MAIN STREET HARDY

Archive for October, 2009

Beginning October 29, 2009, the State of Arkansas experienced severe storms and flooding which resulted in the December 3, 2009, presidential disaster declaration for 37 counties for Public Assistance (PA). Following the declaration, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) staff visited the City of Hardy, located in Sharp County, and found Mayor Nina Thornton and Public Works Superintendent Billy Gilbearth excited over their discovery that the city’s 406 Mitigation projects worked!

 “In March 2008, we had three floods in six weeks. Our sewer systems were affected. There wasn’t a question of whether we would flood again. It was a question of when will it happen,” said Thornton. “And it did in October of 2009. But this time, thanks to FEMA, we were ready.” Read the rest of this entry »

The Hardy Advertising and Promotions Committee (A&P) met Oct. 21 at Hardy City Hall. Numerous upcoming activities for the group were the main topic of discussion.

The group voted to sponsor the Rebel Classic basketball event to be held at the new A.L. Hudson Memorial Center Nov. 9-14. The sponsorship will place the A&P’s logo on tee shirts for the event.

The group found that the music during the recent Main Street Hardy Arts and Crafts Festival and Octoberfest on the stage in Dr. Thompson Park was a huge success.

The Hardy A &P also voted to place a flagpole inside the library for the youth in the area. Members also agreed to take a display to the Governor’s conference in January. A canoeing and overnight stay in Hardy will be taken to the conference for bids and to be given away as a way to promote the Hardy and Spring River area.

The group is also looking into the possibility of purchasing two houses on Spring Street in Hardy for a possible museum and base for a walking tour of the city. Hardy Mayor Nina Thornton said the two houses cost $30,000 and this is something the A &P is merely looking into, with no definitive plans.

In other advertising discussion, the A&P voted to enter into a one year contract with Areawide Media for a full page advertisement in the “Avenues” magazine beginning in January. The group already has advertising placement in the new magazine.

Among upcoming event plans, the A&P discussed a bluegrass festival that will be hosted in Loberg Park Sept. 11, 2010. The festival will feature music all day in the park or gym if the weather is inclement. Hobo Days was also discussed, although no date was set. The event will feature hobo cooking and train related displays and music.

A First Annual A&P Awards was also a topic of discussion by the group. The awards will be an Emmy style awards ceremony in February 2010. It is designed to honor A&P participants and will feature food, entertainment and trophies. Thornton said she wanted it to be a real source of pride for the A & P, including black tie events and media attention during the ceremony.

Finally, the A &P will host a luncheon Nov. 5 for the southern Arkansas mayors, who are coming to Hardy. The luncheon will be at the Garlic Rose. She said the luncheon is to bring these mayors to the Hardy area and let them see what the city has to offer, and in turn she will visit their cities at a later date. During the luncheon and throughout the day of the event, Sherry Groves will have the art gallery open with private tours for the visiting mayors.

The Hardy Advertising and Promotions committee meets monthly at 5:35 p.m. , normally at Hardy City Hall break room, unless prior arrangements are announced for an alternate meeting location. The November meeting is set for Nov. 18 at Copper Kettle in Hardy. The public is always welcome to attend these meetings.

It was a fun time for all in Hardy during the annual Hardy Fall Arts & Crafts Show, The festival took take place along Main Street Hardy which has been restored to the quaint beauty of a past century, and in the Historic Hardy Gym. There was plenty of free parking one block off Main Street and within comfortable walking distance of the Festival. The festival and the approximately 35 specialty shops that comprise the National Register Historic District in Historic Hardy are all located within the five block downtown area made for a exciting time for all who attended.

Some of the entertainment that was going on during the event was the live music of the band Bona Fide

Additionally we had some great line dancing  being performed by a local group too!

Be sure to check out what’s going on in Hardy by viewing our Hardy Area community calendar. You can go to it directly from this link HERE ! We look forwared to seeing you here in Hardy.