Wednesday, June 11, 2008

More info on the Busker's Festival

An Official Mentally Healthy Activity, Busker's Festival

This summer get ready for a large dose of happiness with activities for ‘Warren County, A Mentally Healthy Community’ project. You will start to see this logo used by organizations like a ‘Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval’ to indicate that they endorse and take part in mentally healthy activities.

Friday, June 27, will be the summer kick-off of happiness in downtown Warren with the first Busker’s Festival, Allegheny Regional Theater Experience (ARTE), and Music in the Park.

The streets in downtown Warren will be filled with musicians, singers, jugglers, mimes, bands, dancers, actors, clowns, and happiness. A Busker’s festival is a derivative from centuries ago in European cultures and has transformed into enjoyable street entertainment. At many festivals entertainers perform to make a living or at least augment their income with their music cases open and people pitching in a few dollars as appreciation for their happiness distraction.

Gary Lester, Executive Director of Family Services of Warren County, has attended many of these festivals and felt that Warren County was due for a shot of happiness. Along with attending numerous festivals, Gary has attained an associated educational background at the William Glasser Institute. The project has teamed up the Warren County Summer Music School, Family Services, and Warren Main Street in an effort to focus on mental health. Gary states, “I am firmly convinced that we need to swing the focus away from the ‘mental illness’ model to the ‘mental health’ model. If you are physically unhealthy, you have a pretty good idea what to do, improve diet, exercise, and kick a few bad habits. I don’t think people always know what to do to maintain mental health, which Dr. Glasser defines simply as ‘happiness’. Mentally healthy activities abound in our community and the projects goal is to raise awareness of them and to get as many people involved in them as possible. Music and other performances are a great source of happiness for a great many people whether they are performers or people who come to watch. The Busker’s Festival is designed to get our talented people out there to do what they love to do and so others can enjoy what they do and maybe get involve in more mentally healthy activities themselves.”

The Busker’s Festival will take over the downtown starting at 2:30 pm and will have continuous entertainment until 7:00 pm. Matched up with the afternoon of entertainment will be the evening performance at the Struthers Library Theatre for ARTE and the season kick off of Music in the Park.

All types of performing arts are welcome. Chris Cheronis, Warren Main Street Manager, said, “Registration, performer’s location, and time slots are being coordinated through our office at 310 Second Avenue. You may stop in, call 814-723-1360 or visit our website at www.warrenpamainstreet.org. You must include you name, contact number, name of group, type of performance, number of 30 minute time slots, preferred starting time, and any request for electrical power.”

Gary adds, “Please open your hearts, instrument cases, and pocket books in support”.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Community Clean-Up Day

Community Clean-Up Day

Description: Warren residents "spit & polish" the downtown in preparation for the Summer Events Season. 7am - 2pm. Volunteers welcome! Bring your gardening tools, brooms and windex!
Date: Saturday, June 28, 2008
Time: 7:00am-11:00am EDT
Duration: 4 hours

Buskers Festival

Come to downtown Warren to experience the live performances of our local youth and adult musicians and artists in a day of music and art! Musicians, performing artists, painters, mimes, jugglers, food and so much more! The fun begins at 1pm - 10pm
Date: Friday, June 27, 2008

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Warren's Old Fashioned Christmas Event List

Warren's Old Fashioned Christmas

Dec 2nd: "Community Christmas Tree and Family Film Night"Begins at 2pm at the Struthers Library Theatre

Dec 3-6: "Find Santa's Reindeer.Scavenger Hunt in Downtown Businesses

Dec 4 "Parents' Nite Out". Mom and Dad drop off the kids and have a night of shopping and dining.

Dec 7 - "Warren's Old Fashioned Christmas Walk & Santa Parade" 6-8pm. Live Windows, caroling, vendors and fun!

Volunteers for Christmas Walk/Santa Parade

Plans are underway for a bigger and better Christmas celebration in downtown Warren.

And at the top of Warren Main Street's wish list is lots and lots of volunteers.

According to Main Street Manager Chris Cheronis, this year's Christmas Walk, scheduled for Dec. 7 in Warren will be expanded to include eight streets.

New additions to the annual celebrations include a return of the popular 'Santa House' and several recreations of parade floats from the 1930's.

The Christmas Walk and parade will encompass the downtown from Pennsylvania Ave. to Hickory St. to Market St. to Fourth Ave. The area will be divided into different Christmas themes.

We'll have a winter wonderland, Santa's Workshop, a nativity, open houses, Cheronis said "The Historical Society" will have sleigh rides.

Cheronis envisioned the revamped Christmas Walk becoming a countywide event, set in downtown Warren.

"A lot of our smaller outlying areas don't have the opportunity to have this on their own." Cheronis said.

"All the communities in the outlying areas can have an area in the downtown they can work on. We really want to make this a countywide event. This is not just a Warren event; we need to promote the entire county".

This year's Christmas celebration marks the return of the 'Santa House', which was located in the small park on Liberty St. between Cady's Hallmark and the McKissock Building.

"The Santa House is being built by Warren County Career Center students as we speak". Cheronis said, 'they are so excited about it".

The house will be permanently located in the park, Cheronis said, and will be utilized during various holidays.

When you mention to people that we're bringing it back, they get a big grin on their face, Cheronis said.

"That same kind of tradition we had, we can give it to our kids. How can that get any better"?

In addition to the Santa House, this year's celebration will feature several wood floats recreated from a video of Warren's 1939 Christmas parade.

"We're trying to get people involved to help build these floats". Cheronis said. "There's a lot of building involved. We need local craftsmen to help volunteer. We need local artists to help do the scenery. We want to hear from anyone interested in helping in the smallest way".

Anyone interested in volunteering to help Main Street with the Christmas celebration can contact the program's office at 723-1360 or email Chris at info@warrenpamainstreet.org.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007

TASTE OF WARREN & Art Gallery Opening

A Taste of Warren will be held on Saturday, October 13th from 6 to 8pm, presented by Warren Main Street and downtown eateries. 100 hungry palates will be satisfied in downtown with samples from the area’s best culinary offerings and great musical entertainment, all with the purchase of one of the 100 $25 tickets to be sold for the event. This event is being held in conjunction with the Grand Opening of the Warren Regional Arts and Cultural Center at 310 2nd Avenue from 8 to 9pm. The Liberty Street CafĂ© and Snuffy’s will be serving entrees, Fresh Cup will feature a special salad, La Fiesta has a appetizer to present, and dessert at the Gallery will be provided by the Plaza. The gallery will be the last stop on the Taste of Warren excursion, with dessert, beverages, and live music. Many regional artists will be present and have their work on display. This is a great way to support the local artists and restaurateurs. Tickets are available at the Warren Main Street Office, 310 2nd Avenue, Warren. For more information on the Taste of Warren or the Art Gallery call 814-723-1360.

HURRY! Only $25 per ticket!!!

Friday, August 24, 2007

Big Blue Garage Sale

Big Blue Garage Sale

Downtown Parking Garage

Saturday, September 8th

Time: 9am to 3pm

Set-up is at 7, ready by 8:45, out by 5pm

Downtown/Storefront Merchants will receive 2 spaces in the parking garage if you wish (must register). You’ll have to provide your own tables. The Main Street Fee is waved because you are a downtown business but there is a $5 Vendor Fee/City Permit Fee payable to Warren Main Street care of Jennifer Rossey by August 31st. There are forms that must be filled out for the city and Jennifer Rossey can assist you with that. If you are an individual who would like to sell items it’s $10 per spot plus $5 vendor/license fee. If you are a Professional Seller or Business from another area (outside downtown) it’s $20 per space plus $5 vendor fee.

Storefronts are encouraged to sell New items as well as clearance items. To register contact Jennifer Rossey at the Library Theatre at 814-723-7231.