TMSP Holiday Event Rebranded--Now the Spirit of Giving Parade and Fireworks

This year and each year going forward, the TMSP parade will be known as the Spirit of Giving Holiday Parade and Fireworks, brought to you by the Tilton Main Street Program.

Each year TMSP will choose a charity to support with this event. This year's charity is the Tilton-Northfield-Sanbornton Christmas Fund, spearheaded by Tom Gallant. Each year this all-volunteer, non-profit organization collects donations of new warm clothing, hats, mittens, boots, blankets, unwrapped toys, and food goods. The T-N-S Christmas Fund prepares baskets containing these items and all that is needed to cook a turkey dinner on Christmas day and distributes these baskets to those families who are in the greatest need in the Tilton, Northfield, and Sanbornton communities.

TMSP is asking those participating in the Spirit of Giving Parade to bring donations of the above mentioned items to the parade, where a truck and trailer will be available to collect them. Those attending the parade are also asked to bring whatever donations they can to the parade. We hope to make this holiday season a bit less difficult for those most in need.

The Spirit of Giving Parade and Fireworks event is scheduled for December 11 at 5 pm. Parade entrants should meet in the parking lot of the Union Sanborn elementary school on Park Street by 4 pm. Refreshments in Riverfront Park will follow the parade, and fireworks will begin at 6:30pm. Want to join us in the parade? Download the registration form here!

What is the Tilton Main Street Program?
Tilton Main Street Program is a non-profit organization made up of volunteers, merchants, and citizens who believe the downtown ecomony is vital to the overall health of the Town of Tilton. TMSP works with merchants to build their customer base, to raise funds for downtown improvements, and organize events, all with the goal of reinvigorating the downtown and maintaining it as a community center.

ADOPT A TURTLE BID TODAY

Turtles Around Town
The Tilton turtles are slowly getting ready for their spring debut.  You may have seen one or two already, but there's a whole host of them getting ready for the spring season, where they can adorn local patios and porches. Artists have been working hard to bring us colorful, distinctive turtles to beautify our downtown—and to be auctioned off to support the efforts of the Main Street Program. Here are some of the finished turtles who will be appearing soon in a shop near you. Stop in to check them out.

We want to thank Art Escape in Laconia for their assistance and donations of turtles. This project wouldn't have been possible without their wonderful support. If you're looking for a great pottery and glass studio, stop by there sometime. You can't beat its prices and atmosphere. We still have one or two turtles that need an artist to help them come alive. If you know someone interested, give us a call at 286-8668.

Painted by Jadi Seiz, an artist originally from Boone, North Carolina, who moved to Boston, Mass. to do interior design work in 2006, and then after that to Laconia, New Hampshire. Jadi works with many mediums—acrylic paint, graphic/digital arts, ink, and collage are a few of her favorites. Her past works include graphic design, perspective drawing, architectural rendering, and mixed media paintings. Jadi is the art director at the Boys and Girls Club of Laconia and does freelance commercial and residential interior designer.

Painted by Ashley Sexton, an illustrator from Merrimack, NH, who graduated with a BFA from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design in 2008. Her passion for story telling has lead her everywhere, including Ireland in 2007, where she illustrated and wrote her first short story, Little Sky.  Her current projects include an original short children’s story and illustrations entitled The Man Who Fell in Love with the Sun and the cover art for the forthcoming independently published novelette, Aria. Ashley’s portfolio and upcoming projects can be seen at www.sextonillustration.com.

Painted by Jim Lambert, a well-known folk artist from Northfield who was gracious enough to take time from his own projects to support the efforts of the Tilton Main Street Program.  Jim’s unique and very colorful pieces are created from found materials and a creative vision that together produces wonderful and whimsical art. Jim's work has been acknowledged by the Museum of American Folk Art and has appeared in Country Living, Early American Homes, Country Collectibles and NH Business magazine.

Painted by Katrina Quinn, a local artist who resides in Northfield, NH. Katrina has many different interests and capabilities. Katrina has had the opportunity to study under several different professional artists in a variety of media, including instruction at Kimball Jenkins Art School in Concord, NH. She works in prism colors with Bristine Charcoals, pencil, ink, watercolor, acrylic, and oil paints. Katrina operates her own business, called Katrax, and does paintings, portraits, landscapes, and murals. Some of her artwork was recently displayed in a local gallery in Laconia, NH.

Please Support Main Street
Although the Tilton Main Street program receives funding from a variety of sources, it is forever shrinking in these tight economic times. It is a challenge to maintain the funding necessary to meet our goals. Please consider making a donation to support the community programs and the events, like Summerfair, Holiday Traditions, or Downtown Historic Preservation efforts.

In These Tough Economic Times, Please Shop Locally!
It is more important than ever to keep our carefully spent dollars circulating in our own, local economy. Economists are saying that the national economy is showing signs of growth. As we start to see proof of this, please remember that of every $100 spent at box stores, only $43 returns to the local economy in taxes, payroll, and other expenditures. When the same $100 is spent in a locally owned establishment, $68 dollars goes back into the economy. (data courtesy of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2/6/2009; 68/43 courtesy Civic Economics study, 2008.)

The Tilton Main Street Program is a proud member of the 350 project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the brick and mortar businesses that our country was founded on. More information about this program can be found at. Independent businesses who join in support of this effort can download free marketing materials and to more information about how important it is to support the local economy.

TMSP Partners With Hands On Network and Disney
Tilton Main Street Program has joined the and is a participant in Disney's Give A Day. Get A Day Program. This program is rewarding any individuals who give a day of volunteer service to a registered nonprofit like TMSP with free admission to one of the theme parks of Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort. For more information and to register as a volunteer (required to receive your free pass), go to. For volunteer opportunities with TMSP, please contact us at 286-8668.