Midway Renaissance fills board of directors; officer elections and events set; several other events planned

Jeanette Tesmer, the newly hired event coordinator for the Francisco's Farm Arts Festival, spoke to the crowd.

Midway's community spirit looks as vibrant as ever, judging from a strong turnout of volunteers for the board of directors of Midway Renaissance at the group's annual meeting Monday night after the chili cook-off at Midway Christian Church.

When President Debra Shockley announced that the board had 10 directors and seats for 18, at least eight people volunteered. The board will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, at the library to elect this year's officers.

Shockley said the group's primary source of income is the Francisco's Farm Arts Festival, held each May at Midway University. She introduced Jeanette Tesmer, new coordinator of the event, and said planning for this year's Midsummer Nights in Midway will begin soon.

The group's first public activity will be staffing City Hall during the Midway merchants' annual Chocolate Stroll on Saturday, Feb. 10. Peter Fisher said a similar event is being planned for St. Patrick's Day, March 17, another Saturday, with the addition of "green"exhibits about electric vehicles, solar energy, recycling, gardening and so on.

DeeDee Roach said the group's Living History Committee will meet Feb. 12 at the Historic Midway Museum Store to gather up photographs of downtown businesses, and is planning a historic homes tour on Winter Street this summer to finance repairs to the Midway Woman's Club building.