Local Artist Angel Barcenas recently completed the decoration of a new public bench with his

distinctive art. The new bench was funded as part of the site landscaping for the new public

parking lot by the railroad tracks at the corner of Third Street and Avenue F; and Mr. Barcenas’ work

has continued a recent trend toward the installation of all sorts of building improvements, public-

space improvements, public art, and other enhancements to

downtown Rosenberg. Thanks Angel, for this new addition!

Local Artist Continues Steady Trend of Downtown Beautification

A Report on Recent and Upcoming Downtown Happenings Main Street Program - June 2017

Cast Theatrical will open a new play on Friday, June 2nd. The

Cast Theater players will perform ‘Unexpected Tenderness’ by

Israel Horovitz every weekend in June. Call 832-889-3808 for

tickets.

Local Artist Angel Barcenas Finished Bench

Coming up in June

Every Saturday Night in June

Live Music at BR Vino

7:30-10:30 PM - 1917 Ave. G

Every Weekend in June

Cast Theatrical’s Production of Israel Horovitz’s

play: ‘Unexpected Tenderness’

Call 832-889-3808 for Tickets

Wed., June 14th - Bingo Night at BR Vino

Call (832) 595-2881 for reservations

Sat. June 17th - Third Saturday Sidewalk Sale

From 10AM-2 PM at participating shops

Saturday, June 24th

Auction Day in Downtown Rosenberg

at Shorty Yeaman’s Auction House

815 2nd Street - 10 AM Preview, 12 Noon Auction

The Rosenberg Railroad Museum

Wed.-Sat., 10 AM-5 PM, and Sun. 1-5PM

Cast Theatrical to Open New Play

Rosenberg Downtown News for June Page 2

Janice Vyoral Requests Grant for Avenue G Park Upgrade

Ms. Vyoral has proposed to replace the old and worn fencing, shown above left, with new fencing as shown above right. She

also proposes to replace the existing painted picket fence at the front of her site, shown below left, with a wrought iron fence,

similar to that shown below right, but built upon a concrete footing and secured by four masonry columns with park entry gates.

The Main Street Design Committee met on May 8. Discussion at the Committee meeting included

the following:

The Committee received a status report on previously approved matching grants. Work on the

façade improvement project at the Hawkins furniture store, for example, was reported to be

complete, and it was also reported that the City Council had approved and awarded a façade

grant for the Fort Bend Hope Outreach Center on April 18th. Also, there was a report that the

physical improvement matching grant that had been recommended for an art bench in front of the

‘What’s the Deal’ resale shop had been approved by the City Council at their meeting on May 2.

Furthermore, the Committee reviewed a request for a Physical Improvement Grant from Downtown

Property owner Janice Vyoral for improvements to a park she owns in the 1900 Block of Avenue G.

The Committee recommended approval of her request.

Finally, there was a discussion about the fact that a

new art bench has been placed along the side of

Third Street - at approximately 735 Third Street. Dan

Kelleher reported that local artist Angel Barcenas

was working on painting an Autumn Tree and

Leaves display on the bench. This art work is now

subsequently been completed.

The Committee also heard a report on Main Street

efforts to support the preservation of habitat for

migrating Monarch butterflies.

Local artist Angel

Barcenas, left

and his finished

bench, below

The Main Street Economic Vitality Committee had a short meeting on May 10th right after the

quarterly Small Business Development Breakfast. At the Breakfast, guest trainer Sarah Marshall of the

Texas Main Street Program taught a class on how to use Facebook and other social media to

promote small businesses. The training breakfast had a good turnout, with 50 people in attendance.

Rosenberg Downtown News for June Page 3

TMSP Official Teaches Class on Social Media Promotions

TMSP Deputy Director, Sarah Marshall,

taught a class on ‘How to Use Social

Media to Promote Your Small Business’.

Then, after the training class, she took

appointments with individual merchants

who had requested personalized

tutorials to improve

their social media skills.

Promotion Committee Reviews Recent Promotions The Main Street Promotion Committee met on May 9th. Discussion at the Committee meeting

included a review of more than a dozen recent and upcoming downtown promotional activities

that have received, or will receive, funding and other support from the Main Street program.

Main Street Manager Dan Kelleher reminded the Committee that just because we have been

spending our promotional dollars on certain activities during recent months, that it doesn’t mean

we cannot change our emphasis to other activities it the group wants such a change.

Also, the Committee discussed planning for several upcoming downtown promotions including

promotion of live music at both Another Time Soda Fountain and BR Vino, the Third Saturday

Sidewalk Sale, scheduled for May 20th, and the Rosenberg Railroad Museum’s fundraising

reception scheduled for June 3rd. In addition, the group discussed some accounts receivable

issues related to festival sponsors who have pledged funding support but not yet paid; and they

discussed the Autumn Arts and Antiques Festival (and ‘Bark in the Park’) scheduled for Oct. 14th.

They also received updates on the downtown

promotional video project and the progress of

several downtown co-op’ ad’s; and Mr. Kelleher

also distributed more copies of the downtown

promotional brochure, and the group discussed

ways to get the positive message about downtown

Rosenberg out into nearby neighborhoods.

After the Breakfast, the Committee continued its discussions. They brainstormed about any known

individual business support needs and/or business support opportunities, they talked about currently

vacant spaces and they brainstormed about how we might help recruit businesses to fill those

vacant spaces. The Group noted that there is a new building located at 1800 Avenue H that is

expected to be fully restored and available soon, and that the Republican Party headquarters

located at 2012 Avenue G is expected to become vacant soon. and that we should think about

prospective tenants who might want to occupy these two buildings.

Design Committee meeting of May 9th

The Organization Committee held their regular monthly meeting on Thursday, May 11th and in

addition to discussing these two contests and our other community observances of Preservation

Month, they also discussed several other issues.

For example, Main Street Manager Dan Kelleher, and Economic Development Department Senior

Administrative Specialist Isabel Carranza gave an update on the compilation and tallying of the

results from a recently distributed Downtown Community-Customer Survey. Ms. Carranza said she

would have a completed report for the Committee by their next meeting on June 8. In addition, the

Committee decided to try to distribute and collect a

Downtown Stake Holder Survey within the next 10 weeks.

Sue Syvertson agreed to take a lead role in this project.

There was also a discussion regarding upcoming

appointments and re-appointments to the Main Street

Advisory Board (MSAB), and the group discussed plans for

the Rosenberg Main Street Program Annual Summertime

Strategic Planning Workshop. Mr. Kelleher explained that

the Main Street Advisory Board had chosen Tuesday,

August 1st, as the date when we will hold this meeting.

The Main Street Organization Committee has undertaken several activities in observance of Nation-

al Preservation Month. First, they staged two contests to draw public attention to the important is-

sue of preservation of our historic buildings: The Architectural Appreciation Photography Contest

and the ‘Preserving Fort Bend County Through the Arts’ Contest. The contest winners, shown below,

were judged in early April and honored with ribbons and trophies at an official awards presentation

at the regular meeting of the Rosenberg City Council that was held on May 2nd.

Rosenberg Downtown News for June Page 4

Observances of Preservation Month Include Two Contests

Winners and Sponsors of the 2017

Architectural Appreciation Photo Contest

May’s ‘Third Saturday Sidewalk Sale’

will be held on Saturday, June 17th

from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM

at participating shops.

From left to right, Diana Miller, President of the Art League of

Fort Bend, 1st Place Champion Kirk Roberts, 2nd Place

Winner Alex Barrett, Claire Rogers, Treasurer of the Fort Bend

Co. Historical Commission, Lucinda Zapeda, accepting on

behalf of her friend: 3rd Place Winner Grace Haggerty,

Mayor Cynthia McConathy, and Mike Mercado, Chairman

of the Rosenberg Main Street Advisory Board

Winners and Sponsors of the 2017

Preserving Fort Bend County Through the Arts Contest

From left to right, Diana Miller, President of the Art League of

Fort Bend and accepting on behalf of her friend: 1st Place

Champion Gary Friske, 3rd Place Winner Anne Gregory, 2nd

Place Winner Sue Zelko, Claire Rogers, Treasurer of the Fort

Bend Co. Historical Commission, Mayor Cynthia

McConathy, and Mike Mercado, Chairman of the

Rosenberg Main Street Advisory Board