Grassroots of Tarboro

I received the following in an email from my sister:
 
"As you may have heard, each of us will be getting a tax rebate check to stimulate the economy.

If we spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.  If we spend it on gasoline, it will go to the Arabs.  If we purchase a computer, it will go to India.  If we purchase fruits and vegetables, it will go to Mexico, Honduras, Brazil and Guatemala.  If we purchase a good car, it will go to Japan. If we purchase useless stuff, it will go to Taiwan.  And, none of it will help the American economy.

We need to keep that money here in America. The only way to keep that money here at home is to spend it at yard sales since those are the only businesses still in the US! "

Don't forget the Tarboro Townwide Yard Sale  is on May 10th! 

Have fun and support our local economy!

Last night's meeting for Tarboro's 2nd Saturdays had a great turn-out.  We're still putting all of the pieces together for May 10th, but we have a good group of people working to make it happen so,  this morning,  I'm feeling very encouraged.

Although we originally thought that the Tarboro Townwide Yard Sale would only be a Spring and Fall event, we had such a good response to the April 12th  Townwide Yard Sale that Kim and Frank are going to help get another one going for May 10th.  If you are planning a yard sale anytime in the near future, plan it for Saturday, May 10th and be included in the Townwide Yard Sale Directory.   Those who were included in April 12th's Directory said they had a crowd of buyers!

I'll be working with the downtown businesses to help them to coordinate with one another to make the day interesting for downtown shoppers. In the meantime, Alice is working on a Mothers Trivia Game to get folks to visit the various participating businesses. Other businesses and non-profit groups will again come downtown to share in the fun. The Grindhouse Tattoo will be offering tempoary tattoos and face-painting and we're hoping to get Myra McCall back with her oh so relaxing mini-massages.

Seems like the big draw for the day will be FOOD!!!  I don't have all of the details yet but I do believe that Saturday, May 10th will bring some tantalizing tastes to downtown Tarboro.

I'll be posting the details of what is being scheduled as it becomes more solidified on the 2nd Saturday - May 10th page.

Anyone with any ideas for activities, or who wishes to participate in the event, or who wishes to volunteer their time or services, or DONATE money, or simply needs more information, contact me.

Although we've taken a break and aren't having any GOT meetings this week, thinking caps are on and folks are sending me ideas for our next T2S (Tarboro's 2nd Saturdays) event scheduled for Saturday, May 10th, the day before Mother's Day and an excellent time to celebrate Moms and Motherhood.

Here are some ideas:

• Tables offering crafts that kids can inexpensively make for Mom.
• Foot Painting, similiar to finger painting but messier and more fun.  Finished products can be Mother's Day Art.
• May Market... local florists, nurseries and gardeners vend their flowers and plants on Main Street
• Photographers available to take family photos and print them on the spot.
• Non-amplified musicians scattered around serenading us. (If no speakers are used we avoid the "outside speaker ordinance" until we can get council approval.)  This will also spread the music further up and down Main Street.
• Horse and carriage rides - (So far we haven't found a rentable horse & carriage, but its a nice idea)
• Hair stylists, nail salons and tanning parlors could offer something for Moms: a contest to win a service?  Sidewalk mini-makeovers?
• Mom Massage
• Pre-packed Picnic lunches to have a picnic with Mom
• Free event to entertain kids or Girl Scout Babysitting so Moms can shop Main Street shops?

I'll post these ideas and any new ones that come in on the page for the May 10th Event.

While I've got you thinking ... many of you have stated that Wednesday evenings are not a good time to meet because many people have a church-related meeting on Wednesdays.  Use the Post A Comment for this blog entry to share your ideas on what weekday evening would be best for meetings.   THANKS!

I know that I'm biased but I think our first Tarboro's 2nd Saturdays event was a beautiful success.  It may not have matched a professionally-organized (and funded) festival event, but it brought loads of people to downtown Tarboro.  They were on the street smiling, laughing, shopping, eating and having a great time. 

I've uploaded random photos from the day's events. Thank you Kim McGinnis for photos of Tarboro's Town-wide Tag Sale.

To view our GOT PICTURES? Gallery: CLICK HERE

I'd like to invite you to the first of our G.O.T. (Grassroots of Tarboro) projects. Our first Tarboro's 2nd Saturdays event will begin at 7am on this coming Saturday morning, April 12th, 2008.   Twenty families and multi-family groups have registered their yard sales as part of the Tarboro Townwide Tag Sale.  A directory list (& online Google map) is available to guide the visiting bargain hunters to all of the yard sale locations across town.

Starting at 10am, the downtown businesses will be having Sidewalk Sales as another way to attract people to town.  We didn't have all of our plans in place to allow time to submit proposals for use of the Court House Square or Town Common, so Tarboro's 2nd Saturdays for April will be held entirely in front of storefronts downtown.  We have groups serving fish plates, chicken plates, hot dogs, popcorn, candied apples, healthy desserts and, believe it or not, gazpacho.  We'll have LIVE music to entertain the people on a makeshift "stage area" in front of 305 Main Street. We've even put together a rather tricky Anagram-Riddle Game where local gamesters and history buffs can win a prize.  It promises to be a fun day for everyone and a good opportunity for visitors to see Tarboro's downtown COME ALIVE!

This event is just the beginning.  Tarboro's 2nd Saturdays will be a monthly event from April through December.  Not only is it an excellent and relatively inexpensive way to promote our town and attract new visitors, but it creates a sense of unity within our town, gives our town citizens something to look forward to, something to become a part of in creating a good future for Tarboro. 

We don't know yet what the results of our efforts will be, but we invite you to experience it with us on April 12th.  Come downtown and be a part of the event.  We're hoping for a crowd. If our efforts have attracted people to Tarboro, we want them to see activity on the streets. We want them to feel the community spirit. We want them to enjoy their stay and make plans to come again.

One final note, we ask that you postpone selecting ANY internet marketing proposal at this time and focus instead on the revitalization of our town.  Let's get our house in order, before inviting guests to visit.  The $50,000 to $60,000 that would be spent on an "improved web presence" could be put to better use right here at home.  We have some brilliant people in this town, with excellent ideas and loads of experience.   As our town council, you are here FOR us, and in return, we are here for YOU.  Reach out to the community and let us work together for Tarboro's future.