Holiday Traditions

This Holiday season we are reflecting on what to do with our family that doesn't cost money, makes good memories and, if we can remember next year, might just become a tradition. This year our 5 year old and I made a paper chain out of magazine pictures one afternoon to decorate part of the house.  He was singing Jingle Bells while we worked but kept switching in the words Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  Now it hangs between our kitchen and living room where the clothespins from the laundry line are ready for hanging Holiday cards.
The Holidays are always a mix of emotions, trying to make it special for a growing family, share it with the extended family and have time for friends as well. Hopefully somewhere along there we all find some time to sit back and enjoy the lights.

Catching up with the season!

So it seems that this "events season" just flew by. And many people ask, what is your busy season? Typically- it is the time you can have events outside. So for us here in the North East- May-ish through October-maybe... all depending on the site and the tent and the heaters. Oh and Mother Nature.  Maine Street Events had a decent summer.

Kicked off with the Second Annual Taste of Brunswick- which included a week of promo's on My Fox Maine's new program "Good Day Maine",

a few birthday and anniversary celebrations,

the grand opening of the Market Basket,

a Bird House Auction for Habitat for Humanity Seven Rivers

and even a 25th High School Reunion. In the midst of all that we had a kicker of a summer, so as much time as possible was spent with the family at some sort of water body.  But the Fall has proven to take a life of its own as well. MSE introduced Brunswick to the first Annual Maine Street Mile at the end of September.

And at the end of October we have collaborated with local photographer Michele Stapleton and cake maker Carrie Fields to create a Halloween Photo Booth at the Little Dog Coffee Shop.  For $5 Kids can have their photograph taken in their Halloween Costumes by one of Maine's premier photographers.  And with the cost of entry you get a chance to win one of Carrie's amazing sculpted cakes. All of the proceeds will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Brunswick. Hope you and your friends can make it!

And then tonight, I volunteered to coordinate my son's schools sock hop a the end of the month... in just over two weeks... more on that to come!

Close to home

I have been working on developing and growing Maine Street Events over the last few months, but unfortunately in the last few days my family has been thrown a huge curve ball. My husband is from Haiti. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Haiti from 1999 to 2001. The recent 7.0 Earthquake that hit Haiti has hit our home harder than one could ever imagine. We are lucky to know that my mother, father and brother in law are all in the southern region and safe, but we are waiting every day for news on other extended family and friends. The waiting game has to be the hardest piece of this tragedy. Each time the phone rings our hearts skip a beat and we hope against hope it is someone calling to say they are fine.
This magnitude of this tragedy is something unfathomable. The immediate need is one of water, food and shelter. Triage, for both the people and the infrastructure is important as well. It is going to take time to rebuild.
Time, resources and heart.
If there is one thing that I believe Haitians have a lot of, it is heart. Heart is what it is going to take to rebuild their capitol from scratch, heart is what it is going to take to rebuild their families, heart to make it through the greatest life challenge ever.
People have asked what they can do.
What can you say that would help the millions of people who have lost one, two or many loved ones. Fiscal gifts to organizations is good for now, but I believe that the best thing is to not forget and follow the process closely and offer help in second, third and fourth waves.
Maine Street Events will be collaborating with other groups in the near future to provide fundraising or other ways to support the reconstruction. It is our home and families that are effected. Despite the distance between Maine and Haiti, it has major ties to our own communities.
Please keep everyone in your thoughts and prayers.

The creation of Maine Street Events

Event planning has always been a part of my life... probably starting way back when I was in High School and planned sports teams Spaghetti Dinners and awards parties and even a formal dinner party for one of my birthday's! Each of the details; the menu, the decor, the invites; all gave me a little addrenaline rush. Employers and groups I belonged to quickly realized my talents and used them for meetings, fundraisers and group activities.

This past June I was part of a two person team that brought the Taste of Brunswick to Brunswick, Maine. We showcased 18 local restaurants, a local brewer and three local bands on what turned out to be the one sunny Saturday in June. Over 1000 people attended, ate, drank and danced in the summer season. The success of that event prompted several groups to ask for assistance, and since I would soon be gainfully unemployed, I thought, I should do this for real. After a month of conversations with my Taste partner, she convinced me that I could do it, and Maine Street Events was born!

Since then I am happy to have partnered with the Camden Rockport based Maine Fare and most recently the Friends of Waterbor Public Library's Gala and Auction. The future is bright, and I hope that I will be able to encourage other organizations that passing the stress of event planning to Maine Street Events will allow them to celebrate their employees, team with a local charity for a fundraiser, or a meeting that needs just a little extra. Maine Street Events will work with you and within your budget.