in Windsor will be offering a variety of fresh produce. Sweet Harmony Café & Bakery from Middletown will be brining cookies, cake slices, pies, biscotti, assorted desserts Sweet Pea Cheese, located in North Granby, CT will be bringing cow's and goat's milk, yogurt and a variety of cheese. For more information visit www.sweetpeacheese.com. Tomaca Designs will offer ladies bags, hats and accessories. For more information about the market or other First Town Downtown programs, or to join First Town Downtown as a residential or business member, please call 860-688-5715 or email info@firsttowndowntown.org. Our website is firstowndowntown.org.

Summer Concerts in Windsor Summer Concerts in Windsor on the Town Green June 28th Blue Skies Big Band sponsored by Joyce and Dick Armstrong July 5th Rock Solid Alibi sponsored by Day Hill Dental July 12th Gene Donaldson & The Stingrays sponsored by Century 21 All Points Realty July 19th BUS13 sponsored by Windsor Independent Living Association July 26 Still Kickin'" with the Big City Horns sponsored by Windsor Federal Savings Still Kickin' & The Big City horns is a 9 piece band, locally bred musicians, who play classic rock, R&B and blues. August 2nd Personal Touch sponsored by Sharon Dillon Rispoli/Berkshire Hathaway & Don Trinks/Bart’s Beanery *First Town Downtown presents a “Taste of Summer” August 9th Farmington Valley Band sponsored by Carmon Community Funeral Homes & The Carmon Family August 16th Nekita Waller Band sponsored by Voya Windsor Employee Resource Groups August 23 Steve Lipman sponsored by Kimberly Hall and Dr. Roberta Garceau Concert Night Reminders: * Concert rain dates are the following Tuesday * Bring a food item for Windsor Food & Fuel Bank * Enjoy a pre-concert dinner at a Windsor restaurant * Shop and eat at the local Farmer's Market from 3:30-6:30pm * On August 2nd join us for a "Taste of Summer".

Summer Passport Program The Windsor Chamber of Commerce Passport program, which runs mid-June through August is a great excuse to go out for breakfast, lunch or dinner and to enjoy some of Windsor's fun shops, activities and attractions. This year the prizes include gift certificates to all the participating restaurants, attractions, and others. The Passport to Summer Fun has something for everyone: great restaurants, shops and fun things to do like go to the Windsor Historical Society, Concerts on the Green and Farmers Market. You can have lots of summer family fun and you might just win! New this year is the format of the Passport itself. Instead of a printed book, the 2018 Passport is digital. All you need is your smartphone to participate. Register at windsorcc.org and get your own Passport where you can upload your own photo and keep track of your stamped locations. "Every year we'd hear from people who kept forgetting their Passports at home. This year we decided to go digital because the one thing you never leave at home is your cell phone," said Paula Pierce, member of the Windsor Chamber Tourism Committee. Get at least 10 digital stamps in your Passport by August 31st and you'll be automatically entered into the prize drawing. And, as an extra bonus . . . if you get ALL the Passport stamps, you'll get a $10 Chamber Gift Certificate, too, good at over 44 local restaurants, retail shops and other businesses! The Passport program is organized by the Chamber's Tourism Committee, headed up by Executive Director, Jane Garibay. "The Chamber's mission is to support and strengthen the Windsor business community which supports the entire community," says Garibay. "The Passport is a fun program that brings people to Windsor to enjoy our local businesses, and has become an annual summer tradition." The Windsor Chamber Tourism Committee also offers an event calendar email newsletter called "What's Going on in Windsor?". For more information on the Passport program or to sign up to receive "What's Going on in Windsor?" e-newsletters, go to the Windsor Chamber of Commerce website www.WindsorCC.org or call 860-688-5165.