Forward thinking is key to project

To The Editor:
Thank you for your coverage of Re-Store Design Challenge in Roxbury.  While the design teams - designers, builders, artists, and students - all put in an August full of sweat equity, there are some who should be recognized whose contributions were monetary, substantial, and key to this project’s success.

The MARK Project, in particular Executive Director Peg Ellsworth, believed in this idea from the first day and has been working tirelessly alongside me to bring it to fruition.  The MARK Project was instrumental in bringing our municipalities on board to compete for the host community.  Peg has helped us sharpen our concept to include as much of our local design talent as possible.  And most importantly, The MARK Project has raised money and sponsorships for Re-Store, including among many other generous donations, a substantial matching grant from the O’Connor Foundation.

Roxbury, Fleischmanns, and Margaretville all competed this year to host the competition.  Without Roxbury’s dedication of resources to this project, we could never have secured the storefronts, involved the students, or organized the (fabulous and sure to be suspenseful) design jury and awards ceremony at 4 p.m., September 18.  Based on the strength of the other municipalities’ applications, we see even bigger things happening for Re-Store in next year’s community.

This has been an out-of-the-box concept that harnesses our local talent and resources - designers, storefronts, architecture, involved citizens - and much like when we opened Public Lounge six years ago, Roxbury’s administration and Peg Ellsworth were right there to nurture it.  Today, The MARK Project and its board have shown themselves to be just as forward thinking and supportive of new ventures.  Thanks should go to them for helping Re-Store happen.

To catch a glimpse of the project, watch our entertaining ‘making-of’ video - search for “Re-Store Design Challenge” on YouTube.

Andrew Williams,
Margaretville