Spencer Main Street’s downtown lighting project got the green light Monday night. The Spencer City Council at its meeting that night voted 6-0 to approve the city contributing $155,000 toward the project to get it started. “We are excited about this project,” Spencer Main Street Director Nancy Naeve said. “It’s been at least two years...
A lot has changed at Grand Avenue Community Outreach since Kevin Brown became the faith-based organization’s executive director. Brown transitioned from board member to director around the beginning of the year. He has since found himself handling many different duties that could be expected of a director: fundraising, public relations, strategic planning, among others. “The...
Spencer is applying for funds that would be used to create voluntary design guidelines for buildings in the downtown historic district that wish to honor that area’s Art Deco and Spanish Mission architecture styles. On Monday, the Spencer City Council approved 4-1 applying for a grant program that, if approved and advanced forward, would help...
Drivers traveling north on Grand Avenue will eventually see new street signs and light poles thanks to private fundraising by the Grand Avenue Improvement Corporation. At Monday’s city council meeting, the council to approve a memo of agreement with the Grand Avenue Improvement Corporation (GAIC) on the installation of “historic street poles and street signage,”...
Spencer City Council members on Monday filed for the second time an ordinance that would allow restaurants to set up sidewalk cafés on public sidewalks outside their establishments. If the ordinance is filed a third and final time, establishments where at least 50% of revenue comes from food sales can apply for permits to operate...
Just two weeks after launching, Spencer’s new Retail Kickstarter Program is already generating interest. Through the program, Spencer businesses that fill retail gaps, diversify the economy or fill jobs can apply to receive forgivable loans up to $25,000 and separate zero percent interest loans up to $25,000. The program is a partnership between the City...
Every shirt at Pressed has its own story. From concept, to design, to matching the designs with garments and, finally, printing the shirt, each of these items of apparel is meant to share its story and connect with people. Feature photo by LARK Photo & Video.
An ordinance that would allow restaurants to operate sidewalk cafés on public sidewalks was filed for the first of three times at Monday’s Spencer City Council meeting. If the ordinance is filed three times, restaurants – including those on Grand Avenue – could set up sidewalk cafés as long as 50 percent of their gross...
Four thirsty Spencer moms had such a blast organizing a spontaneous holiday bar crawl in December that they are at it again just in time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. This Saturday, starting at 6 p.m. at the Silver Hammer, Thirsty Mom Events is leading The Grand Green Charity Bar Crawl. There will be a...
Despite hearing from multiple downtown business owners and representatives of stakeholder organizations, the Spencer City Council on Monday passed a second filing of an ordinance that would allow murals. The ordinance amends city code to allow murals to be placed on the side or back outside wall of a commercial building, but not on the...