DDM Announces Acquisition of Elks Home and Other Major Projects at Annual Meeting

Middlesboro, Kentucky, February 21, 2013 – Over sixty people filled a packed room in the Alexander Arthur Museum for the Annual Meeting of Discover Downtown Middlesboro last Thursday night.

President Keith Nagle kicked off the festivities by welcoming the standing room only crowd, and acknowledged special guests including Mayor Bill Kelley as well as several members of City Council in attendance. Officials from the Bell County Chamber of Commerce were also present and recognized.

Mayor Bill Kelley accepting an award for the Middlesboro Street Department
from DDM Executive Director Isaac Kremer at the Annual Meeting. Photo credit: Frank Smith.

Three Directors were elected to new three-year terms by the membership. These included Jay Shoffner, Donna Smith, and Penny Smith.

Secretary Carolyn O'Boyle and Treasurer Philip Ball also acknowledged and welcomed guests. It was reported that member contributions to DDM in the previous month have exceeded all of member giving from the previous six years combined. This fact was celebrated by applause from all of those in the audience.

DDM follows the Four-Point Approach® to commercial district revitalization as established by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This approach calls for grassroots citizen-led action in the areas of Organization, Promotion, Design, and Economic Restructuring.

Organization chair Donna Smith set the tone for the evening asking everyone in the room to think of “one thing they can do to help the downtown.” She then stated her goal to double the number of DDM members in the year to follow.

Other committee chairs made their presentations too including Promotion Chair, Penny Smith; Economic Restructuring Chair, Larry Grandey; and Design Chair, Jay Shoffner.

Architect James K. Piper, Jr. and Mr. Jon Rollins were both recognized. Their firm GRW, Inc. is one of DDM’s newest members, and the two of them traveled all of the way from Lexington to be present for the meeting.

DDM Executive Director Isaac Kremer then addressed the crowd. He too welcomed those in attendance and underscored the importance of the community coming together and how "nights like this matter."

Historical photo of the Elks Home in Middlesboro. Photo credit:  Middlesborough History website.

Kremer began by stating that DDM has acquired the 27,000 square foot Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks Home (formerly the old hospital). The building was donated to DDM in December 2012 by lifelong Middlesboro resident Dallas Shackleford. James Madison, Executive Director of the Bell County Historical Society was called forward and presented DDM a check to assist with bringing in a structural engineer to help evaluate the building. This news was greeted with great enthusiasm by the members and guests in attendance.

Kremer reported that DDM expects to be the recipient of a $10,000 grant to assist in the development of a strategic plan for the downtown. A national expert will be brought in to facilitate a weekend workshop in April or May. Dr. Jack McCann, Dean of the Lincoln Memorial University Business School that is a partner in the project spoke briefly about the strong bond between LMU and downtown Middlesboro.

View of the existing Canal Walk with recently installed Tour SEKY sign. Photo Credit: DDM, 2013.

A vision to connect the downtown and the Cumberland Gap National Historical Park via an upgraded and expanded Canal Walk was also shared. This walk has the potential to promote tourism, economic development, and to provide a valuable amenity for residents and visitors alike. When the audience was asked to raise hands if they supported the concept – the show of support was unanimous.

The meeting was closed by sharing a new Mission Statement for DDM that goes as follows:

Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Inc. is a non-profit organization that encourages citizen participation in the revitalization of Cumberland Avenue between 10^th and 24^th Street and several mixed-use walkable blocks to the north and south. We seek to improve the physical appearance of the downtown while maintaining its historic integrity; to retain existing businesses and to attract new ones; and to make downtown Middlesboro the center of the economic, civic, and social life of the Tri-State area.

One final appeal was made for those who are not members already to join. Everyone in attendance was also encouraged to serve on at least one committee. A membership form as well as a volunteer sign-up form are both available on the new Discover Downtown Middlesboro website at:  http://www.downtownmiddlesboro.org. 

President Keith Nagle adjourned the meeting around 7:45pm. Several of those in attendance opted to stay for well over an hour afterwards to enjoy good company, tasty food, and most importantly great conversation about the future of downtown Middlesboro.

Contact:

Isaac D. Kremer, Executive Director

Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Inc.

(606) 248-6155

downtownmiddlesboro@gmail.com

www.downtownmiddlesboro.org

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DDM Annual Meeting this Thursday, 2/21 at 7pm

When:Thursday, February 21 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

Where:Alexander Arthur Museum, 2215 Cumberland Avenue, Middlesboro, KY 40965

Join Discover Downtown Middlesboro for our Annual Meeting. We will announce our new mission statement and vision for the downtown. We will also publicly announce several large-scale projects that will have a transformative impact on the downtown in the years to follow. The meeting is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

We also welcome all past and present members of DDM to complete a quick online survey. Responses will help us as we work to further improve our programs and services. Thank you for your feedback in advance.

2013 DDM Member Survey

www.surveymonkey.com

For more information or to become a member, please visit: http://downtownmiddlesboro.org/.

White-Nose Syndrome Confirmed in Bats at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

White-Nose Syndrome (WNS), a condition deadly to bats, has now been confirmed at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (NHP) according to Park Superintendent Mark Woods.  Woods details that laboratory histopathology tests on three bats, from three of the park’s more than 30 caves, tested positive for the disease; two of these bats also showed visible signs of WNS.    

White-nose syndrome is known to be transmitted primarily from bat to bat, but spores of Geomyces destructans, the fungus that causes white-nose syndrome, may be inadvertently carried between caves by humans on clothing, footwear, and caving gear.  White-nose syndrome is not known to affect people, pets, or livestock but is harmful or lethal to hibernating bats, killing 90 percent or more of some species of bats in caves where the fungus has lasted for a year or longer, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

White-nose syndrome was first detected in New York State in 2006 and has killed more than 5.5 million cave-dwelling bats in the eastern third of North America as it has spread south and west.  The fungus that causes white-nose syndrome has been confirmed in 21 states; white-nose syndrome has been confirmed in 19 states.  It has also been confirmed in four Canadian provinces.  A map of the current spread of white-nose syndrome can be found at http://whitenosesyndrome.org/resources/map.

Decontamination procedures to prevent spread of the fungal spores by human beings were adopted more than three years ago as white-nose syndrome was decimating bat populations in the northeast.  Cumberland Gap NHP implemented such procedures years ahead of any actual finding of white-nose syndrome in the park in an effort to delay its arrival and to be fully prepared should it appear.  Visitors on Gap Cave tours were being interviewed before cave tours to see if they had items that had been in other caves or mines since 2006.  If so, they were asked to leave those items out of the cave or if needed, their footwear was decontaminated before tours.  Researchers working in park caves followed current national guidance for decontamination before and after their visits.  Woods explains that “Ranger led tours of the park’s Gap Cave, attended annually by almost 5000 visitors, will continue.”    

Park staff has been working closely with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries in cooperation with other federal and Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee state agencies (while the park is located in these three states, most of the caves are located within the Virginia section of the park), universities, and other non-government organizations which have been monitoring the spread of the WNS fungus since first discovered in Bath County, Virginia in February 2009.  Because the fungus grows at temperatures below 70^oF, the hibernation season (November through March) is the best time of year to detect the growth on bats.  This limits the survey areas to the mountainous regions of the state where bats hibernate in caves and mines.  The Lower Powell Valley drainage was the last area in the state where WNS had not been detected.  With the discovery of WNS at Cumberland Gap NHP, the disease has now been observed in all the major mountain drainages of the state.  Virginia’s focus is now on determining the impacts of WNS on the different cave bat species and determining if individuals can persist over time in the face of infection.

Six species of cave-dwelling bats, including the endangered Indiana bat, are found at Cumberland Gap NHP.  All six species are at risk from WNS.  Three species of tree-dwelling bats are also found in the park.  Some bats spend both the summer and winter at Cumberland Gap.  However, other bats are much more mobile, wintering at the park but spending the summer in other areas or vice-versa.  Bats play a crucial role in the environment.  Bats are the only major predator of night-flying insects.  A single big brown bat can eat between 3,000 and 7,000 mosquitos in a night, with large populations of bats consuming thousands of tons of potentially harmful forest and agricultural pests annually.

"The mission of the National Park Service,” spells out Woods “is to preserve natural treasures and to provide a way for people to enjoy them.  Our response to challenges such as white-nose syndrome applies the best available science and research to find the proper balance between those roles, and a sustainable future for our parks."

An eastern pipistrelle bat found at Cumberland Gap National Historical Park shows visible signs of white-nose syndrome. 

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 395 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.

National Trust Launches New Main Street Subsidiary to Expand Preservation-based Economic Development Efforts in America’s Historic Downtowns

JANUARY 18, 2013

Washington (January 18, 2013) - The National Trust for Historic Preservation announced the launch of a new subsidiary—The National Main Street Center, Inc.—as the next step for the Trust’s successful 33-year old National Main Street program, and has named Barbara G. Sidway of Baker City, Oregon, and Palm Beach, Florida, as the first chair of the subsidiary’s board of directors. The Main Street program, which uses historic preservation as a tool for economic development in downtown and neighborhood commercial districts, has been active in the revitalization of more than 2,000 communities since its inception in 1980.

Over the past 33 years, the Main Street program has resulted in $54 billion in investment, the rehabilitation of more than 229,000 buildings, and the creation of 450,000 jobs in those cities and towns. Officials at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development have cited the National Trust’s Main Street program as one of the most successful economic development strategies in the United States.

“We are pleased to support the launch of the new Main Street subsidiary to grow and broaden the impact of one of the country’s most effective, grass-roots preservation and jobs programs,” said National Trust President Stephanie Meeks. “With her strong track record in economic development and community revitalization as a developer, hotelier, and civic volunteer, Barbara Sidway brings the skills we need to lead this new subsidiary and expand the National Main Street Center. As a co-founder of the Oregon Main Street program, Barbara has been a strong and consistent champion for Main Street in her community, at the state level, and nationally.”

Ms. Sidway is a private developer who restores and manages historic properties in partnership with her husband, Dwight. Award-winning projects include the Geiser Grand Hotel in Baker City, Oregon, and Miami’s Freedom Tower.

The decision to establish a subsidiary was made after a year-long study to determine how best to support and expand the Center’s reach. With a separate board of directors focused on the opportunities for Main Street, yet working under the umbrella of the National Trust, the Main Street Center will be able to draw upon new leaders and resources while keeping preservation as a core tenant of the program. This comes at a time when traditional government funding for community revitalization is under pressure, yet many historic downtowns and commercial districts are experiencing a revival as younger residents are seeking authentic experiences in the places where they work, shop, live, and play.

One of the first tasks of the new board will be the selection of a CEO to direct the subsidiary. “We are eager to identify the strong leadership needed at the staff level to help us shape an expanded and strengthened Main Street program,” said Ms. Sidway. “We are looking for an individual who understands the community revitalization field where Main Street has been an important player over the past three decades as well as a strong leader who possesses the communication and networking skills required to launch a new venture.”

In addition to Ms. Sidway, the initial board of the National Main Street Center, Inc., includes Sam Dixon, an attorney and preservationist from Edenton, North Carolina; Joe Grills of Rapidan, Virginia, past chairman of the Montpelier Foundation, a member of the boards of Woodberry Forest School and Kimco Realty, a member of a number of investment organizations, and a trustee of the National Trust; Beppie LeGrand of Columbia, South Carolina (ex officio), Main Street Coordinator for South Carolina; preservation consultant Mary Thompson of Olympia, Washington, a former Main Street Center staff member, former Washington State Historic Preservation Officer, and a trustee of the National Trust; and David J. Brown, Executive Vice President and Chief Preservation Officer of the National Trust for Historic Preservation of Washington, D.C., who serves as the Trust’s representative on the board. 

Read the press release here.

Award Winning Angels from Middlesboro, Kentucky

Middlesboro, Kentucky, has had two dozen angels on display since December 2012. Dozens of businesses, community groups and individuals loving decorated each angel. These angels greeted shoppers and added to the holiday cheer all throughout town. This project was the result of a partnership between Middlesboro ARH and Discover Downtown Middlesboro. An online auction was conducted so people could vote for their favorites. The results of that auction follow.

1st Place

2nd Place

3rd Place

We would like to extend a special thanks to all of the people and groups who decorated angels, and who helped to make this such a successful project. From the view of the event organizers, every angel created was a winner for the joy they brought to so many people.

• ARH Middlesboro HomeCare Store
• ARH Women's Health Center
• City of Middlesboro - City Clerk's Office
• Discover Downtown Middlesboro
• Dr. Uy Office
• East End Intermediate School
• First State Financial
• Middlesboro ARH
• Middlesboro High School Art Department
• Middlesboro High School Student Government
• Middlesboro Middle School
• Mikel's Pharmacy
• Old Yellow Creek Baptist Church
• Shades of Brown
• Southside Baptist Church
• St. Mary's Episcopal Church
• West End Intermediate School
• World Wide Gap

For more information about this event, or to get involved in the work of Discover Downtown Middlesboro, please visit www.discoverdowntownmiddlesboro.org.

Downtown Middlesboro businesses host Christmas angels

December 17, 2012, Middlesboro, Ky. – Since December 1, downtown businesses have been hosts to a multitude of angels. These Christmas angels greet shoppers and those passing by with a quiet holiday message of peace on earth, good will toward men. Among them are the four-foot wooden angels decorated by Middlesboro students, businesses, churches and Middlesboro ARH Hospital staff.

“The Discover Downtown Middlesboro (DDM) group chose the theme ‘Angels Among Us’ for the 2012 Christmas parade and holiday season, and after meeting with DDM representatives, several of our hospital staff wanted to participate by creating large wooden angels to display downtown,” said Michael Slusher, Middlesboro Community CEO.

According to Slusher, once the angels were made and bases created by hospital carpenter Eddie Allen, Middlesboro ARH staff worked with DDM to find local interest in decorating the angels. Students at West End Primary School, East End Intermediate School, Middlesboro Middle School and Middlesboro High School decorated several angels. Old Yellow Creek Baptist Church, Shawanee Baptist Church, Southside Baptist Church, St. Mary’s Episcopal Church decorated angels. Middlesboro City Clerk’s Office, Discover Downtown Middlesboro, Christopher’s Creations, First State Financial, Mikel’s Pharmacy, Shades of Brown and World Wide Gap decorated angels as well as Middlesboro ARH staff.

“We are thrilled with the interest and creativity of those who decorated the wooden angels,” shared DDM President Keith Nagle. “We invite the public to join us in showing our appreciation by voting for your favorite angel.”

According to Nagle the DDM website, www.discoverdowntownmiddlesboro.org, will have all the information for voting for your favorite angel.

“The DDM website has angel photos and downtown locations of all the wooden angels,” stated Nagle. “We also have easy-to-follow instructions on how to vote via Survey Monkey for your favorite angel.”

Voting is open and will end on January 5. The angel with the most votes will be named the Middlesboro Angel of Light. The individual or group who decorated the winning angel will receive a plaque and prizes. The winning angel and the name(s) of the decorators will be announced on January 10 on the DDM website and the Middlesboro ARH website, www.arh.org.

If possible before you vote, go downtown and visit these locations for a close up view of the beautifully decorated wooden angels. A GoogleMap with the location of all of the angels is available here.  A list of locations where angels are located follows: A. D. Campbell, 2031 Cumberland Avenue; ARH Middlesboro HomeCare Store, 1916 Cumberland Avenue; ARH Dr. Rogelio Uy Clinic, 2032 Cumberland Avenue; ARH Women’s Health Center, APEX Building, 2004 Cumberland Avenue; Buttery’s Floor Covering, 1817 Cumberland Avenue; Cardwell’s Furniture, 1929 Cumberland Avenue (Fountain Square); Christopher’s Creations, 2028 Cumberland Avenue; City Hall, 111 Lothbury Avenue; First State Financial, 1810 Cumberland Avenue, KFC Business Office, 1910 Cumberland Avenue; Middlesboro ARH Hospital, 3600 Cumberland Avenue; Nagle Law Office, 1914 Cumberland Avenue; Mikel’s Pharmacy, 1928 Cumberland Avenue; Shades of Brown, 2119 Cumberland Avenue; World Wide Gap, 2002 Cumberland Avenue and WRIL-FM, 1930 Cumberland Avenue.

For more information, visit www.discoverdowntownmiddlesboro.org.

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Middlesboro ARH Hospital is among the hospitals recognized as the nation’s Top Performers on Key Quality Measures by The Joint Commission, the leading accreditor of health care organizations in America.

Middlesboro ARH Hospital is a member of the Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH) system. ARH is a not-for-profit health system serving 350,000 residents across Eastern Kentucky and Southern West Virginia. Operating 10 hospitals, multi-specialty physician practices, home health agencies, HomeCare Stores and retail pharmacies, ARH is the largest provider of care and single largest employer in southeastern Kentucky and the third largest private employer in southern West Virginia.

Contact Information:

Elaine L. Smith       

Community and Patient Advocate                                     

Middlesboro ARH Hospital

3600 West Cumberland Avenue

Middlesboro, KY 40965

606-242-1103

2012 Middlesboro Christmas Parade - Award Winners

Discover Downtown Middlesboro wishes to thank the over sixty churches, organizations, and businesses that participated in the successful and enjoyable 2012 Christmas Parade on December 1, 2012. While there were not enough awards to go around to everyone, we'd especially like to recognize these award-winning marching groups and floats.

Best in Show - Marching Band
Middlesboro High School Band

Best in Show - JROTC
Middlesboro High School Junior ROTC 

Best in Show - Walking Groups
Gym Magic 

Best in Show - Cheerleaders
Yellow Creek Cheerleaders

Best in Show - Classic Cars
John Deere Tractor 

Best in Show - Scouting Group
Boy Scout Troop 544 

Best in Show - Fire Department
Middlesboro Fire Department 

Best in Show - Float
Girl Scout Troop 1523, Cub Scout Pack 544 

Best Church Float
Southside Baptist Church 

Best Business Float
The Combs Group/Bell County Coal 

Best New Business Float
A Touch of Class  

Best Non-profit Float
Middlesboro Airport 

Most Creative Float
Mountain View Nursing Home 

Most Beautiful Float
Sandra Academy 

Best Exemplifies Parade Theme
The Way of Holiness Church of God 

Best Performance Team
Cumberland Gap Pantherettes 

Most Creative Use of Costumes
T&T Stables/Tri-State 4H Club

If you represent one of these groups and have not gotten your award certificate already, please contact Discover Downtown Middlesboro at 606-248-6155 or downtownmiddlesboro(at)gmail.com.