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May 27, 2010 There are new things on the horizon for Sumner’s Downtown Association. As I clean out my office and introduce the new executive director, Arla Holzschuh, to our business members, volunteers, city staff and various community partners, I realize that five years can go by in the blink of an eye. There are lots of things to be done when you leave a job like mine and although I want to thank everyone for their support of Main Street, especially the Herald for allowing me the opportunity to write about Sumner every month, I’ve decided to share with you a snapshot of my last two weeks here in my office at Heritage Park. I have met, emailed and phoned my board of directors more in the last two weeks than ever. We have reviewed over 50 resumes, made lots of reference calls, interviewed candidates and through it all laughed, brainstormed and stayed true to our organization’s mission and vision concerning downtown. City staff, the mayor and community partners have all been a part of the process as well. I’ve met and worked with our new director who has 20 years of Main Street experience and she can hardly wait to get cracking on design and historic preservation projects in the downtown core. I’ve logged numerous hours with our core volunteer staff putting event workbooks together and doing final audits. I’ve attended my last general membership and board meetings and received hundreds of well wishes from friends and supporters that I am sincerely going to miss. And I have no idea how many visitors I’ve had in my office who have stopped by for a few minutes to reminisce, say good bye and make me promise to give their contact information to Arla as they want to make sure to stay involved in the community. There have been farewell parties with a definite Sumner (or should I say rhubarb pie) feel to them that have made me laugh till my sides hurt. But I have to tell you that the most amazing good bye came from the Sumner High School marching band. My volunteer coordinators made sure I was outside my office last Thursday when what to my disbelieving ears did I hear? The whole Spartan marching band clicking off their cadence past city hall on Maple Street and making their way to my office front door. I’m not quite sure how to describe what it feels like to have almost 100 students and a band director with 20 years tenure here in Sumner stop at your front door, thank you for supporting their program and including them in downtown events, and then perform a live concert for you. But I can guarantee you I was humbled by it. Sumner is one of those places your grandparents talked about with hometown values and community spirit. If you choose to get involved and give back to the community, you are embraced, celebrated and called friend. It’s a progressive community that just happens to think its history is something to be proud of. I have enjoyed introducing Arla to Sumner and I hope everyone will take a minute to stop in and welcome her to town. She’s already told me she’s never worked in a city where people laugh so much and welcome so sincerely. I just smiled and told her that’s why I keep saying it really is fun to spend some time in Sumner.
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