As we wrap up the final preparations for our first ever Village Wide Celebration, let us take a moment to reflect on the WHY.
Why are we doing this? How did we get to this stage? What do we hope to achieve?
Why? Our mission is to support our businesses. We do so by supporting, informing, advocating and promoting. The number one way we can help our businesses is by helping to build a better community. In 2022, we formed the Civic Collaboration Committee to work with our many nonprofit groups, educational/religious organizations, and government agencies. Conversely, a thriving business community attracts new home buyers, tourism, and commerce that all bring tax dollars into our municipality. Look closely at the revitalizations of Warwick, Cornwall and Sugar Loaf and you will see the future of what a thriving Main Street can lead to. A solid partnership between business and community leads to what we all want – a home, not just a place to live.
How did we get to this stage? 11 years ago, in the aftermath of one of the worst natural disasters, the Village and the Chamber joined forces because the town needed to recover and move forward. A few years later, a family friendly vendor market was added to help promote commerce and attract more attendees. Over the years, the Annual Christmas Parade has grown to over 100 participants and nearly 4,000 attendees. It is the official kick off to the holiday season. In times of crisis, it has served to reunite the community and in these last few years, it has been the beacon to pull us out of the isolation imposed by the pandemic. This year, we have collaborated with the many community groups that are the backbone of this community to produce a day long Village-wide event that will continue to unite us all.
What do we hope to achieve? This event is not about setting attendance records or for any one business to shine but rather an opportunity for our entire community to come together as one. Our goal is to remind our residents of what makes us so great – a small town nestled in the bosom of the county’s tourism. We are a stone’s throw away from some the biggest attractions in the county – Legoland, Woodbury Commons, West Point…yet Mark, the pharmacist, knows everyone by name or Dr. Klein will make a house call to his elderly patients or we all know that Weir’s open on April 1st or the Hook has the best wings…. all of the best things that make us a Village. At the same time, we want to proudly display to our neighboring towns our beautiful homes, our thriving businesses, our many volunteers who tirelessly donate time & energy to continuing our nonprofits but most of all our proud residents who line our streets once again because it takes a village, all of it, to make this home.
On the eve of the 8th Annual parade, Rick Lewis wrote similar reflections on why and how the parade came to be and he ended it with “a new holiday tradition that will hopefully be with us for years to come.” As we head into our 13th year, we echo the sentiment.
Sincerely,
Alma D Gonzalez
Vice President
Blooming Grove Chamber of Commerce