Hello Main Street Gardnerville Friends!
As that old saying goes: March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb, almost as if March has been known to act like this, repeat offender if you ask me. It has been quite a wild ride this winter and some days it seems like mother nature will not let up. Safe to say that groundhog nailed his prediction this year. By this time we are usually enjoying “Fool’s Spring”, followed by 2nd or 3rd winter… I forget at this point, and honestly, I can’t say if we ever came out of “First Winter”. Welcome to the Carson Valley, land of all the seasons, at once, and in excess.
One thing is for sure, SPRING IS COMING! March is without a doubt one of my favorite months. Winter slowly gives way to new blooms, longer days and the whisper of Spring hangs in the air. March is also when we start kicking off community events. This means I have more to share and less waxing on about the blah-de-blahs of Main Street, lucky for you, you’re welcome.
We are determined to make spring happen one way or another. This past Monday, Design’s Flower committee was FINALLY able to journey out to China Springs Youth Camp to plant the first Hanging Flower Basket plugs for 2023’s Main Street in Bloom! In case you aren’t familiar with our Main Street in Bloom program, it is one of MSG’s longest-running beautification efforts that partners with our local FFA/Horticultural Youth programs at Douglas High School, Smith Valley High School, and China Springs Youth Camp. These students are dedicated to ensuring the flower pots and baskets are cultivated and cared for until they become a part of our downtown landscape.
Under the guidance of our ever-so-talented Flower committee, we work year-round to create beautiful Hanging Flower Baskets and Adopt-a-Pots that adorn Main Street from June – September. Every “Thriller”, “Filler” & “Spiller” is thoughtfully selected each year depending on the successful picks from years prior. For a sneak peek of 2023 Main Street in Bloom beauties and how you can sponsor this program, check out the link and video below!
Speaking of planting, We have our annual Heritage Park Garden Spring Forum and Expo this SATURDAY MARCH 18th from 10 am-12 pm at the Gardnerville Station. This is a wonderful FREE event open to the public. You will learn from the best in the industry planting tips and tricks for successful gardening, taming noxious weeds, critters and insect strategies, and how to have a successful crop in this hostile environment. Presenters this year are Chuck Schembre on Understanding Ag, Master Gardner, Jessica Gardner with UNR Ag extension sharing information about the community gardens and what 2023 has in store, Shannon Allen with Heritage Park Co-op sharing about our explorative children’s gardening and STEM classes held in the Children’s Garden, and Craig Witt of Full Circle compost sharing his knowledge of all things soil and of course the famous Worm Juice! The Heritage Park Garden committee will have Garden Goodies for sale and a drawing for beautiful Gardening Baskets. The HPG Committee will also be on hand to answer any questions about our Community Garden Plot rental for the 2023 season. You don’t want to miss it – last year’s event was standing-room only, so make sure to arrive early.
We had a packed house for our first Discover Downtown and Mingle of the year. We want to extend our gratitude to our wonderful businesses who stayed open later and in the midst of a monsoon to welcome us in and provide such wonderful hospitality. Thank you to Karen at Chesire Antiques, Darlene at Beautique Beauty Bar, Berzchete at Berzchete’s Nails, and Rachel at Sage River Photography for a most memorable night. We made so many new friends and explored some of the oldest buildings in the district, not to mention their refreshments! If you missed it, don’t worry, we have two more on deck. Our next Discover Downtown & Mingle will be on June 8th! We will announce the next block of businesses as the event draws near. If your business or block of businesses are interested in hosting an upcoming mingle, please let us know! Highlights of the evening and save the date are posted below.
We want to take a moment to thank Douglas County Economic Vitality Director, Lisa Granahan and the Douglas County Board of County Commissioners for the opportunity to present our updates on the 2022 Facade Improvement Grant Program. It was wonderful to share the success we experienced in our first year of this pilot program. We received valuable feedback that will help guide us into the upcoming grant cycle for 2023! If you would like to learn more about this program and if you qualify for our 50/50 reimbursement grants for improvements to your business exterior, visit the Facade Improvement Grant Program landing page.
You can also view our presentation here at the 1hr 15min mark:
The next Grant cycle will open in May 2023 so get those bids ready.
In closing, it’s hard for me to overlook any opportunity to express my gratitude for this wonderful community. Thank you, again, our community and our neighbors for your continued support of our program and this wonderful place we call home. It’s been a pleasure sharing our recent Main Street moments with you, and we are so excited to make more memories soon. Until then shop local, tip generously, and check on your neighbors.
Happy St Paddy’s Day! See you on the streets!
Jen Nalder, Program Director
Main Street Gardnerville