Blossburg V.I.B.E. Announces Holiday Light Contest Winners

Blossburg V.I.B.E. held an Environmental Fair Saturday, Nov. 17 at the Blossburg Memorial Library. Approximately 50 people attended from as close as Blossburg and as far as Brookfield Township. Most brought items to be recycled by Northern Tier Solid Waste Authority, including computer parts, magazines and textiles. Nearly 3,000 pounds of materials were collected for recycling. Lynne Graham of Middlebury won the door prize, a bag of environmentally safe cleaning products from Shaklee Corporation donated by Shaklee distributor Heidi Hickok. Picture 1: Del Kirkendall of Arnot recycled computer parts with the help of Donald Kurzejewski from NTSWA. Picture 2: Two of Ivan and Rose Erway's children made trailmix at the booth of Mansfield University's Environmental Awareness Club with the help of the club's representative, Elizabeth Lloyd.

BLOSSBURG V.I.B.E. AWARDS TWO GRANTS FOR FAÇADE IMPROVEMENTS Ray Davis, First Baptist Church benefit from grant program

BLOSSBURG, April 18 – Blossburg V.I.B.E. (Visions in Business and Entertainment) awarded grants Wednesday to Blossburg Main Street property owners Ray Davis and the First Baptist Church of Blossburg for improvements to facades of their buildings at 314 and 213-215 Main Street, respectively.

"Ray's Service Center is now a vibrant, inviting building as you enter downtown Blossburg" said V.I.B.E. president Beverly Jones. "The new siding and porch on the storefronts and apartments owned by the First Baptist Church really change how the downtown looks. V.I.B.E. appreciates the time and money they've spent to make this happen."

The grant money was provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development as part of its New Communities Main Street program which seeks to revitalize Pennsylvania's downtown areas through a four-point approach that encompasses design (such as the façade restorations, parking, signage and streetscapes), promotions, economic restructuring and organization. Blossburg V.I.B.E. has been awarded $65,000 for planning and façade improvement grants since April 2005.

Blossburg V.I.B.E. awards matching grants to property owners who have completed historically appropriate renovations to the façade of a building, up to $3,000 per storefront. The design guidelines were developed by the design team in conjunction with Larson Design Group of Williamsport.

Ray's Service Center and The Small Mall join prior award recipients Jill Nickerson's Toddler University Preschool & Daycare, Inc., Shane Nickerson's building that houses the Window Box Flower Shop, Ben Jones' building occupied by Headz Up styling salon, and Pat & Doc Ollock's building rented by Laurel Health System's Blossburg Head Start.

Ray's Service Center at 314 Main Street has new garage doors, new corrugated siding, new doors, red and white paint scheme and new signage.

The building at the corner of Hannibal and Main Streets, owned by the First Baptist Church of Blossburg, houses The Small Mall, owned by Linda Shypulefsky and several apartments. The church invested in new siding, a new side porch and new lighting for the building.

Blossburg V.I.B.E. (Visions in Business & Entertainment) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization created in 2004 to envision, plan and implement projects that will enhance the quality of life for those who live, work, play or attend school in Blossburg. More information about V.I.B.E. can be found at www.blossburg.org/vibe.

For information, applications or assistance, please contact Bev Jones at 570-638-2763 or jonesbev@gmail.com.

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