Performers lined up for series
The Downtown Uniontown Business District Authority (DBDA) already has lined up seven of the 10 performers it needs for the Storey Square Lunch Series. However, only two sponsors are on board, DBDA Chairman Mark Rafail said Tuesday.
The 10-week series begins in early summer, with entertainment in Storey Square every Friday afternoon and sponsors are needed for each performance.
Rafail said a performance will not be held on July 4th, which falls on a Friday this year.
While the DBDA started the lunch series, Rafail said The State Theatre Center for the Arts ran the program last year after the DBDA’s executive director resigned.
He said the theatre paid workers to set up the square for the bands that performed last year, but the theatre asked the DBDA to hire a crew for this year.
The theatre suggested charging the restaurants, which sell lunches during the events, a set-up fee to cover the costs, Rafail said.
He said the fee could also be used to advertise the event each week.
The DBDA earned a modest profit of about $100 last year from the lunch series, which seemed to grow more popular each week.
“More people are coming. Last year, it just kept growing,” Rafail said.
Sponsors paid a total of $3,000 to run the series last year and $1,000 has been raised so far this year, he said.
DBDA board member Tina Allen suggested holding crafters fairs in town on Saturdays to help raise money for the series.
Secretary Patricia Kelly said raffling services from downtown businesses might also help fund the series.
In unrelated business, Rafail said board member Karen Tweardy of the Herald-Standard resigned for personal reasons. Mark Thompson resigned previously, so there are now two vacancies on the board.