Welcome to Downtown Smyrna, Delaware.....


           
WHERE THE PAST MEETS THE PRESENT

HomeEventsHistoryPhoto GalleryWalking TourBusiness DirectoryContact UsJoin SDRA

Shop Locally, Shop Smyrna

Four Corners Quarterly Newsletter

The Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association
invited members in good standing to its 2011 Annual Meeting on
Sunday, November 13, 2011, 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
beginning at Quentin Schlieder’s Home
36 South Main Street
Smyrna, Delaware
 

Hors d’oeuvres and beverages were served at the 36 South Main Street at 5:30 p.m. A light dinner was served
at the J. R. Clements Mansion, 56 West Commerce Street at 6:15 p.m.  Followed by Dessert, Coffee, Tea
and a brief business meeting and Awards Presentations at The Thornton’s
134 W. Commerce Street at 7:30 p.m.

And the 2011 Winners are…

The Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association selected Jennifer Merrill for its 2011 Star of
Smyrna Award.  Merrill was selected for her outstanding work to promote the new Duck Creek Regional Library and for her previous service to many other community groups including the Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association.  The success of many of these endeavors is directly linked to her enthusiasm for our community. Pictured right to left:
  Robin Williams Bruner, Association President, and Jennifer Merrill, 2011 award winner.

     The Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association selected Missy Vaughn as the winner of the 2011 “Ellen Sayers Beautification Award.”  The Award was presented at the Association’s Annual Meeting On Sunday, November 13, 2011 to recognize her dedication in enhancing and maintaining the landscape at Belmont Hall has enriched the experience of visiting one of Smyrna’s greatest historical sites.  Pictured at right r to l: Robin Williams Bruner, Association President, Missy Vaughn, 2011 award winner, and Ellen Sayers.

Allan and Melanie Ryder received Association’s Residential 2011 Façade Improvement Grant for their work in restoring their home at 117 West South Street.  Pictured here at left.

     President Robin Bruner and Susan Wolfe present the award to Allan and Melanie Ryder, pictured at right.

 

     Joe and Shirley Sheridan were awarded the Association’s Commercial 2011 Façade Improvement Grant for their impressive improvement of their Irish Pub and Restaurant at 44 West Commerce Street.  Pictured at left.

President Robin Bruner and Susan Wolfe present the award to Shirley Sheridan.  Pictured at right. 

 

Shop
_______________________________________________

Thursday, December 1 from 5:30 -7:30 p.m. pm - Caroling on the Plaza & Visit Santa
Please join us for an evening of holiday cheer, music, and refreshments in celebration of the Official Holiday Lighting of Town Hall.
Afterwards, visit with Santa at the Plank House located behind the Smyrna Museum and adjacent to the PNC Bank parking lot.
Music provided by the Citizens' Hose Company Band. The Duck Creek Horticultural Society will be selling wreaths on
Market Street the Town Tree Lighting.
----------------------
Saturday December 17 from 1 – 5 pm - Civil War Christmas at Belmont Hall

Belmont Hall 512 S. DuPont Hwy. (Route 13 enter off Smyrna Leipsic Road) Smyrna, DE
Admission $5 adults, $2 for children
Visit a Civil War military encampment, take a ride in a horse drawn sleigh, learn about life in the 1860”s at presentations, hear about
the Buffalo Soldiers, and listen to the Harmonizers and Harmonettes as they sing period carols. Children can visit Santa, make
a Civil War era tree ornament, and see a model train exhibit. Eat gingerbread men and drink wassail.
For more information visit www.belmonthall.org or phone 302- 264-9048
----------------------
Saturday December 17 from 10 am - 2 pm - Christmas Open House at the Smyrna Museum
11 South Main St., Smyrna, DE
Free Admission, but donations appreciated
The “Barracks” built in the 1790’s and the Plank House built in the early 1700’s make up the Smyrna Museum Complex. Take a tour
of these historic buildings decorated for the holidays and enjoy refreshments. For more information visit
www.smyrnamuseum.com or phone 302- 653 -1320
----------------------
Sunday December 18 2-4 pm Free Belmont Hall Holiday Open House
Belmont Hall 512 S. DuPont Hwy. (Route 13 enter off Smyrna Leipsic Road) Smyrna, DE
Free Admission
The Duck Creek Horticultural Society invites the community to Belmont Hall for an Open House from 2-4 pm to view the holiday
decorations. The Open House is free.
----------------------


Take a Stroll through the Historic District, and down Main Street... 

   

    The Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association is a non-profit membership organization affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, incorporated in the state of Delaware, dedicated to the preservation and beautification on of the Historic Town of Smyrna, Delaware, and which stimulates an environment to assure that Smyrna is an attractive place to live, shop, work, and play.

    We hope you find this web site useful in discovering more about Smyrna, and Our Association. Please check back for updates to events and projects, and consider supporting the Smyrna Downtown Renaissance Association as a member.

 

 
Executive Director:
Quentin Schlieder

 

Why Buy Locally Owned?

There are many well-documented benefits to our communities and to each of us to choosing local, independently owned businesses. We realize it is not always possible to buy what you need locally and so we only ask you to Think Local FIRST!

Top Ten reasons to Think Local - Buy Local - Be Local

  1. Buy Local -- Support yourself: Several studies have shown that when you buy from independent, locally owned businesses, instead of nationally owned chains, more of your money is used to make purchases from other local businesses, service providers and farms -- continuing to strengthen the economic base of the community. Locally-owned businesses generate a premium in enhanced economic impact to the community and our tax base. Each dollar you spend helps those businesses reinvest in neighborhood improvements and promote community development.

  2. Support community groups: Non-profit organizations receive an average 250% more support from small business owners than they do from large businesses. Festivals, sports teams, school events, churches and many service clubs benefit from their generosity.

  3. Keep our community unique: Where we shop, where we eat and have fun -- all of it makes our community home. Our one-of-a-kind businesses are an integral part of the distinctive character of this place. “When people go on vacation they generally seek out destinations that offer them the sense of being someplace, not just anyplace.” ~ Richard Moe, President, National Historic Preservation Trust. By choosing to support local businesses, you help maintain our diversity and distinct flavor.

  4. Reduce environmental impact: Locally owned businesses can make more local purchases requiring less transportation and generally set up shop in town centers as opposed to developing on the fringe. This generally means contributing less to sprawl, congestion, habitat loss and pollution.

  5. Create more good jobs: Small local businesses are the largest employer nationally and in our community and provide the most jobs to our residents.

  6. Get better service: Local businesses often hire people with a better understanding of the products they are selling and take more time to get to know customers. 

  7. Invest in community: Local business owners live in our community. They are less likely to leave, and are more invested in the community’s future.

  8. Put your taxes to good use: Local businesses require comparatively little infrastructure investment and make the most efficient use of public services as compared to nationally owned stores entering the community.

  9. Buy what you want, not what someone wants you to buy: A marketplace of tens of thousands of small businesses is the best way to ensure innovation and low prices over the long-term.  A multitude of small businesses, each selecting products based not on a national sales plan but on their own interests and the needs of their local customers, guarantees a much broader range of product choices.

  10. Encourage local prosperity: A growing body of economic research shows that in an increasingly homogenized world, entrepreneurs and skilled workers are more likely to invest and settle in communities that preserve their one-of-a-kind businesses and distinctive character. This can spur interest in others who might be willing to invest in relocating to the area to establish other businesses.

 

A win-win situation for everyone!

 

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Questions or problems regarding this web site should be directed to JLW Consulting, LLC.
Last Modified 01/21/2012 11:22:02 PM