CEO's Comments, Winter 2006-7
In June 2006, the City Council provided New London Main Street with $5,000 in seed money to create two new festivals in Waterfront Park. With help from friends and supporters, we were able to leverage those funds into $13,773 and create two events, which each drew from 1,200 to 1,500 people to the waterfront (See Volume 9, Issue 1, Winter 2007, pg. 7). Thanks to Mitchell College, Cross Sound Ferry, The Day, the Garde Arts Center, the New London Public Library, New London Community Boating, and many others, the Fish Tales, Tugs & Sails, a children's festival for fun and learning, was born on August 13. Hundreds of children explored the Project O boat, met the captain of Patricia Ann, danced and laughed with TBone and listened to Dr. Clouet read Little Toot. Touch tanks and bubble makers, beads, baubles and plain old paper and crayons provided the learning tools for a myriad of activities. Michael's Dairy and Captain's Pizza kept tummies from rumbling.
On August 26, we teamed up with Celtic Cause, the Order of Ancient Hibernians, Mark McKee, Diarmuid Hanafin and others to produce Celts & Currachs, a Celtic heritage festival. Teams made up of members of state and city police departments raced the currachs, traditional Irish rowing boats, that were built here in the spring. Danny O'Flaherty, the featured performer, shared the stage with other vocalists, Irish step dancers, pipers, and Ceili dancers. I was the photographer, and even had time to buy a beautiful Aran sweater from one of the festival's fine craft vendors.
To top off the summer, with help from the New London Voices authors and a small group of jazz enthusiasts, downtown establishments and some funding from the Connecticut Humanities Council, we produced Books, Brushes, Jazz & Blues September 8-10, a festival inspired by Boats, Books & Brushes. Hundreds attended this festival, and many volunteered to help us expand it to include more children's activities.
With all of these festivals, preparing for the Fall Food Stroll and publishing the dining guide, completing and opening the Heritage Trail and tackling the rest of our workload, we were a bit overwhelmed. But our Main Street volunteers helped to pull us through. Bravo to all of you!
