Downtowns & Sustainability

A couple of weeks ago, I attended the quarterly Main Street Executive Director workshop in West Bend.  The topic of training this time was a seminar entitled "Downtowns & Sustainability."  It was a very thought provoking day-long session on thinking, working, living and trying to make our districts more "green."   In this day and age, it seems that everyone is trying to do little things to help out such as switching from paper coffee cups to re-usable mugs we bring back for a refill.  In that vein, the entire downtown, especially in a small town like ours, is the original "green" environment.  Downtowns were made for walking.  Downtowns have all your governmental offices (generally) service businesses and retail in one convenient location.

Well I could go on, but if you are interested in this sort of thing you should just follow this weblink to the actual presentation and read it for yourself!

Green Downtowns

Sad News

We were very sorry to hear about the passing of Byron Johnson, husband of Monica Johnson who is a long-time member of our Farmers/Crafters Market and our new Winter Market.  As soon as we find out more information we will post it here.  However, if you would like to leave a message for Monica, please leave a comment and we will make sure she gets the message.

More inaugural pictures

As promised yesterday, here are the photos of the inaugural party at Stumpjack Coffee Company.   It was a full house...now that's what we call an economic stimulus package!

Local Coffee Shops Welcome Inaugural Celebrations

This morning Two Rivers' coffee shop regulars celebrated the peaceful transition of power by dressing up in red, white and blue; drinking coffee and generally whooping it up!

Here's the Red Bank Coffee House crowd decked out in their patriotic glory:

Meanwhile over at Stumpjack Coffee Company another Inaugural Celebration was underway, just as soon as the photographic evidence is received, we'll post a picture.

If you're looking for fun downtown, stop by our coffee shops some morning, you may be surprised at what goes on.

Green Buildings in Small downtowns

I attended a very interesting conference today on sustainability and historic preservation and how they can work hand-in-hand in downtowns like ours.  Some of the ideas presented may even save building owners thousands of dollars in the long run.  But the most interesting fact presented is that even without adding any new technologies like solar or high efficiency lighting, downtowns are the original green environment.  Downtowns were made for walking.  Downtowns were designed for higher density housing thereby saving valuable park and farmland.  Downtowns have quality buildings built to last and are more valuable when re-used than when torn down for new construction.  

Interesting food for thought.  I'll let you know more when I get back.

Mike Zimmer

Breakfast at the Winter Market

This week the Winter Market Cafe will be serving a pancake breakfast from 9:00 am until noon.  Try our apple cinnamon pancakes featuring apples available at the market.  Breakfast includes: 3 pancakes, 2 sausages and a beverage -- all for only $3.50.

The Two Rivers Main Street Winter Market is open from 9 AM until 2 PM on Saturdays and is located in the "High Lift Building" next to McDonald's.

DON'T MISS THIS!

Why Blog

Hello,  Two Rivers Main Street is starting this blog to try to get information out to people quickly, and develop a great dialog about downtown Two Rivers and the exciting things happening here.  

Check back from time to time and we'll have some interesting updates.