The participants then divided themselves into committees aligned with particular areas of interest or expertise. Those committees are:

• Organization, chaired by Mayor Jim Conley


• Economic Restructuring, co-chaired by Britt McAfee, Jim McAfee, Bob Jackson, and Beverly Jackson


• Promotion, co-chaired by Teresa Dorton and Buddy Moore


• Design, co-chaired by Paula Paris Johnson and Carol Nix

Admin note: I will post the regular monthly meeting schedules for the committees once I've confirmed that information.

I'd like to reiterate something that Jean told me early on: "It takes us all to bring about the improvements we want for Blairsville. The basis of the Better Hometown program is grassroots action; it's a self-help program that requires community-wide participation." It's easy to grumble about things we don't like about this or that in our city, but it only becomes meaningful when we take real effort to step forward and help to be an agent of change towards that vision.

Updated priorities list identified by the meeting participants, as documented on June 12, 2006:
http://blairsville.com/news/articles/200607/priorities2.asp

As we get information on projects, plans, and activities planned for the Downtown Revitalization initiative, we'll will post it here or ask committee members to post it here. We're creating separate topics for the committees as we get information from them.

It is our hope that this forum (or one like it) can provide a bridge between interested citizens, committee members, government officials, and business leaders to interact with each other and with the readers here, who really represent the people who have been in Blairsville, are currently in Blairsville, or who want to be in Blairsville.

The goal of our "Better Hometown" program is "Economic development through downtown revitalization, heritage preservation, and restoring a sense of place." The Revitalization Team consists of the seven-member Downtown Development Authority of Blairsville and four revitalization committees -- Organization, Design, Promotion, and Economic Restructuring. Committee membership is open to any and all who want to volunteer for this long-term revitalization effort.

Streetscape Planning. A safe and inviting streetscape was one of the highest priorities voiced at our town meetings. To that end, the designers at the Department of Community Affairs are currently working on a streetscape concept that will be used to get feedback from the community on what our final streetscape should look like and include. The DDA will use that streetscape plan as the basis for a DOT Transportation Enhancement grant application; if awarded, the funding will be used to implement the streetscape plan.

Gardening on the Square. As a first step toward enhancing town square, the Design Committee hosted a work day on July 15. A dozen volunteers spent a very hot summer day picking up litter, weeding flower beds around the perimeter, and planting wooden barrels placed at the main entrances to the square. Most of the flowers that were planted are cultivated versions of native perennials, paying respect to the glorious natural heritage of our mountain community. Perennials become larger and healthier over successive growing seasons, so the barrels should be fuller and more colorful in coming years. And, since they're native, they are well adapted to our seasonal conditions.

Many thanks go to United Community Bank for funding the plantings, Nelson's Ace Hardware for assistance and discounts on the planters and perennials, Rick's Rental for providing a heavy-duty wagon, and especially the many hard-working volunteers who sweated and strained to make it all possible.

Operation Clean-Sweep. The next step toward enhancing the downtown is an upcoming project to encourage building and business owners to clean up and decorate for our fall visitors. The Design Committee is in the planning stages on this project, and details will be announced in the very near future.

Building Face-Lift Guidelines. The Design Committee is developing recommendations for building face-lifts that owners can use to improve the facades of their buildings. Designer Marcie Culpepper is lending her expertise on this project, which will include manageable upgrades such as suggested paint colors, awnings, signage, etc.

Special Events. The Promotion Committee is working on two upcoming community events, both free and open to the public in downtown Blairsville:

• First is the SEBA Bluegrass Festival coming up Fri.-Sat., Sept. 22-23. This major event is being coordinated by "Music Man" Sam Ensley and will include at least two performance stages downtown, plus music-related workshops, music vendors, musicians jamming around the square, and lots of great bluegrass music.


• Next is an old-fashioned Hometown Halloween on the Square on Tues., Oct. 31. This wholesome family event will feature a costume contest, storytelling, craft activities, games on the Old Courthouse grounds, and of course trick-or-treating around the square.

Other Projects. Various DDA and committee members are researching other areas of interest such as historic preservation measures, facade grant funding, building histories, building plaques, wall murals, and the list goes on, as do the possibilities.

For more information about what the Revitalization Team is doing and how you can help Blairsville fulfill its potential, please contact Janet Hartman at ddaofb2005@alltel.net

I love Nelly's building! I was praying they wouldn't paint it brown. (too boring!) It's a very beautiful updated look and I do hope too that others will follow the same design.

The DDA meets this Thursday night for their regular monthly meeting. I can tell you that Janet is doing a great job as program manager and really providing an effective bridge between the DDA board members and the committee heads and members.

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Also, don't forget to check out the Blairsville Downtown Development Authority's website at http://www.downtownblairsville.com/ . Janice has been working hard with Janet Hartman, the program manager, in making it current and topical. In fact, it's really THE place to go for information about the Downtown Revitalization program. These forums were really a stopgap measure while the website moved from vision to reality.

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