Lovable Lincolnton Possibility Tour

Stop 1:

Court Square Stadium 10 Cinemas

A new movie theater with ten screens and stadium seating could be the newest coming attraction to the Court Square in Lincolnton. The multi-million dollar project could go up on what is now the parking lot for the Citizens’ center. Not only will it fill a hole left by the loss of the Historic North State Hotel but it will also energize downtown Lincolnton at night for restaurants and other businesses. A movie theater will be a huge catalyst for after-hours activity downtown.

And the use of this state of the art facility won’t be limited to just ‘coming attractions’ at night. It could also function as a meeting facility during the day hosting public and private clients that require breakout rooms for conference sessions and/or presentations. New food service facilities would complement the new meeting space and enhance and expand the use of the existing James Warren Citizens Center auditorium.

Don’t fret about where to park. New public parking areas will be included in the project. Built adjacent to the theater on the Water Street block between Government and High Streets, the new parking area will be easily accessible for daytime use as well as for moviegoers and will accommodate existing and additional vehicles.

The elaborately decorated art deco architecture of the new building will harken back to the days of the grand classically-styled movie palaces of the 1920s and 30s that ‘made the average citizen feel like royalty’ and yet with a nod to the simpler stylings of the curve on the Beaux Arts Reinhardt building across the street, the new theater will complement and fit in with the existing architecture downtown.

This is a sneak peek of the exciting possibilities that exist downtown…Soon six more stops on the Lovable Lincolnton Possibilities tour will be revealed.

Why limit yourself to one ‘big box’ when you can Give the Gift of Lincolnton?

Holiday Products and Services Buying Guide
These…(and more) are available downtown with

Jingle Bucks Gift Certificates

Antiques, Art, Apples, Art Glass, Apparel, Alterations, Accounting
Bicycles, Books, Beer, Blouses, Bonds, Blueprints, Baseball Caps, Beauty products, Belts, Bracelets, Brakes, Batteries, Briefcases, Business Cards, Bookkeeping
Coffee, Clocks, Cream Horns, Cakes, Clothes, Candy, Chairs, Chocolates, Coins, Chiropractic, Community Concerts, Candles, Cards
Dance Lessons, Doughnuts, Dental Work, Donations, Dresses, Delivery, Dream Dates
Education, Engraving, Exercise, Entertainment, Exhaust systems, Elections
(Ok so you really can’t buy elections with Jingle Bucks but the elections office is downtown)
Flowers, Fishing supplies, Frames, Fabric, Fire Hose, Fireplace Inserts, French Fries, Furniture
Gas, Graphic Design, Grooming, Grills, Golf Shirts, Gift Certificates, Gold, Gift Baskets
Haircuts, HVAC systems, Home Décor, Handbags, Hot Dogs, Hamburgers, Hearing Aids
Ice Cream, Insurance, Inspections, Investments, Industrial Supplies
Jewelry, Jackets, Juice, Jeans,
Karate, Knick Knacks, Knifes, Knobs, Knowledge
Lunch, Lettuce, Legal Aid, Lincoln Landmark Miniatures, Lollipops, Library Fines, Lipstick,
Muffins, Mufflers, Massage, Mutual Funds, Makeup, Manicures, Music Concerts
Necklaces, Newspapers, Notebooks, Nail Polish
Office Supplies, Office Space, Ottomans, Offering, Ornaments
Pottery, Pastry, Pizza, PCs. Printing, Piano Lessons, Permits, Pools, Pasta, Plants, Painted Pots, Physician Visits, Psychologist Visits, Pocketbooks, Pants, Paper, Photography, Portraits, Parade Entries
Quality…
Roses, Ribbons, Rings, Repairs, Roller Covers, Reubens, Real Estate
Supper, Stamps, Stocks, Soft Drinks, Signs, Shampoo, Shirts, Scrapbooks, Scissors, Shoes
Tires, Trophies, T-Shirts, Tithes, Tax filing, Tuxedos, Tables, Tea, Theater Tickets
Utility Bills
Vacuums, Violin Lessons, Vegetables, Variances, Valances
Wine, Wheels, Washes, Watches, Water Filters, Wills, Wreaths
Xerox,
Yogurt, Yuengling
Zumba

First United Methodist Church Receives Polished Apple Award

Lincolnton, NC—First United Methodist Church recently received the City of Lincolnton Polished Apple Award for the renovation of their building at 201 East Main Street. John Gilleland, City of Lincolnton Mayor presented the award to the Rev. David Wyant.

"We are extremely happy to present First United Methodist Church with the City of Lincolnton Polished Apple Award," said Jason Harpe, Polished Apple Award Chairperson. "The rehabilitated building and restored stained glass windows is most deserving of this award and we commend First Methodist for their work."

The Polished Apple Award is a city-wide recognition program established to recognize and encourage positive community design improvements in the City of Lincolnton. A program of the City of Lincolnton’s Business and Community Development Department, award recipients are selected by a volunteer citizen group and are determined based on the established program criteria.

“The award recognizes business and property owners that exemplify community pride by exceptional upkeep and improvements to their properties,” said Brad Guth, Business and Community Development Director. “We want folks to take pride in the appearance of our community and give recognition to those that make exemplary efforts to do so.”

The review committee meets on a regular basis to review applications and nominations. A property owner may apply or a noteworthy improvement project may be nominated to receive the award. For more information on the Polished Apple Award, contact the City of Lincolnton Business and Community Development department at 704-736-8915.

Rhyne Financial 8k Run 4k Walk

Rhyne Financial 8k Run 4k Walk

Benefiting: The Lincoln County Public Education Foundation
Date: Saturday, October 22, 2011
Time: 9:00 am
Place: Rhyne Financial-218 West Main St., Lincolnton, NC
Distance: 8k Run/4k Walk

The Rhyne Financial 8k Run/4k Walk will benefit The Lincoln County Public Education Foundation. The purpose of the foundation is to:

• provide leadership ability and other support for extended educational opportunities


• to build an endowment fund as a perpetual source of support for educational opportunites, in particular the implementation of technology in the classroom


• to fund, through the endowment, creative and innovative grant requests from local teachers


• and to foster a community-school partnership in perserving, maintaining, and improving public education in Lincoln County.

Click Here to Learn More About The Lincoln County Public Education Foundation

Description: All races will be held on Saturday, October 22nd, 2011. The start time for both the 8k Run and 4k Walk is 9:00 am.

8k Run Course:

The run course begins and ends on Sycamore Street behind Rhyne Financial. The 8k run is a challenging one lap course throughout scenic Lincolnton, the Marcia H. Cloninger Rail Trail and many beautiful neighborhoods.

View 8k Run Course Here

Sign up for the Adult 8k Run Here: http://www.racingtoes.com/products/Rhyne-Financial-8k-Run%252dAdult-Sign-Up-.html

Sign up for the Student 8k Run Here: http://www.racingtoes.com/products/Rhyne-Financial-8k-Run%252dStudent-Sign-Up-.html

4k Walk Course:

The walk course begins and ends on Sycamore Street behind Rhyne Financial. The 4k walk is a one lap course throughout scenic Lincolnton, the Marcia H. Clonginer Rail Trail. The 4k walk follows some of the 8k run course, but cuts off for a different ending route, but still ends at the same finish line as the 8k run course.

View 4k Walk Course Here

Sign up for the 4k Walk Here: http://www.racingtoes.com/products/Rhyne-Financial-4k-Walk-Sign-Up-.html

Parking: Race day parking available at The Citizens Center, Emmanuel Lutheran Church and First Presbyterian Church.

Pricing:
Race Entry Fees

Early/Race Day

Adult 8k Only
$20/ $25
Student 8k
$15/$25

4k Walk (all entrants)
$20/$25

Entry Fees are non-refundable and must be received by October 14th, 2011. Early registration guarantees event T-shirt. Online Registration will require a $2.95 processing fee which is calculated at checkout.

Printable Registration Form
*All participants receive a long-sleeve T-shirt and goodie bag*There will be Pre & Post Race entertainment & refreshments*Early Registration-deadline Friday, October 14th, 2011

If mailing in your registration form, please make checks payable to: Lincoln County Public Education Foundation

By Mail Submit Entry Form and Registration Fee to:

Rhyne Financial

PO Box 615

Lincolnton, NC 28093

Or you can deliver to Rhyne Financial located at 218 West Main Street, Lincolnton.

Timing System:

The 8k Run will be manually timed. The 4k Walk will NOT be a timed event.

Packet Pick-up:

1) Friday, October 21, 2011 from 5-6:30pm at Rhyne Financial2) Saturday, October 22, 2011 from 7-8:45am at Rhyne Financial. Race begins at 9:00am. All participants must have registered and received their race number by 8:45am.

Age Divisions:

8k Run

There will be an overall male and female winner for the 8k.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd place award for each age group
14 and under; 15-19; 20-24; 25-29; 30-34; 35-39; 40-44; 45-49; 50-54; 55-59; 60-64; 65-69; 70-74; 75-79; 80 & over


Affiliated Charities:

This event benefits The Lincoln County Public Education Foundation.

Sponsorship Opportunities:

$100 donation-name will be listed on the back of the event T-shirt. Call Rhyne Financial if interested in Sponsorship at 704-736-0388

http://www.racingtoes.com/pages/Rhyne-Financial-8k-Run-4k-Walk.html

October Coffee & Conversation Topics

Thanks to Mayor Gilleland for being our guest at Coffee & Conversation in October!

Topics included: Ingles grocery store development; Former Wal-mart building; Satellite police station location alternatives; County office relocation and possible alternatives to keep all offices downtown; Communications/dispelling rumors; Tourism development; Catawba Valley Pottery Center and the possibilities of a new downtown movie theater.

Mark Your Calendars for Next month’s Coffee and Conversation Friday, November 4th. 36th Street Bakery 8am. Suggestions for our next guest in November are welcome.

October marks the first anniversary of coffee and conversation. Designed to be a small informal discussion group to give downtown business and property owners and interested citizens the chance to express their opinions, make suggestions and ask questions about downtown and the community in general. It has grown to be an essential part of the Downtown Development Association’s business retention and expansion efforts.

It has provided an opportunity for DDA staff and volunteers to learn about the local business community’s perception of Lincolnton and the advantages and disadvantages of operating a business here. We have learned about the needs of specific businesses and been able to respond to those needs.

Around 65 to 80 percent of new jobs are created by existing businesses in a community rather than by those that relocate to a community. Existing businesses are already ‘citizens’ of the community. They employ people who live in the area and purchase goods and services from other businesses in the community.

Coffee and Conversation has provided another informal opportunity for DDA staff and volunteers to communicate with the business community and expand its reputation for caring about local businesses and their success.

First Friday Coffee & Conversation with Mayor John Gilleland

First Friday Coffee and Conversation (FFCC) is this Friday morning at 8am at 36th Street Bakery & Cafe. Our guest is John Gilleland, Mayor City of Lincolnton. Come share your ideas for the City of Lincolnton.

Designed to be a small informal discussion group to give downtown business and property owners and interested citizens the chance to express their opinions, make suggestions and ask questions about downtown and the community in general. FFCC encourages social interaction among citizens and builds community.

The idea for the Coffee and Conversation series is rooted in the community planning concept of “Third Places” popularized by Ray Oldenburg in his Book--The Great Good Place. The “first place’ is the home and the people one lives with. The ‘second place’ is the work place where everyone spends most of their time. Third places are meeting places such as cafes or coffee houses the ‘anchors’ of community life that facilitate and foster creative interaction and are welcoming and comfortable.

A community's well-being is dependent on the quality of relationships among the citizens of that community. Infrastructure, roads, water, sewer, electricity and housing provides the shell within which people live. It is within this shell that people do the things together that allow them to sustain livelihoods. These include but are not limited to education, health care, business, recreation, and spiritual celebration. People working together with shared understandings and expectations are what provide a place of strong community.

You're invited to this uniquely local experience. Each month a business or community leader will be invited to participate in the conversation. There are no formal presentations or programs. The topics for discussion will be focused on whatever interests those that attend. The event is BYOC--That's Buy Your Own Coffee.

Good Life Delights Opens on Court Square

The Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton is pleased to announce that ice cream is available again in downtown Lincolnton. Good Life Delights Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt has opened in downtown Lincolnton.

Good Life Delights specializes in making people smile with a variety flavors of Pet ice cream and frozen yogurt. It is a small shop with only a few seats including a counter overlooking the sidewalk that provides an excellent spot to watch all the activity on the Square. There are also a few seats outside on the sidewalk.

Good Life Delights is owned by Mark Derr and has four employees including his twin sons Kyle and Cale. Each are managers of the scoop shop. They are all looking forward to getting involved in the Lincolnton community.

Derr owns the only bail bonds business downtown which is located next door. With Good Life Delights, he has found another business niche that was underserved in Lincolnton.

“There just wasn’t a place to get ice cream in downtown Lincolnton, said Derr. “I had heard that the ice cream shop across the square did a good business before it moved so I figured it was a good opportunity.”

“Downtown is an ideal location for the business with a lot of pedestrian traffic and one of Lincolnton’s busiest restaurants next door,” said Brad Guth, Business & Community Development Director for the City of Lincolnton. “There is easy access, easy parking and great visibility in the heart of Lincolnton.”

Based on the success of only a few days, Good Life Delights is already exploring expansion plans from adding packaged ice cream sales to a birthday room and even door to door delivery in downtown. Craving a milkshake but can’t get away from your desk? Good Life Delights Mobile comes to the rescue.

The Lincolnton Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Grand Opening for Good Life Delights Tuesday, September 15 at 10:30am. In the meantime stop by the shop and check it out for yourself.

For more information on Good Life Delights, contact them directly at 704-732-3543 or stop by the shop at 107 West Court Square from 11am to 9pm Monday through Saturday.

For more information on other business opportunities in downtown Lincolnton, please contact Brad J Guth at the Downtown Development Association at 704-736-8915 or visit www.downtownlincolnton.org

The Downtown Development Association Recognizes Entreprenurial Success Stories with 2011 Main Street Milestone Awards

Each year the Downtown Development Association recognizes businesses in downtown for their entrepreneurial success at five year intervals. Downtown Lincolnton has the highest concentration of locally-owned independent businesses in Lincoln County. Small businesses are the leading job creators and employers in Lincolnton as well as the state and country. Often great attention is given to the attraction of new business to a community neglecting the contribution and support existing businesses make to the local economy and community.

The Main Street Milestone Award acknowledges the significant contributions these small businesses make to create local jobs, increase the local tax base and improve the quality of life for local residents. It highlights and celebrates the individual entrepreneurial success stories that make Lincolnton such a great place to live, work, play and belong.

The following Businesses will be recognized Friday August 26th at the Downtown Development Associations annual awards program during the intermission at the Fourth Friday Alive After Five Concert.

2006 5 Year Milestone
My Treasures
Helms Security

2001 10 Year Milestone
Nachamie & Whitley
Shear Options

1996 15 Year Milestone
Aeros Electrolux
Clocks and Collectibles
Fausto Coffee
Hi-Lites
Lincoln Insurance Agency
Rhyne Financial

1986 25 Year Milestone
A Cut Above
Edward Jones Investments
John Lassiter DDS
Williams Design

1981 30 Year Milestone
Hoyle Services
Lewis & Shuford

1976 35 Year Milestone
Merican Muffler

1971 40 Year Milestone
Clark Properties

1966 45 Year Milestone
Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio

1946 65 Year Milestone
Lincolnton/Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce

1936 75 Year Milestone
EF Drum Funeral Home

For additional information on the Main Street Milestone Awards contact the Downtown Development Association at 704-736-8915

City of Lincolnton Receives 2011 National Trust Main Street Accreditation

The City of Lincolnton has been designated as an accredited National Main Street Community for meeting the downtown revitalization performance standards set by the National Trust Main Street Center.

"We congratulate Lincolnton for meeting our established performance standards," says Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust Main Street Center. "Lincolnton is meeting the challenges of the recession head on and is successfully using a focused comprehensive revitalization strategy to keep downtown Lincolnton vibrant and sustainable."

Over $26 million has been invested in downtown Lincolnton since being recognized as a Main Street Community 15 years ago. On balance that is over $1.5 million each year and just under $2,500 per capita using 2010 census numbers. Vital economic statistics also include 37 facade renovations, 30 building renovations, 271 Net New Jobs, and 89 Net New Small Businesses.

The organization's performance is annually evaluated by the NC Department of Commerce, which works in partnership with the National Trust Main Street Center to indentify the local programs that meet performance standards.

Lincolnton has been recognized as National Main Street Community each year since 1999.

First Friday Coffee & Conversation this Friday Aug 5th with new Arts Council President Tina Guffey

First Friday Coffee and Conversation (FFCC) is this Friday morning at at 8am at 36th Street Bakery & Cafe. Our guest is Tina Guffey the new Board President of the Arts Council of Lincoln County. Come share your thoughts on the arts in Lincoln County and learn about the upcoming initiatives the Arts Council has planned.

Designed to be a small informal discussion group to give downtown business and property owners and interested citizens the chance to express their opinions, make suggestions and ask questions about downtown and the community in general. The series encourages social interaction among citizens and builds community.

The idea for the Coffee and Conversation series is rooted in the community planning concept of “Third Places” popularized by Ray Oldenburg in his Book--The Great Good Place. The “first place’ is the home and the people one lives with. The ‘second place’ is the work place where everyone spends most of their time. Third places are meeting places such as cafes or coffee houses the ‘anchors’ of community life that facilitate and foster creative interaction and are welcoming and comfortable.

A community's well-being is dependent on the quality of relationships among the citizens of that community. Infrastructure, roads, water, sewer, electricity and housing provides the shell within which people live. It is within this shell that people do the things together that allow them to sustain livelihoods. These include but are not limited to education, health care, business, recreation, and spiritual celebration. People working together with shared understandings and expectations are what provide a place of strong community.

You are invited to this uniquely local experience. Each month a business or community leader participates in the conversation. There are no formal presentations or programs. The topics for discussion will be focused on whatever interests those that attend. The event is BYOC--That's Buy Your Own Coffee.

Downtown Businesses Decorate Storefront Windows To Celebrate Their Independents

Watson's Insurance had the winning window. The window was painted by employee Michelle Diciuccio and her daughter Laurel Diciuccio {a Jr. at Maiden High School}

Local business owners in downtown Lincolnton showed off their artistic skills as they celebrated the 4^th of July by painting the downtown in red, white & blue. The Downtown Development Association {DDA} once again sponsored the 4^th of July Window Decorating Contest, where local, independent businesses were encouraged to decorate their storefront windows with a patriotic theme. The participating businesses had the chance to win one of four cash prizes: 1^st place will receive $100, 2^nd Place $75, 3^rd Place $50 and 4^th Place $25.

The 4^th of July Committee, who is responsible for the judging of the windows, had their work cut out for them this year! While many downtown businesses decorated their storefronts, the twelve businesses that participated in the contest, amazed citizens away with their creativity. The winners were announced as follows:

1^st Place - Watson’s Insurance

2^nd Place - 36^th Street Bakery & Café

3^rd Place - Glamorous Productions

4^th Place - Main Street Café

Honorable Mention-Estate Jewelers & Treasure’s On Main

The 4th of July Window Decorating Contest is a part of the DDA’s award-winning promotional event- Independents Days, which was recognized by the N.C. Main Street Center as Best Downtown Special Event in 2008.

Independents Days, in short, was created to celebrate locally owned and independent businesses in downtown Lincolnton. The event, which is held July 1 - 14, includes the Shop Local Challenge, the Find Your Independents Scavenger Hunt, the 4^th of July window decorating contest, and – returning again this year - the 3/50 Project. Each event is intended to drive traffic into business, and to introduce new potential customers to their products and services.

If you have any questions about Independents Days or the 4^th of July Window Decorating Contest, please contact The Downtown Development Association at 704-736-8915 or by emailing charitycarson@ci.lincolnton.nc.us. Thank you to all the participating businesses for your support in this patriotic event.

Lincolnton Citizens Celebrate Independents Days

Independents Days is once again being celebrated in downtown Lincolnton July 1 - 14. Named "Best Downtown Special Event 2008" by the North Carolina Main Street Center, this year's Independents Days includes the Shop Local Challenge, the Find Your Independents scavenger hunt, and the 3/50 project.

The initiative was begun by the American Independent Business Alliance (AMIBA) as "Independents Week," but the Downtown Development Association's (DDA) Promotions Work Group put its own spin on the event by starting Independents Days, a two week long celebration of downtown Lincolnton's locally owned independent businesses, in 2008.

The Shop Local Challenge encourages the public to shop locally owned businesses first, and to keep track of items that are not available from such establishments. Lists of those items may be turned in to the DDA at the Business & Community Development office, 114 East Main Street, to help the organization in identifying products and services that could benefit the downtown community.

Perhaps one of the more popular activities of Independents Days is the Find Your Independents scavenger hunt. To play the game, participants pick up game cards at the Business & Community Development Office or other participating businesses. They then scour locally owned businesses in the downtown area in search of the unique items listed on the game cards. Clerks in each business will mark the card with a special sticker acknowledging that the items have been found. Once participants find all of the items, they will then turn their game cards in to the Business & Community Development office by July 14 where one will be randomly drawn on July 15 for a prize package filled with goodies from each of the following participating businesses: 36^th Street Bakery & Café, Fausto’s Coffee, First Federal Savings Bank, Heavenly Paws Pet Grooming, Hi-Lites, Kate McCall, Merle Norman Cosmetic Studio/Studio 220, The Perfect Spot and Ride-A-Bike. No purchase is necessary to play the game.

"The game was developed to offer some incentive for people to visit downtown Lincolnton's locally owned independent businesses that they may not visit on a regular basis," said Cathy Davis, Chair of the DDA Promotions Work Group. "We hope that our participants discover something new downtown, whether it be a new business or an item that they did not know was available in Lincolnton."

The final facet of the promotion, the 3/50 Project, has swept the nation's independently owned businesses since its launch earlier this year. The project asks citizens to identify the three independently owned businesses that they would miss most if they were gone. Citizens are then encouraged to stop by those businesses - to pick up a small gift for a friend or even just to say hello - as a way of showing their support.

“Fifty comes from the idea that if even half the employed population spent a mere $50 per month in locally owned retail stores, those purchases would generate more than $42.6 billion in revenue,” said Cinda Baxter, creator of the 3/50 Project. “That's a huge impact for a relatively small investment.”

Approximately $68 remains in a community's economy for every $100 spent in locally owned stores. By contrast, only $43 per $100 remains local when spent in national chains; little or no revenue results from online purchases.

“In essence, the whole thing boils down to 'Pick 3, spend 50, save the economy.' It's really that

simple,” said Baxter.

More information on the 3/50 Project can be found at www.the350project.net, and more information on Independents Days can be obtained by calling Lincolnton Business & Community Development at (704) 736-8915 or visiting www.downtownlincolnton.blogspot.com.

First Friday Coffee and Conversation with Bob Terri Director of the UMAR Arts Center

First Friday Coffee and Conversation (FFCC) is this Friday morning at at 8am at 36th Street Bakery & Cafe. Our guest is Bob Terri the director of the new UMAR Arts Center in downtown Lincolnton. Come see the plans for this new Arts Center that will anchor the Academy Street Arts District in Downtown Lincolnton.

Designed to be a small informal discussion group to give downtown business and property owners and interested citizens the chance to express their opinions, make suggestions and ask questions about downtown and the community in general. The series encourages social interaction among citizens and builds community.

The idea for the Coffee and Conversation series is rooted in the community planning concept of “Third Places” popularized by Ray Oldenburg in his Book--The Great Good Place. The “first place’ is the home and the people one lives with. The ‘second place’ is the work place where everyone spends most of their time. Third places are meeting places such as cafes or coffee houses the ‘anchors’ of community life that facilitate and foster creative interaction and are welcoming and comfortable.

A community's well-being is dependent on the quality of relationships among the citizens of that community. Infrastructure, roads, water, sewer, electricity and housing provides the shell within which people live. It is within this shell that people do the things together that allow them to sustain livelihoods. These include but are not limited to education, health care, business, recreation, and spiritual celebration. People working together with shared understandings and expectations are what provide a place of strong community.

You are invited to this uniquely local experience. Each month a business or community leader participates in the conversation. There are no formal presentations or programs. The topics for discussion will be focused on whatever interests those that attend. The event is BYOC--That's Buy Your Own Coffee.

New UMAR Arts Center of Lincolnton to Anchor Academy Street Arts District Downtown

Anchoring downtown Lincolnton's developing Academy Street Arts District the new UMAR Arts Center is located at 202 East Main Street. Soon the building formerly housing Creative Travel & Rainbow Vacuum will be transformed into a retail gallery and studio for artists working in a variety of art mediums.

The UMAR ARTS Program organizes partnerships with artists from the community to teach various forms of art to adults with disabilities. Program participants have the opportunity to learn about, create and display for sale, different forms of visual art such as painting, pottery, and digital photography.

As program participants gain skills in their chosen art mediums, they also receive critical job training. UMAR has extensive experience in job training for adults with disabilities and the arts curriculum follows the same education process. After training, program participants are placed in competitive employment in the community as support for artists in locations such as galleries, museums, frame shops, ceramics studios, retail stores, catering or performing art venues.

The UMAR ARTS Program offers morning and afternoon sessions with participation at the center as well as in the community. Morning sessions include classes such as Art Redesign, Mixed Media, Drawing & Painting, Paint Exploration, Clay Sculpture and Photography. Community-based afternoon field trips include attendance at arts shows, gallery crawls.

UMAR is a nonprofit organization that promotes community inclusion, independence and growth for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through residential, employment and cultural enrichment opportunities. Since 1983, UMAR has pioneered diverse supports for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across western North Carolina.

In addition to the UMAR Arts Program local artists can rent upstairs studio space and have display/sales space in the Art Center gallery. For more information on the UMAR Arts Center Contact Bob Terri UMAR Arts Center Director 813-416-1844

"Cruise-In" to Downtown Lincolnton May 1st

Classic car owners and enthusiasts will unite at the Downtown Lincolnton May Cruise-In on Sunday, May 1, 2011, between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. The semi-annual event attracts over 300 classic cars, including a wide range from hot-rods to American muscle to classic cruisers. The Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton and Holy Cross Lutheran Church partner to host the event, which is open to all cars and trucks manufactured in or before 1974. The family friendly event closes down East Main Street between Court Square and Laurel Street and is open to the public and free for spectators.

For more information on this event, please contact the Downtown Development Association at 704.736.8915 or 114 E Main Street.

Alive After Five now on Fridays

The Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton has announced the schedule for the 2011 Alive After Five Summer Concert Series. The series will take place on a NEW DAY... Friday evenings, and at a NEW TIME...7:00 p.m.

"We are really excited about this year’s Alive After Five concert series. We hope having the concerts on Friday evenings will draw a larger crowd and give families a fun way to start their weekend," said Crystal Gettys, Chair of the Downtown Development Association.

The concerts are held on the fourth Friday of each month, April through August {with the exception of April, due to Good Friday falling on the fourth Friday}, from 7:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m. on the Court Square at East Main Street in downtown Lincolnton. The events are free and open to the public. Lawn chairs are encouraged, but no coolers will be allowed.

Alive After Five Summer Concert Series Schedule:

April 29 – The Extraordinaires (Beach/Variety)

May 27- Another Lost Year (Rock)

June 24 – Fantastic Shakers (Beach/Variety)

July 22 – Matt Walsh (Blues)

August 26 – Ocean Boulevard (Beach)

2011 Hog Happenin' Volunteers Needed

With only 43 days left until Lincolnton's 11th annual Hog Happenin', the City of Lincolnton and the Downtown Development Association are busy putting all the final details together for the BBQ & Biker Fest...and we need your HELP!

If you are interested in Volunteering at this family fun event, please contact the Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton at 704.736.8915 or volunteer@downtownlincolnton.org

Artwork for the 2011 Art Crawl done by Local Artist

Painting by Lincolnton Artist Laurie Bostian
of Personal Artist Studio & Gallery

The 2011 Art Crawl Downtown Lincolnton featured over 80 local artists, including downtown's very own Laurie Bostian, owner of Personal Artist Studio & Gallery. Bostian was clearly inspired by our historic downtown when she painted this vibrant scene for the 2011 Art Crawl's artwork. The artwork was used on all the event's promotional items, including posters, fliers and t-shirts.

Bostian, who specializes in portraits, was born in Sugar Tit, South Carolina and raised in North Carolina, so her southern roots have influenced her greatly. She graduated from Appalachian State University in1994. After teaching Kindergarten and First Grade, she left education for awhile and had two beautiful and very entertaining boys! She worked her way back into the art field and gradually combined her two passions- art and teaching, which is what the Personal Artist Studio & Gallery is all about.

We will miss Laurie when she closes her studio doors at the end of May...But don't worry...You will still be able to find her in downtown. She will be teaching classes a couple nights a week at the Lincoln Cultural Center. Be sure to check out the Art Camp she will be teaching this summer.

Bostian has turned the Art Crawl painting and other Lincolnton historical sites into prints that can be purchased for as little as $10. Framed pieces start at $175. Note cards of the paintings are sold as a set for just $10 and can be purchased at the Lincoln County/Lincolnton Chamber of Commerce. For more information on the unframed and framed prints, please contact Laurie by visiting her at Personal Artist Studio & Gallery. Art Crawl T-shirts can still be purchased for $10 at the Lincoln Cultural Center or the Business and Community Development Office.

Crowds flock to Downtown Lincolnton for the 2011 Art Crawl

Photo by Melaney Dawn Crouse Photography

The second annual Art Crawl Downtown Lincolnton, which took place on March 18, 2011, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., was a huge success! The event was sponsored by First Federal Savings Bank and was a collaboration between a handful of downtown organizations, including: the Arts Council of Lincoln County, Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton, Lincolnton-Lincoln County Chamber of Commerce, Lincoln Cultural Center, and Lincoln County Historical Association.

Artists were paired with merchants in downtown Lincoln who transformed their buildings into mini art galleries. The event featured nearly 40 participating businesses and more than 85 artists from Lincoln County that include potters, photographers, wood turners, poets, musicians, bead artists, folk artists, soap makers, sculptors, and so many more. The event included fun, food, music, and art which in turn brought over 1,000 spectators into our historic downtown.

Thank you to all the businesses and artists that participating in the event. The event could not have been such a wonderful success without each and every one of you. We look forward to seeing you at next year’s Art Crawl Downtown Lincolnton!

Shop 'Til You Drop At Downtown Lincolnton's Spring Fling

The Downtown Development Association of Lincolnton {DDA} is blossoming with excitement as they put the final touches on this weekend's Spring Fling!

Come join the DDA this Saturday, April 16, from 10 am-4 pm, as downtown Lincolnton welcomes spring with a shopping event. Spring Fling is an event where existing downtown retailers, along with craft vendors, home and garden merchants, artists, and many others will be set up along the sidewalks of downtown for your shopping enjoyment. To make the Spring Fling a complete family event, a Kid’s Zone will be available with a bounce house, face painting, spring inspired crafts, and much more for the entire family.

There will be something in downtown Lincolnton for everyone to enjoy. And don’t forget to come into town early and visit the Lincoln County Farmer’s Market before enjoying the Spring Fling. The NC Cooperative Extension kicks off this year’s Farmer’s Market at 7:00 a.m., April 16^th, at 225 West Water Street in downtown Lincolnton.

For more information on the event, please contact the Business and Community Development Office at 704-736-8915, charitycarson@ci.lincolnton.nc.us or stop by 114 East Main Street, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.