What a Great Idea!

Interior Decorating with a Flair...

The Inside of a Coffee Shop on Main Street in Duluth, MN

If the Project Canopy Team is Looking for a Place to Plant Some Trees...

Rumford Avenue Today

We've heard numerous discussions about Project Canopy but we haven't heard a thing about the plan of action. If you need some help figuring out where to plant some trees, here is a perfect place. This area of town is in desperate need of some trees and this particular street especially is in need of some vegetation. You can clearly see how Rumford Avenue looks like tar and cement land. Just imagine what it would look like if we planted a few trees along the sidewalk to the left of the road. What a difference it would make in the aesthetics of this inner city looking area. We could also use them to hide the toxic wasteland otherwise known as "snow dump" since Selectman Adley insists that we continue to use it as a snow dump despite prior DEP issues and fines. But, we know how he operates; it's all about convenience for himself or one of his friends, not how the community looks and any negative effects it may have on our natural resources.

Wouldn't It Be Great if Black Mountain Offered Scenic Chairlift Rides?

For those of you who are not aware, Sunday River provides scenic lift rides on their chairlifts during the summer and fall season. Wouldn't it be great if Black Mountain did the same? Fall is such a beautiful season in Maine and Rumford could capitalize on this idea, too. Maybe someday this is something that Black Mountain could do to bring tourists to our area while at the same time showing off our mountainous terrain. It is so beautiful up there.

According to their website, "Sunday River offers scenic lift rides to the top of North Peak allowing visitors to view the Mahoosuc Mountains up close during the summer and fall foliage season" and "Resort shuttles can provide transportation from South Ridge Lodge or either Grand Resort Hotel to the base of North Peak and Lift 6."

Lift service is available Friday - Sunday 10am - 4pm beginning June 27 through October 12.

Scenic Lift Ride: $8 (Ages 5 & under ride for free).

Click here for more information about Sunday River's Scenic Lift Rides.

Wouldn't It Be Neat if the Mill Repainted This Message? Keep Maine Green and Prevent Forest Fires

A Couple of Storage Bins at the Mill With a Real Important Message

For those of us from Rumford, these storage bins at the Mill have been a part of the natural landscape and skyline of Rumford for quite some time. They are actually pretty neat and at one point made a couple of bland looking storage bins look nice and sent a real important message.

Wouldn't it be neat if the Paper Mill repainted these? What a neat message to send to everyone that drives through Rumford: Keep Maine Green & Prevent Forest Fires. It wouldn't take a whole lot of time and money to jazz these storage bins back up, add some color to the landscape at the mill, and send an important message all at the same time.

More Signage Needed to Alert Tourists to What's Ahead

Sign Located at the Rumford Falls Parking Lot

Ron Theriault, Ted Hotham, and I are members of a new subcommittee of the Economic Development Committee called the "Image Subcommittee". It is our hope to focus on any and all issues relevant to image here in the Town of Rumford. It is our hope that folks who visit us will appreciate what we have and will be able to find what we have to offer. It is also our hope to improve perspectives of the image of our community both within the boundaries of Rumford and the State for that matter. Because all three of us work full-time and out of town on a regular basis, we decided to chip away at projects that were feasible for us and would help the economic development issues here in town as well.

One of the first things that we would like to propose to the Rumford Board of Selectmen and the Rumford community in general is an increase in signage. It doesn't have to be done all at once and it isn't a project that will be too terribly expensive if we plan it out appropriately. We decided to focus on the signage for the Falls first because this is such a popular destination spot for tourists. We thought it would be a good idea to alert visitors of the view of the Rumford Falls and the Muskie Memorial at the top of Falls Hill in addition to at the location. We thought it might also be neat to alert visitors to the photo opportunity with Paul Bunyun at the top of Falls Hills. We hadn't yet discussed other locations for this signage but we could also include it on the opposite side of the Falls on Route 2 possible Maine Ave and also on Route 108.

We are especially interested in providing signage at the top of Falls hill because of the danger imposed by cars that notice the tourist attraction last minute. We felt it would be safer if we alerted folks to the destination earlier to prevent folks from slamming on breaks and instead anticipating the upcoming wonder. In addition to providing more signage to alert visitors of this spectacular spot, we also felt that clearing out some underbrush, limbs, and wild shrubbery at that corner would help improve safety and image simultaneously. As you can see from the below picture, you can't see what is around that corner. This intersection is a dangerous intersection and everyone of us has probably come to a screeching halt at one point or another while waiting for a car to turn onto the street to the left, turn into the Rumford Food Trend, or turn into the Parking Lot at the Rumford Falls.

What a Great Idea!

How interesting?

Sure does add some character to a light pole?

Window Art by Clint Magoon at the Hotel Rumford

Window Art Located at the Hotel Rumford on Canal Street

Have you ever stopped to notice the window art at the Hotel Rumford? It's pretty neat. If you look closely at this picture or even better, if you look closely at the window art at the Hotel Rumford, you will notice that this art draws on the rich heritage of the community: Logging and Papermaking. A community and its people who have a good understanding of where they came from is a community and people who appreciates what they have and where they are today. Wouldn't it be neat to follow the Hotel Rumford's lead and build on the theme of the history of our ancestors in Rumford and the River Valley for that matter? Wouldn't it be neat to have a community that showcases the history of Rumford in a very visible way so that tourists and outsiders could get a feel for what we know and why we love our town? Just imagine.

Isn't It Interesting How Colors Make You Happy?

What a Great Idea! Business Storefronts With A Historical Flair

It is amazing how a storefront can make all the difference in the world. In this particular example, these businesses turned what probably was a dilapidated looking building at one point into a "strip mall" with some class. All they really had to do to achieve this was put up historic looking signs and historic looking lamps. And, what a difference the little things make in life.

Given the fact that Rumford is a community rich with historical architecture, it may behoove us to come up with some design guidelines for business owners and future business owners so that we can build on the historical theme of our community. We love Rumford because of what we have. Doesn't it make sense to build on the assets that we already have? Doesn't it make sense to build on the historical architecture that makes our community unique?

Tourists and those who are not from our community notice the architecture because Maine and New England in general have what the rest of the country cannot offer: THE HISTORY OF THE ORIGINAL SETTLERS IN THE UNITED STATES.

Maybe We Need A Neighborhood Watch Program on Hancock Street Where Citizens Can Police Citizens

We were going to do an update story on this building now that they have finished painting the rest of it when we noticed that someone has already broken one of the windows. This is so incredibly sad given that this particular building was plagued by vandalism prior to these owners buying it and fixing it up. We did a story on how thankful we were to the new owners for investing in our community and doing a great job with the renovations just a few weeks ago. Now, we are doing a story to let the owners of this building know that we are disappointed that someone would break a window before you even get started. And, we also noticed that you painted the plywood white so that despite the broken window, the building still looks good. Please know that we will work hard to institute a neighborhood watch program for you. If we all pull together and start paying attention to our surroundings, we will be able to do good things for each other. If we all could just appreciate what we have and stop putting road blocks up to Rumford's progress and success, we would definitely be moving in the right direction. It's time that citizens start looking out for citizens.

What a Great Idea! A Laundry Mat That Uses Old Washing Machines as Planters

What a great idea! This laundry mat turned what otherwise would appear to be a bland building in a commercial zone into a place with heart. The owners planted flowers and shrubbery in front of their business and even used old washing machines as planters. How appropriate. This action on their part not only makes the place look interesting but it adds life to the property. Jane Jacobs would be proud of these business owners as she is a proponent of mixed used zoning because of the life that PEOPLE bring to a neighborhood or downtown.

Build It and They Will Come!

This Public Infrastructure Investment Has Paid Off!

This Public Infrastructure Investment Capitalizes on the Community's Passion, Fishing!

Would you rather have this or "Snow Dump"? The Snow Dump used to be part of Chisholm Park and what a great place to get views of the River to boot!

Anywhere a community puts Benches, Chairs, and Tables, people flock! We had just spent some time here sipping lattes and enjoying the scenery, i.e. we weren't looking at buildings that were falling down, garbage in the streets, and mountains of asphalt and random debris.

What Are Other Communities Doing With Their Downtown?

Using Casinos As Economic Development Tools

Preserving the Old While Embracing the New

Building Parking Garages That Respect the Architecture

What a Great Idea!

Telephone Pole with Attached Black Wrought Iron Lamps

• This photo was taken in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We wanted to share this with you because we thought it was a great way to provide lighting in the neighborhoods and it probably didn't cost nearly what a lamp post would? Just something to think about when we are start spending money on our infrastructure!