Published: November 30, 2009 09:47 pm      

Book fair to benefit Granada

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The Downtown Mt. Vernon Development Corporation is wanting your used books to sell — but they won’t be the only ones benefiting from the fundraising event.

“We are going to include some funding for the Granada,” DMDC Executive Director Cyndy Mitchell said. “The funds will go toward downtown enhancement projects and the Granada, since one of the top priorities in our master plan is to help the Granada and the area surrounding the theater.”

The Master Plan for the downtown area was prepared by RDG Planning and Design of Omaha, Neb., and includes a market analysis of the city’s retail dynamics and commercial and residential market opportunities; conditions that existed when the plan was completed in 2005; goals for the downtown area, a retail analysis and recommendations; a plan establishing the vision and detailed program for downtown development and an implementation strategy.

Among the goals listed in the plan is to enhance the downtown’s image with streetscape improvements, additional landscaping and open spaces; and to rehabilitate and preserve important buildings such as the Granada, and provide programs and financial incentives to encourage those improvements.

Residents may not be thinking about a book fair that will take place in April, but members of the DMDC are collecting books now in preparation for the April 16 and 17, 2010 event.

“We have several drop off sites, and the fair itself will be held at the Granada,” Mitchell said. “We wanted to keep the fair downtown and the Granada is an excellent place for a large event.”

There are book collection/drop-off sites at several area locations, including City Hall, Community First Bank, Crossroads Hospital, the DMDC office, Dish on the Square, First United Methodist Church, Kroger, People’s National Bank, US Bank and the Municipal Building West Visitors Center.

Mitchell said while residents are getting ready for the Christmas holiday they may be doing some sorting and housekeeping — a perfect time to box up and get rid of unwanted books.

Additional information about the book fair and how to donate books is available by contacting the DMDC office at 242-6866.