BROWNSTOWN

Throughout 2018, Brownstown/Ewing Main Street offered events for the community.

That included an Easter egg hunt, a summer concert series, a Halloween costume parade and a Christmas event.

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This year, people can expect those events to happen again, and the organization’s board of directors hopes to see attendance and involvement increase.

Plus, new businesses opened in town, and more are expected this year.

“Everyone should be excited for Brownstown,” Luke Nolting, president of Brownstown/Ewing Main Street, said during the organization’s annual meeting Monday night at W.R. Ewing.

“There are lots of exciting businesses coming to town, there are a lot of exciting business owners coming to town and hopefully with what we’re doing, there is a lot of exciting stuff that you guys are seeing that are happening in town,” he said. “We truly are excited for what’s happening, what’s coming to town.”

The first event of 2018 was an Easter egg hunt on the Jackson County Courthouse lawn. Nolting said it had a record turnout.

The inaugural summer concert series consisted of one show each month from May to August. Three were at Heritage Park, and one had to be moved indoors at W.R. Ewing because of the weather.

They were all free events thanks to sponsorships from local individuals and businesses.

“I can’t stress enough without the financial support of these individuals, these concerts would not be possible,” Nolting said. “It is our goal to continue to keep these concerts a free concert for the community because we feel like that’s something that Jackson County and Brownstown need and people appreciate.”

For the second year in a row, another free concert was conducted in October after the Jackson County Festival of Wine and Brews.

Treasurer Chad VanLiew said Brownstown/Ewing Main Street wound up with a little surplus from the concert series to use this year to continue to make it a popular event.

“We had some really good acts in our concert series. Those are gaining popularity, and we ended up in the positive, so I think that’s always a good thing,” he said.

Also in October, the organization had a successful golf scramble, raising more than $3,000 through players, hole sponsors and donations. A portion of the proceeds will go toward making updates to the Brownstown/Ewing Main Street website.

“It was pretty well-attended, and we’ll hopefully gain more people every year,” VanLiew said.

Despite a cold, wet night, the Halloween costume parade drew several brave participants. They walked from McDonald’s to the courthouse and collected candy, and several businesses also passed out treats. The event ended with a costume contest on the Heritage Park stage.

In early December, the Brownstown Chamber of Commerce partnered with Brownstown/Ewing Main Street and the Jackson County History Center for Hometown Christmas. There were visits with Santa, caroling, a live Nativity by Driftwood Christian Church and the Festival of Trees inside the history center’s livery barn. Plus, local businesses stayed open that night.

New this year was a tree lighting ceremony at Heritage Park before Brownstown Central choir students sang carols.

Nolting praised Jan Willey and her committee for the work they did to help make the event a success.

“Our goals are to continue to improve that and grow that next year and the coming years ahead,” he said.

Beautification efforts also continued in 2018 with help from grants from the Jackson County Visitor Center and Community Foundation of Jackson County.

Benches made by Crane Hill Machine and Fabrication Inc. were placed on sidewalks along Main Street and near Heritage Park.

The organization also had support from Hauer Excavating LLC, Schneider Nursery Inc. and the town in relandscaping the welcome sign along U.S. 50 on the north end of town.

“I’m sure most of you would agree that that is something that is definitely overdue and does make the town look better, so we appreciate everyone who helped with that project,” Nolting said.

This year, Nolting said more banners, hanging flower baskets and planters will be added around town.

Brownstown/Ewing Main Street also is making changes to the farmers market this year.

It was revamped a couple of years ago and has been open for vendors to set up for free between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Fridays from June to October. That day was selected so it wouldn’t conflict with the Seymour Area Farmers Market, which operates Saturdays.

The market, however, only drew a handful of vendors on Fridays, and the hours weren’t suitable for some customers.

Heather VonDielingen, a Brownstown/Ewing Main Street board member, said they are considering changing it to 4:30 to 7 p.m. Thursdays this year. Near the beginning of the season, she plans to post a poll on Facebook to get feedback from the community.

The organization also received funding to start a Produce Points program at the farmers market. Karen Ault, the library media specialist at Brownstown Central Middle School, has developed a list of books related to farming, produce and farmers markets that kids can read as part of a summer reading program. As they read books on the list, they will earn points to spend at the farmers market.

VonDielingen said it has been a collaboration of the farmers market committee, the middle school, Purdue Extension Jackson County and Hackman Family Farm Market.

“We have really had a lot of fun working together on that,” she said. “We’re excited to get that produce into the hands of the kids in the community.”

Also recognized during the annual meeting were Mike Rittman for spraying the grounds at Heritage Park and Perry Myers for helping the organization set up for events.

Those “New to Brownstown” also were recognized. That includes Nathan and Angie Patman of AKP Investments for working on a building to house apartments and a restaurant; Drew Shoemaker for starting a new gym, Jackson County Performance; Ryan Kemp for working on bringing an Edward Jones office to town; and Bill Hiday and Steve Cissna of 128 Properties for working on a building along South Main Street.

“Brownstown truly is growing,” Nolting said. “There is a lot of excitement going on. We’re really excited to have several community partners and community businesses wanting to start businesses in Brownstown, wanting to continue to improve what we already have.”

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Brownstown/Ewing Main Street offers several events throughout the year and is seeking volunteers to serve on committees.

For information, visit brownstownewingmainstreet.org or facebook.com/btownewingmain.

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