Newsletter

November 2011

November Membership Meeting

The November membership meeting will be held Thursday, November 3rd at 12 o'clock noon in the Jack Hammons Community Center located on 810 Adams Street in Winnsboro. Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell will be the guest speaker.

Foster Campbell is an elected official, businessman and farmer from Bossier Parish. He was first elected to the North Louisiana seat on the Public Service Commission in November 2002, representing 24 parishes and nearly a million people. He was re-elected in October 2008 with 78 percent of the vote. Previously he served seven terms in the Louisiana Senate (1976-2002) representing District 36 in Northwest Louisiana.

Campbell holds a bachelor's degree in business and economics from Northwestern State University at Natchitoches. He owns and operates two insurance agencies in Bossier City. He lives and raises cattle at Elm Grove in south Bossier Parish. He has six children.

As a state senator Campbell led a three-year campaign to regulate the rates charged by rural electric cooperatives, lowering electric bills for a million state residents. He created the $1-billion Educational Excellence Fund for local schools from Louisiana's Tobacco Settlement. In 2001 he coauthored the "Do Not Call" legislation protecting consumers from sales calls at home.

At the PSC Campbell has pushed to make utility companies and the commission more responsive to the people. He led efforts to prohibit wining and dining of commissioners and staff by utilities. He hosts public and Commission meetings in his district each year. He has championed lower rates, efforts to make bill-paying more convenient and the use of renewable energy. He passed measures to help victims of family violence by waiving their utility deposits and stopped disconnection of utilities during extreme weather.

During the membership meeting the Nominating Committee will be presenting nominations for the new Board of Directors for 2012, which the members will vote on. The Chamber will have five vacancies due to terms expiring and one vacancy due to a resignation.

Call the Chamber office and get your reservation by noon, Wednesday, November 2nd. Meal cost is $10 per person.

Business of the Month for November

The Franklin Parish Sheriff's Department was selected as Business of the Month for November by the Board of Directors at the last week board meeting.

The Franklin Parish Sheriff's Department serves as the primary law enforcement agency for Franklin Parish.  Steve Pylant serves as the current Sheriff, and has served in that capacity since July 1996.  Recently Sheriff Pylant was elected to House of Representatives District 20, a capacity he will begin serving in January 2012.  At which time, Kevin Cobb will take over the office of Sheriff.  The Sheriff's Department's primary duties are to protect and to serve the people of Franklin Parish and to administer the collection of property taxes for all government agencies located within Franklin Parish.  The Department employs approximately 100 full-time employees and 40 part-time employees.  Sheriff Pylant is proud of the strides made in the department over the past 16 years, specifically returning to the people a property and sales tax.

Plans Made for "Main to Main" — Remember November

Throughout November, Winnsboro will be joining the other 35 Main Street communities in Louisiana in the annual “Louisiana Main to Main, A Cultural Road Show.” Events to encourage road trips from one Main Street community to the next are being planned for the entire month, with each community planning special activities.

“Found on 15,” always held the first full weekend in November, is Winnsboro‟s big offering, and this year will be Friday and Saturday, November 4, 5. The 25.5-mile-long yard sale stretches from the north end of Highway 15 at Big Creek to the south end, almost to Big Dan‟s past Wisner. Churches, schools, organizations, shops and individuals are encouraged to join in the fun and use the opportunity to bring visitors and dollars to the area. There will be no “booth spaces,” as such, but those who wish to participate should get permission from the property owner and be responsible for any cleanup.

Uniform signage with the Louisiana Main to Main logo will direct traffic along the route and built-in local and statewide advertising will promote the sale. This will be an excellent fund-raising opportunity for community organizations and the like.

For further information, contact Winnsboro Main Street Manager Kay LaFrance at 435-3781. For a complete list of scheduled events statewide, go to www.louisianamaintomain.org.

Take Part In "My Favorite Things" Exhibit!!

The Old Post Office Museum is gearing up for Christmas by collecting special articles for the upcoming exhibit, "My Favorite Things," which will be the exhibit featured during the Christmas holidays.

Museum curator Kay LaFrance-Knight explained, "We're going to need the community's help and participation to make this one as special as last year." Last year's exhibit, entitled "Toys in the Attic," was a look at Christmas toys from days gone by and literally included toys from the attics of many people in the community. This year will be similar, but will be a grown-up version, according to LaFrance-Knight.

"Think of it as the one thing you treasure most…the thing you simply can't imagine living without…and then be kind enough to share it with the museum for everyone to see," she explained. "It can be beautiful, historic, rare, funny, thought-provoking, one-of-a-kind – or all of those. It's hard to put into words exactly what we're looking for, but the phrase 'my favorite thing' is about the best we can do!"

LaFrance-Knight went on to say that it would be nice if it had some historic significance to the area – and that a short explanation of its meaning to the owner needs to be included so its significance can be explained within the display.

The museum will, of course, be decorated for Christmas and the items will be placed throughout the Yuletide decorations. "This promises to be a very special – and again, one-of-a-kind - exhibit. Please consider sharing your treasure(s) with us!"

"My Favorite Things" will be on display November 17 through January 6. Articles may be brought to the museum beginning immediately. Safe-keeping is assured, as the museum is under 24-hour alarm surveillance.

As with every exhibit of this nature, items submitted for display are subject to the discretion of the museum oversight committee.

Holiday Open House Planned Downtown

Merchants in historic downtown Winnsboro are once again planning a holiday open house to give shoppers a chance to do their Christmas shopping early while enjoying refreshments and a festive atmosphere.

The event will begin at noon, Friday, November 18 and shops will stay open late that evening until 8 pm. The "Win the Window" unveiling will take place at 6:30 in its usual place, the window of the Kinloch Plantation Pecan Oil building on Prairie Street. Also, the Princess Theatre will be featuring one of its series events, performer Sara Hickman, so theatre members are encouraged to come early and shop. The Open House continues until Saturday, Nov. 19, 9 – 5.

Winnsboro Main Street and the Winnsboro-Franklin Chamber of Commerce encourages one and all to shop at home.

Christmas Events

Christmas time is just around the corner, and the Chamber has been planning the annual events for the season. We will kick off the holiday season with the lightening of the trees on Trail of Trees November 29th at 6:00 p.m. (If you wish to purchase a tree, contact the Chamber office prior to November 11th.) The Children's parade is scheduled for December 1st beginning at 6:00 p.m. with Mickey & Minnie leading the parade. Then Friday night, December 2nd at 7:00 p.m. the annual Christmas parade will begin ending with a grand fireworks show. (If interested in participating in the parade in some way or fashion contact the Chamber office as soon as possible.) Mark your calendar for all these events and plan on coming out and celebrating the beginning of the Holiday Season.

The Old Post Office Museum

Visit The Old Post Office Museum online at www.OldPostOfficeMuseum.com.

Nov. 17, 2011 – Jan. 6, 2012
"My Favorite Things"
A grown-up version of last year's Christmas exhibit, "Toys in the Attic," we're asking you to share YOUR favorite thing…the most interesting thing you own. It could be historic, beautiful, funny, rare, or all of the above. Be thinking – and please be willing to share!

We’re Green!

Your Chamber Newsletter is now available in e-mail format. Sign up on the top right of this page.

Business website info needed

Business links for Chamber members are needed for the new updated website, www.winnsborochamber.com.

If your business has a website they would like to link from their listing on the Chamber website directory, contact the Chamber office and let Jane know the information.

Please check your business information on the website to be sure it is accurate, and report any discrepancies to the Chamber office as soon as possible.

NewBirth Creative Design Agency, located in Winnsboro, designed and is maintaining the Chamber site. For more examples of their work, visit their website at www.newbirthcreative.com.

Chamber calendar available online

Chamber members are urged to use the Chamber Calendar to post events of interest. The calendar is located on the Chamber website at www.winnsborochamber.com, and posting an event is easy. Simply press the submit an event tab, fill out the fields as indicated, and submit.

This site is being developed and enhanced by the Chamber as a calendar of events for the entire parish.

Email addresses are needed at the Chamber office. Call Jane with yours today!