CDG January Newsletter
Cabin Fever Comedy Festival to take place in Mount Vernon and Lisbon March 22, 23, 24
The Promotions Committee of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group has announced a new festival to take place Thursday through Saturday, March 22 through 24. Titled the Cabin Fever Comedy Festival, the event is meant to be a diverse and inclusive Comedy Festival focusing on all aspects of comedy and featuring local and regional comedians and comic groups.
The event will offer comedy for all ages and tastes, and is the brainchild of CDG volunteer Miles Fuller, a stand-up comic and non-fiction writer, currently pursuing a Master’s degree from the University of Iowa.
Funding of the festival will be through the sale of Clown Noses. And all events scheduled throughout the weekend will be free to all patrons wearing the official festival nose. Noses will arrive later this month or you can contact Joe Jennison at the Mount Vernon Visitor Center to purchase.
Call for Venues
As part of the Cabin Fever Comedy Festival, the CDG Comedy Committee is working to secure venues where a diverse group of performers and performances can take place throughout Mount Vernon and Lisbon. Some of the venues already secured include C&D Lounge, First Street Community Center, Chameleon’s, Lisbon City Hall (possible), Lisbon History Center, Lisbon Public Library, Video Village and Scorz. Volunteer committee members are reaching out to several businesses to gauge interest. If you or your business would like to take part, contact Joe Jennison at (319) 210-9935, cell).
Call for Performers
As part of the upcoming Cabin Fever Comedy Festival, the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group Comedy Committee is reaching out to several local performers and performance groups to take part including Elaine Ball (puppeteer), the Iowa Goatsinger, Miles Fuller, Joe Jennison (playwright), Laughing Laura, Mount Vernon High School Improvisation Team, Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Theatre and many others.
If you would like to perform or would like to recommend a local person or group to be part of the comedy lineup, contact Joe Jennison at (319) 210-9935.
Chalk the Walk committee meetings have begun
Work has begun on the organizing of the annual Chalk the Walk event.
The project will once again be a joint community project managed by a team of volunteers and organizations including the City of Mount Vernon Parks and Rec, the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group and the Mount Vernon Area Arts Council. The event is scheduled to take place May 5 and 6. Look for more information coming soon!
Video Village offering late fee forgiveness
The new owners of Video Village will be offering late fee forgiveness during the month of February to all customers.
If you have a fine that is keeping you from returning to the store, you are encouraged to bring in three canned food items.
All items will be donated to Southeast Linn Community Center. And all late fees will be forgiven.
Retail Meetings take place third Tuesday of the month at noon – you must RSVP if you are planning to attend
All are welcome to attend the monthly Retail Meetings of the Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group. This meeting welcomes retailers and others to get together to discuss promotions, events, advertising, marketing and other subjects of concern to the Retail community.
November’s meeting featured important info about prosecuting shoplifters. December’s meeting offered an open conversation that resulted in the creation of a committee to recruit more bus tours to Mount Vernon and Lisbon.
The meeting always takes place at noon at Pizza Palace, 106 First St. W, Mount Vernon. Rawley Alger agrees to open for us for this private meeting. Everyone is served a choice of pizza slices and soda. This month’s meeting is Tuesday, Jan. 17, at noon, at Pizza Palace. If interested in attending, please RSVP to Joe Jennison at director@visitmvl.com so that Rawley knows how much pizza to make. Charge is $6 per person to help cover food and operation costs.
CDG Annual Report to be released next week
CDG’s Annual Report will be coming out next week. Copies will be available at the Mount Vernon Visitor’s Center and the Lisbon History Center, among other places.
Main Street Iowa offers winter training for CDG volunteers
WHAT: The MSI winter workshop will be focused on upper floor revitalization. “Upstairs
Downtown”, developed at Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, will be presented
by Anna Margaret Barris, Dan Carmody and Mike Jackson. This hands-on
training goes beyond the classroom to give attendees the experience of working in
groups to analyze the potential for developing a building.
WHEN: January 31st and February 1st, 2012
Where: Howard Street Christian Church Community Room, 101 North Locust Street in Colfax, Iowa.
Cost: There will be a $30 charge for meals. (includes all breaks both days, lunch and dinner on Tuesday and lunch on Wednesday).
Please have cash or check for $30.00 payable to Colfax Main Street.
RSVP to Joe J if interested at (319) 210-9935.
Important MSI Dates
Main Street Iowa has these upcoming trainings, let Joe know if you want to take part:
Jan. 30 – MSI general orientation and training for new volunteers, Des Moines
Jan. 31 through Feb. 1 – Upper Floor Revitalization, Colfax
Feb. 21 – MSI in Mount Vernon for Tech Visit and Report
June 20-21 – Annual visit and program assessment
Festivals for 2012 – Have you written these dates down in your calendar?
Cabin Fever Comedy Festival, March 22, 23, 24
Chalk the Walk, May 5 and 6
Chocolate Stroll, June 2
Lincoln Highway Antique Extravaganza, July 4
Heritage Days, July 12 through 14
Lincoln Highway, Buy-Way Yard Sale, August 2 through August 4
Sauerkraut Days, August 9 through August 11
Lincoln Highway Art Festival, Sept. 22
HalloweenTown, Oct. 31
Butt Brigade Reminder
The Butt Brigade has shut down for winter.
The Butt Brigade will return to active duty in the spring.
In the meantime, if anyone would like to borrow a broom and a dustpan to tackle downtown cigarette butts, feel free to contact Joe J via cell phone at (319-210-9935). And say no to butts!
Hey! Want to join a Committee?
Business Improvement Committee- Meets third Wednesday at 7:15 a.m.
Organization Committee- Meets second Thursday at 8 a.m.
Promotion Committee- Fourth Tuesday of the month at 7:30 a.m.
Design Committee- This committee always meets at 6 p.m. on the last Thursday of the month.
New committees now forming: Comedy Committee, MSI Awards Committee, Raffle Committee, Tour Bus Committee
Joe Jennison
Main Street and Marketing Director
Mount Vernon-Lisbon Community Development Group
PO Box 31
Mount Vernon, IA 52314
319-895-8214, office
319-210-9935, cell
director@visitmvl.com
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