Around Ashland Spring 2009

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT EYESENSE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS COMMUNITY CALENDAR .............. .1

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FROM THE CHAMBER ASHLAND TIDBITS BOROUGH NEWS DID YOU KNOW ? …… …..2

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Around Ashland

ASHLAND DOW NTOW N, INC.

OUR MISSION Ashland Downtown, Inc. seeks a vibrant, attractive downtown by preserving its architectural charm, promoting economic vitality and marketing its historic and cultural resources.

Greetings from the Manager & President First of all, I would like to introduce ADI’s newly elected officials for 2009. Gary R. Glessner —President Tom Rebuck—-Vice President Barbara Mullins—Treasurer I look forward to working very closely with these individuals to make positive changes to Ashland Downtown. ADI has packed more projects and events in their schedule than ever before. New ideas are always welcome and we would like to hear from you. ADI has been making key partnerships within our community and outside as well. Please check out our community calendar (located on the right) and continued support to our efforts. We look forward to hearing from you. Help us make this great town even better.

Being the newly elected President of ADI, I would like to say hello. I have been on the board since ADI was established. I feel the goals of the organization were set to foster a flourishing downtown thereby creating a more prosperous community. Throughout these past four years you have seen physical improvements in the downtown area, those being new sidewalks, store front facades, banners, painted light poles and meter poles, trash receptacles, and plant containers. All were made possible through the hard work of the ADI members and generous contributions by the community along with grants from local, state, and federal agencies. I will strive to continue this progress within the Ashland Downtown. Please feel free to visit our office and maybe even get involved with our organization. Thank you,

Gregory W. Fisher Ashland Main Street Manager

Gary R. Glessner ADI President

S UPPORT ASHLAND Community Calendar April 1 Opening Day—-Pioneer Tunnel Anthracite Community Enterprises April 2 (Sales end) Peanut Butter Egg Sale Good Shepherd Lutheran Church April 4 Ashland Easter Extravaganza Ashland Borough, Ashland Chamber, Ashland Downtown, Inc., Ashland Elks, Ashland Elks Ladies’ Auxiliary, Ashland Lodge NO 294 F & A M, Ashland Rotary, Legion #434 Eastern Star Chapter #154, Good Fellowship, VFW #7654, VFW Auxiliary #7654 April 5 Colors of Grace: Lessons for Lent Good Shepherd Lutheran Church April 5 Elks Indoor Ham Shoot April 6 (Ticket Sales End) Theme Basket Fundraiser Good Shepherd Lutheran Church April 17 Uniform Sale St. Catherine’s Medical Center April 18 Ashland Little League Baseball Parade

EyeSense Makes Improvements PAST EyeSense – Doctors of Optometry – we are very excited to be a part of Ashland’s “Main Street Community” program. ADI was easy to work with to become qualified to participate in this program that helps town businesses beautify their properties and bring new life to our town. After reading about the program in the newspaper, we contacted ADI. As soon as the necessary requirements were fulfilled, work began on the façade of our office. Custom Woodworker, John Snyder, removed siding put on years ago by a previous owner covering the beautiful moldings and detailing. He designed, restored, and rebuilt areas around the windows to blend in with the original moldings. Old village paint, fifth generation paintmakers specializing in restoration paint, brought out the beautiful detail work. Colors used were Pearwood, British Red, Rittenhouse Green and Chestnut. We’ve had many compliments on the color selection and the detail of the project.

PRESENT

EyeSense is very pleased with the end result and to have been a part of this excellent program. We recommend that anyone considering refurbishing their storefront look into working with the ADI.

April 25 Webkinz Bingo Ashland Downtown, Inc. April 25 Planter Sales Begin Ashland Downtown, Inc. April 26 “Blackwood Brothers from Tenn.” concert Ashland Ministerium May 2 Longaberger Basket Bingo First Methodist Presbyterian Church May 2 Ashland Girls Softball Parade May 10 “Elementary Mother’s Day Program” Sponsored by Mayor Kane May 5 Board Meeting Ashland Recreation Committee June 20 Pet Walk Ashland Rotary

ASHLAND

“Town Enhancements”

The Ashland Area Chamber of Commerce would like to thank all of the businesses and residents of Ashland and the surrounding area for their generous support of their recent Capital Campaign to raise money for the new Christmas lights for the town. The goal of $15,000 was nearly obtained, as $12,600 was raised through the mail solicitation format. The Christmas tree style decorations which were already purchased were hung this year and comments were very positive about their style. The committee realized that the area where the banners are placed, which is

concentrated in the downtown an electrical outlet with photo area, is dark because they are not sensitive eye. Additional banners illuminated and plan to supplewill also be needed to complete ment them. Samples of banner the project. The committee is enhancers as well “The Ashland Area Chamber of excited to continue to as snowflake style Commerce would like to thank all work on making the ornaments, which of the businesses and residents of changes to improve the would be placed on Ashland and the surrounding area holiday atmosphere of the sidewalk side of for their generous support of their the town. the street, were The Chamber will recent Capital Campaign to raise recently placed on also be helping to sponmoney for the new Christmas the poles to help sor the Easter Egg lights for the town” the committee deExtravaganza this year cide which one would better light for the children of the town. Due up the banner area. The commit- to technical problems, the tee also plans to expand the area Townwide Yard Sale will not be of coverage for the lights further held this year. uptown and downtown and on Hoffman Blvd, if possible. These additional poles will not only require the purchase of decorations but also a fee to PPL to install

BOROUGH NEWS

Don’t miss visiting Pioneer Tunnel and the Anthracite Museum of Mining this summer Log onto www.pioneertunnel.com for this year’s schedule.

The Ashland Borough Council would like to remind the residents that spring is right around the corner and the Borough will be making a strong effort to clean the streets of the Borough. The Street sweeper will start operating some time in April with the date to be announced. We are asking that the residents clean the area by their homes and businesses and the Borough will pick the debris up when it is on a pile or in a container. With this cooperation, we can get this done as soon as possible. The Borough will be announcing the date for the annual town-wide clean-up in the near future. Please remember there are items that cannot be picked up, such as tires and demolition waste etc. If anyone has any questions concerning what can be placed out for pickup, please call Borough hall at 875-2411 for the information.

TIDBITS Lavelle AMVETS Post #156 Scholarship Fund Will Benefit Butler Township Residents The Lavelle AMVETS Post #156 created this scholarship fund with Schuylkill Area Community Foundation to provide post-secondary educational scholarships to individuals who meet the following criteria: •

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Is a resident of Butler Township, Schuylkill County, at the time of application; Is a child of a member of the AMVETS or of a member of the armed forces of the United States on active duty, and; Is attending or will attend a post-secondary college, university, or trade school.

The Scholarship Committee of the Community FoundaThe Recreation Committee is always looking for volunteers. The next board meeting is May tion will select the recipients 5 at 6:30PM at Borough Hall. Anyone interested in being involved with the Rec. Board. annually. For more information about this scholarship or Ashland Area Historic Preservation Society any other fund, please contact Eileen Kuperavage or Sharon Abner K. Walter was believed to 1880. The first cashier, George H. It opened in 1920. ANB was purKoszyk at (570) 624-7223 or be the first banker in Ashland. Helfrich served from 1875 to 1897. chased by Pennsylvania National visit the web site at: Located at the corner of Fifth and In 1895, they erected the building at Bank in 1964. It is now M&T Bank www.sacfoundation.com. Centre Streets—currently the 324-326 Centre Street and operated VFW post home—-Mahlon M. from there until 1922, when the new ________________________ Mock organized a bank known as structure at 735 Centre Street was EW the “Dutch Bank” in 1865. Two constructed. CNB became part of years later the Ashland Savings Community Banks in January of FFICERS Bank was organized at what is 1996. It is now Susquehanna Bank. now 610 Centre St. and was FOR The Ashland National Trust Bank called the “Irish Bank”. Both began construction of a building at G AR Y G LESSNER failed in 1873, because of bad 804-806 Centre Street in the spring investments in railroad bonds for of 1900 and opened for business on P RES IDEN T the Northern Pacific Railroad. December 17th of that year. George The First National Bank opened F. Rentz was elected cashier. In T OM REBUCK about 1865 at what is now 330 1915, the corner lot was purchased Center Street. It became insolvent V ICE –P RES IDEN T and plans were drawn for the strucin 1877. ture that stands today. World War I B ARB AR A M U LLINS The Citizens’ National Bank delayed construction until after the opened at 610 Centre Street in Armistice. Business was conducted T REAS URER 1875 and moved to the former in the opera House while the new First National bank building in building was being completed.

Did you know?

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2009 ADI

OUR VISION

Ashland Downtown, Inc.

733 Centre Street, Ashland, PA 17921 570-875-3571 www.upperschuylkill.com

Ashland shall promote its architecture to both residential and commercial opportunities. Ashland will also enhance and market its historical and cultural resources for tourism. Located at the intersection of routes 54 and 61, Ashland will serve as a western gateway into the region. Ashland shall build upon its potential for tourism by connecting local historical and cultural sites through a coordinated transportation and consistent “way finding” system within the region. Ashland shall become the arts and heritage hub of the Upper Schuylkill region. Help us achieve our Vision for Ashland...become an ADI volunteer!

Join the Downtown Team!

ADI Monthly Meetings 1st Monday—Design 2nd Monday-Economic Rstruct. 3rd Monday-Board of Directors /Organization

4th Monday-Promotions Borough Council Meeting 2nd Wednesday of the Month