FRIENDS OF MAIN STREET - News

Spooky Windows on Main Street this Halloween

11/11/2021

Early Saturday morning on October 23rd, sidewalks filled with teams of K-6 young Winchester students brewing up frightening displays of ghosts and goblins all along Main Street for the 39th Halloween Window Painting Contest!

A total of 41 downtown windows were painted by 38 teams of two and three “solo” painters – 79 young artists in all – making more memories for everyone this Halloween!

Friends of Main Street and the Winsted Fire Department are excited to announce the 2021 Halloween Window Painting winners, by grade!

Kindergarten: Jaxon Picard & Robert Wagner
First: Alexa Hudak & Skylar Blades
Second: Caroline Cardillo & Kendall Wesolowski
Third: Iris O’Connor
Fourth: Makayla DeSanti (Gr. 4) & Alana DeSanti (K)
Fifth: Callan Jeannette & Gracelynn Miner (homeschooled)
Sixth: Giannah Mitchell & Cameron Picard
Honorable Mention: Gabby Pardue (Gr. 3) & Emmalyn Wall (K)

A big howl out to the 16 participating businesses:
Northwest Realty, ABC Pizza, Mama Pho, Laurel Lanes, True Value, Padre’s, Rooted Market, Friends of Main Street, Noujaim’s Bistro, Laurel City Coins, Keefe Land Surveying, JB Appliance, F & G Richards Jewelers, Valley Thrift Shop, Salvation Army, and Little Red Barn Brewers.

Well Attended Summer Concerts on the Green!

9/1/2021

Once again, Friends of Main Street partnered with Northwest Community Bank to bring to town this year’s Summer Concert Series, Thursdays in July and August!

What a great lineup of new bands and music – from Rock, Blues, Country, Swing, Jazz, Folk Rock, Americana, Singer/Songwriter, Latin salsa, to Bluegrass.

Concertgoers brought a bite to eat, their own chairs, and blankets to relax and enjoy the music. For the most part, we were blessed with clear skies and seasonal temperatures except for a few concerts due to thunderstorms and rain.

We had our largest crowds this season and many were dancing and enjoying themselves!

Kicking of the series with the Jr Krauss and the Shakes for a little Blues Jazz, Rockabilly, Swing and Rock and Roll!

Happy 250th Winchester!

5/19/2021

How exciting!! The town of Winchester's 250th birthday is around the corner – May 21, 1771, the date of incorporation. While our official plans for this day were put on hold because of COVID, we invite you to celebrate the day with your kids, family, and friends to talk about the tremendous history of our town.N

While we ramp up and revisit our celebration plans as restrictions lift from the pandemic, there are a few activities that we can share!

The Winchester 250 celebration banners hang proudly on our Main Street and at the entrance to East End Park!
Memorial Day festivities will include Winchester 250 banners!
Watch for banners and buntings to be installed on Town Hall and Historic buildings throughout Winchester Center and Winsted!
Book Launch: "Winchester, Connecticut: A History from Founding to Flood," by local historian and author Virginia Schultz-Charette is scheduled to be available at the end of June with an upcoming book signing and how you can purchase your own copy!
Historic Play: On November 13, there will be a play highlighting the town's 250-year history. Save the date and plan on watching the town's history unfold.

We recommend that everyone give the Winchester 250 and Town of Winchester/Winsted, CT official Facebook pages a "Like" to ensure you do not miss out on any upcoming events.

New Winchester 250 celebration banners line Main Street!

Congratulations to Chloe Anglace and Iliana Martinez, students at the Gilbert School. Their concepts were merged to create the black and white Winchester 250 logo.

Pride in Place

4/28/2021

As the Seasons Change, so Too Does Main Street!

Dear Friends,

We are encouraged by the many positive developments happening both on and around Main Street. It's exciting to see the completion of the Hartford HealthCare Health Center and the new shops and restaurants opening, and the growing sense of energy and community pride.

I hope you and yours have stayed safe during the past year. Like everyone, we at Friends of Main Street are looking forward to a bright future.

Although our organization had to cancel in-person events, we continued to stay active, promoting local businesses, community news, and organizing the addition of festive snowflakes to storefronts.

As Winsted starts to emerge from the pandemic, we look forward to bringing back an even stronger community spirit. To that end, I am writing to you for two reasons:

This spring Friends of Main Street will once again hang pots of beautiful flowers on Main Street and hire someone to keep them watered throughout the summer. Residents and visitors alike enjoy seeing them. Would you please consider making a donation to help us have fresh flowers in our downtown in June?
We all recognize that times have changed. To address those changes, we would like Friends of Main Street to be responsive to the needs of our community. Would you please take a minute to say how you think Friends of Main Street should prioritize its activities?

Please consider making a donation to help us have fresh flowers in our downtown and, by taking our survey and share, your ideas. Your input will make a difference in our organization’s future plans.

Thank you very much for your support.

Francis Delaney
President, Friends of Main Street – Winsted

Glorious baskets of flowers start adorning our decoratives poles that line Main Street in the first week of June

As the Seasons Change, so Too Does Main Street

4/4/2021

Not only is Winchester a wonderful place to live and work, but it also has a great mix of city and country, coupled with a walkable downtown, storefront opportunities, and a diverse restaurant scene.

Artisans & Crafters • Diverse Restaurants • YMCA • Museums • Annual Festivals • Pet Parades • Hiking Trails • Breweries • Retro Art Deco Movie House • Whiting Mills • Outdoor & Indoor Recreation • Highland Lake GoCarts • American Museum of Tort Law • Ice Cream • Natural Wonders • American Mural Project • Miniature Golf • Duckpin Bowling • Largest Civil War Collection in the State • Antique Shops • Community College • Old Mills • 6-lane, 25-meter Indoor Pool • Summer Concerts on the Green • Galleries • Sue Grossman Still River Greenway • Tiffany Windows • Hayrides on Main Street • New Deal/W.P.A. Art Mural • Solomon Rockwell House • Skiing/Snowboarding, Wired Shared WorkSpaces and so much more!

This Spring, come downtown and see what's new on Main Street!

Hartford HealthCare HealthCenter: 80 South Main Street, the new home of the hospital’s Hungerford Emergency & Medical Care. The location also features a landing pad for a LIFE STAR medical transport helicopter.

Rooted Market: 390 Main Street, is a local, family owned Health Food Store offering a variety of natural and organic products. We feature natural alternatives to all your grocery and vitamin needs. We also offer health and beauty items, cleaning supplies, herbal and homeopathic remedies, gift items, and so much more.

Plant Life Aficionado: 60 Main Street, a humble, family owned Plant Shop with dreams of propagating nature's beauty and healing for all to enjoy.

Live.BeYou.: 396 Main Street. Boutique clothing, beautifully crafted jewelry, accessories & personalized gifts.

Railway Cafe: 580 Main Street, Homestyle breakfast and lunch favorites, big fresh salads, lots of baked goods, specialty coffees and ice cream too.

2nd Home Lounge: 524 Main Street, A relaxing environment to enjoy a local craft beer, or glass of wine from a local winery, with a creative bite to eat with friends. Opening Soon!

Restore Our Earth

3/31/2021

Eliminate Styrofoam – Use Eco-Friendly, Waterproof Takeout Boxes in All Restaurants, Retail Food Vendors and Non-Profit Preparers

Styrofoam is among the most toxic of plastics, so eliminating it from landfills is a good thing. The Town of Winchester and the State of Connecticut have been addressing this issue for over 30 years. The Board of Selectman enacted Ordinance 157, effective on December 1, 1990, which established a task force to educate all restaurants, retail food vendors, non-profit food preparers, and food packagers to develop a comprehensive plan to recycle this product, with the ultimate goal to eliminate its use/sale in Winchester. Fast-food restaurants like Dunkin Donuts and McDonalds have been transitioning to paper products for years, but not all local businesses in Winchester have.

With the rise of take-out options to sustain businesses due to pandemic restrictions, Friends of Main Street has been looking for alternative packaging that re-enforces Ordinance 157, the town ban on polystyrene/styrofoam.

This year a Connecticut restaurateur decided to start a new business, Kraftgreen, to manufacture Eco-Friendly, waterproof takeout boxes with their new business. Previously they purchased paper to-go packaging overseas. Due to the pandemic, they had to wait four months for one order, so they decided to manufacture the packaging in Connecticut and eliminate the logistics nightmare.

What an opportunity – buy local, support a new CT business, and have a local source for food businesses in Winchester and neighboring towns... And eliminate styrofoam from our landfill.

It's Snowing On Main Street in Winsted!

11/25/2020

Northwest Community Bank, headquartered in Winsted, CT, is partnering with Friends of Main Street-Winsted to announce 'It's Snowing On Main Street!' Starting at the corner of East End Park and Route 44, you cannot miss the large beautiful white snowflakes appearing all along Main Street – each one different and unique (65+ snowflakes down Main Street one mile long – from McGranes On The Green to Little Red Barn Brewers). This is Friends of Main Street’s largest effort to date to carry the holiday season from our historic green down our Main Street.

Northwest Community Bank has been a sponsor of Friends of Main Street-Winsted (FOMS) since its inception over two decades ago. For many years, the Bank has sponsored our Summer Concert Series, which unfortunately had to be canceled this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. When asked if they would support repurposing their concert funding to decorate Main Street for the holidays – their answer was,” Of course, yes!”

“We could not have asked a greater supporter of our town during such challenging times for businesses,” said Fran Delaney, President of Friends of Main Street-Winsted.

What is your favorite snowflake?

Last year a member of Friends of Main Street saw a four-story building in Meriden with all of its large windows painted with snowflakes and reached out to their Economic Development Commission for the artist who painted the building. The artist, Michael Genovese, a sign painter in West Hartford, CT, calls these painted snowflakes a Symphony of Snowflakes, #symphonyofsnowflakes. “We are so grateful that he is sharing his artistry on our storefronts for the holidays,” said Town of Winchester Selectman Candace Bouchard.

To add to the festivities along Main Street this holiday season, the Winchester Economic Development Commission recently announced the ribbon-cutting for a new shop, Plant Life Aficionado, at 60 Main Street on December 9 at 3:00 pm. Also, two new restaurants are slated to open on Main Street: Lee’s All American Family Diner is now open at 108 Main Street, and the Railway Cafe, formerly located in the center of Canaan, will open at its new location at 580 Main Street (formerly the Cafe de Olla) early in the new year.

#winchesterct #winstedct #winstedhasit #tourism #economicdevelopment #boosteconomy #helpushelpyou

Michael Genovese, a sign painter in West Hartford, CT, painted 65+ snowflakes down Winsted's mile long Main Street for the 2020 holidays!

Artists help us to see the world in new or innovative ways • Artists make a visual record of the people, places, and events of their time and place. Artists make functional objects and structures (buildings) more pleasurable and elevate them or imbue them with meaning.

Connecticut will roll back to Phase 2.1 on November 6

11/2/2020

Source: WVIT-TV – NBCConnecticut.com

Due to increasing rates of COVID-19 in Connecticut, the entire state will roll back to Phase 2.1 – a slightly modified version of the previously enacted Phase 2 rules, effective November 6. Rollback Phase 2.1 reduces capacity at restaurants, movie theaters, and events from the previously announced reopening Phase 3 which went into effect on October 8.

The major changes that will occur under Phase 2.1 include:

Restaurants will reduce to 50 percent capacity with a maximum of 8 people limited to a table;
Restaurants and entertainment venues (i.e. bowling alleys, movie theaters, arcades, etc.) will be required to close by 9:30 p.m., with the exception of food takeout and delivery services, which will be allowed to continue after 9:30 p.m.;
Personal services, such as hair salons and barber shops, will remain at 75 percent capacity;
Event venues will be limited to 25 people indoor, 50 people outdoor;
Performing arts venues and movie theaters will have a capacity of 100 people; and
Religious gatherings will be limited to 50 percent capacity or 100 people maximum.

Our Food, Brew, Fun & Necessities list provides quick links to phone numbers, menus, hours, and addresses.
Everyone's safety and well-being are of the utmost importance during these unprecedented times. Remember the three W's: Wash your hands, Watch your distance and Wear your masks.

We're With You Winsted!

10/8/2020

Open Shops, Take Out, Inside/Outside Dining, Salons, Recreation & Entertainment

Support Local Businesses
Update: Phase 3 Starting October 8

Businesses have come up with creative ways to continue offering their goods and services from a distance. Everyone's safety and well-being are of the utmost importance during these unprecedented times. Remember the three W's: Wash your hands, Watch your distance and Wear your masks.

food brew, fun & necessities

A listing of 60+ Open Shops, Take Out, Inside/Outside Dining, Salons, Recreation & Entertainment with Quick Links to Addresses, Phone, Menus and Hours!

Here's how you can help support your favorite eatery, brewery, stops, outdoor recreation, hair/barbershops during these unsettling times.

Wear masks, be respectful, wash your hands frequently and follow distancing guidelines.
Be Patient as businesses transition their operations to to the new opening models for retail and dining and office environments.
Curbside pick up and delivery is still an option for many restaurants and stores. Please note their menu and operating hours may have changed.
Buy gift cards from your favorite restaurant or store.
Shop online - Not all retail stores may have the option to offer online shopping, but if they do, it’s a great way to support small businesses and practice social distancing.
Buy local produce - The grocery stores are doing a great job keeping up with the high demand, but try buying direct from farmers for milk, eggs, and local produce, they need our support more than ever.
Maintain Memberships - Keep your YMCA, gym. chamber of commerce memberships to support their operations.
Tip well and say Thank You!
Stay connected to your favorite stores/restaurants, and non-profits through their Facebook pages and websites. Many organizations are now providing virtual meetings.

Courtesy of artist Gay Schempp

Phase 3 Reopening Set to Begin October 8

10/5/2020

Source: WVIT-TV – NBCConnecticut.com

Phase 3 Reopening allows for increased indoor capacity of some businesses. Bars and nightclubs will remain closed for phase 3 reopening and it is unknown when they will reopen.

Restaurants, personal services such as hair salons and barbershops, and libraries will be able to increase from 50 percent to 75 percent capacity indoors.
Outdoor event venues including amphitheaters, race tracks and sporting venues to increase their capacity from 25 percent to 50 percent. The cap for outdoor events will move from 100 to 150 people.
Indoor performing arts venues will also be permitted to open at 50 percent capacity. Meanwhile, the cap on indoor social gatherings at commercial establishments will increase from 25 to 100 people. That means that banquet facilities can start booking events like weddings again.

Businesses have come up with creative ways to continue offering their goods and services from a distance. Everyone's safety and well-being are of the utmost importance during these unprecedented times. Remember the three W's: Wash your hands, Watch your distance and Wear your masks.

Our Food, Brew, Fun & Necessities list provides quick links to phone numbers, menus, hours, and addresses.