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By Kelly Mason; Item Editor
October 9, 2007
Downtown Hamburg's Streetscape Enhancement
project finally came to a close after years of planning and many months
of construction.Our Town Foundation (OTF), the organization charged with
spear-heading the $1.3 million enhancement project, held a ribbon cutting
ceremony in celebration of the project's completion on Oct. 5, accompanied
by Mardi Gras Night Art Stroll festivities. Deena Kershner, OTF program
manager, opened the ceremony by thanking her staff at the foundation.
She also thanked the surveyor and the construction company that performed
the work on the sidewalks. Last, but not least, Kershner acknowledged
the patience and support of the community and the downtown business owners.
All of the county commissioners were in attendance for the ceremony. Judy
Schwank spoke to the crowd.
"Hamburg is such a unique community,"
Schwank said. "It is like no other place on earth." Schwank
said that the people of Hamburg should be proud of their wonderful community
and added that the county commissioners were all about supporting the
enhancement of communities. Sandy Christman was next at the podium, representing
Senator James J. Rhoades of the 29th senatorial district. Cristman noted
that Sen. Rhoades provided the initial funding for plans for the Streetscape
project in order to get the ball rolling.
"Senator Rhoades wants to send the OTF and Hamburg Borough his best
wishes and congratulations on a job well done," Christman said.Rep.
David Argall was next to speak to the audience. Early in the planning
stages, Argall had chaired a committee that toured 44 Main Street programs."I
am thrilled to see Hamburg take advantage of the Main Street program,"
Argall said. "This is not the end."Kershner spoke last, saying
that in the six years since the OTF formed in 2001, 45 residential and
business owners have received funds to renovate their downtown properties.
Kershner added that there are currently 150 members in the OTF, but that
those in the audience who had come out to celebrate the new downtown should
stop by the OTF and consider joining that night.Without further ado, Road
to Nowhere, a local band on deck to entertain after the ceremony, played
a drum roll and the red, white and blue ribbon stretched across Fourth
Street was cut to a round of applause, making it official that the downtown
Hamburg Streetscape Project had come to a successful close. |
