New manager takes helm at STMS
SOUDERTON » Having owned a home in Souderton for the past five years, newly hired Souderton-Telford Main Streets Manager Jordana Fitzgerald knows about the events Main Streets holds each year.
“They’re always really lovely, and we’re excited to make them even bigger and better,” she said.
The organization is also planning to update its stmainst.org website and its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, she said.
“We’re just here to help the community grow, help the local businesses,” Fitzgerald described Main Streets, “and just be involved and make it a better place to live, work and play.”
“Jordana brings an excellent background, which includes project management, human resources, social media, event planning and technical skills that will be a welcome asset to SoudertonTelford Main Streets,” the revitalization organization said in a release announcing Fitzgerald’s hiring.
Fitzgerald, who started the Main Streets job about a month ago, said she has a bachelor’s degree in film and did film-related jobs in New York City before moving to Pennsylvania eight years ago and working in the pharmaceutical industry.
She brings new additional skills to the manager’s job, Harry Boardman, a member of the Main Streets executive board, said.
“We also wanted someone who was capable of working with us to grow this organization to the next level and let us enhance and improve what we’re doing currently and grow into some new events and programs,” he said, “and Jordana has all of those skills and more.”
“We look forward to Jordana’s new and fresh perspective of Main Streets programs and events,” John Taylor, another Main Streets
executive board member, said in the release announcing Fitzgerald’s hiring.
This year’s Indian Valley Farmer’s Market runs Saturdays, June 16 through Oct. 13, Fitzgerald said. The farmer’s market is held from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays at the Telford Marketplace at the Telford train station, Penn Avenue and Main Street.
The market, which also has musical performers, is a producer-only market, meaning all the products must be sold by the grower, maker or crafter, according to market information.
Listed vendors this year include Turkish Goods, A. T. Williams Creations, Country Creek Winery,
Nita Baker?, Windy Springs Farm, Brewscuits, Ray’s Greenhouse, My Sister’s Bags, Canned Fresh, Honey Locust Home, Charlie Smith Microgreens and Small Batch Kitchen.
Other Main Streets events this year include the Souderton Art Jam Saturday, Sept. 29, in Souderton Community Park; Oktoberfest on Saturday, Oct. 20, at JS Stover Beverage in Telford; the Souderton Holiday Parade 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, on Main Street, Souderton; the Souderton tree lighting 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1; and the Telford tree lighting 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7.
Souderton-Telford Main Streets, which started in 2003, is unique in that it includes two towns, rather than just one, in a combined revitalization program. Management of the organization was initially done
through a contract with Word Work Inc., with Ella Roush, then Pam Learned filling the manager’s role. In 2006, Souderton-Telford Main Streets hired Pam Coleman as manager, making her the organization’s first employee. She was followed by Joanne Coppens, who was hired in 2012, and now Fitzgerald.
The Main Streets office at 18 W. Chestnut St. in Souderton is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The phone number is 215-723-6627. Fitzgerald’s email address is Jordana@stmainst.org.
Persons interested in more information about Main Streets or its programs or in getting involved with it can contact her, she said.
“They can send me an email, they can call, they can pop by,” Fitzgerald said.