August 22, 2009 in Washington Voices

Millwood to celebrate

Festival to mark end of road project

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J. BART RAYNIAK photo

It’s a little after 6 p.m. on Aug. 19 and traffic still moves at a snail’s pace through the downtown Millwood business district. Businesses along the corridor improvement project are planning a “Taking Back Our Streets” celebration Saturday.
(Full-size photo)

Millwood business owners are “Taking Back Our Streets” next Saturday.

After enduring three months of road construction, the Millwood Better for Business group will celebrate the completion of the Argonne Corridor project with a day of activities for all ages.

“It’s been a long hot summer for a lot of people,” Millwood Better for Business founder Shirene Young said, referring as much to the temperature as the mood of business owners during construction. “Let’s celebrate these great new sidewalks, and new improvement to the city.”

The communitywide event begins with a pancake breakfast, 5K wellness run and ends with an outdoor movie.

Businesses are planning special offers throughout the day such as free Slurpees from 7-Eleven and a limited quantity of Dilly bars from Dairy Queen. The Mellow Monkey Yoga Studio and Company Ballet and Performing Arts Center are both offering samples of their classes. All told, more than 25 businesses intend to participate in the event.

Festivalgoers are eligible to enter a drawing for door prizes by getting a “ticket” book stamped by participating businesses.

Information booths at Anytime Fitness and in front of Bottles next to the Rocket Bakery will have booklets available for pick-up and drop-off.

The Masonic Temple kicks off the festivities with a pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. until noon.

At 9 a.m., racers take to the streets with the 5k wellness run sponsored by Anytime Fitness and The Mellow Monkey Yoga Studio. The course loops through the tree-lined streets and historic district of Millwood.

Proceeds from the race support the fundraising efforts of two Millwood residents, Heidi Tobler and Sheri Albrecht. Both women plan to run the Nike Women’s Marathon in San Francisco for the first time this October to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

More than 100 runners have pre-registered. The celebration concludes with the free outdoor movie presentation of “Chicken Run” beginning at 7:45 p.m. in the parking lot behind the Rocket Bakery. Participants are encouraged to bring blankets and chairs.

The Millwood Better for Business Group began organizing the event in July after business owners expressed frustration over the Argonne construction project at a monthly group meeting.

The 25-member business group formed last September to revitalize the city’s business district and improve their community.

“We had such a high level of frustration throughout this project, it was really impacting our businesses,” Young said of the summer project. “We thought we really need to celebrate when this is over.”

The Argonne Road project began at the end of May with final paving taking place this weekend. Traffic restrictions and diversions resulted in restricted access to businesses. Additional sidewalk improvements were sandwiched between the road closures beginning in early July. Taking just under a month to complete, the project provided new sidewalks on the west side of the city.

According to Young, some businesses saw revenue drop 50 percent.

“The impact of the construction hit me this month,” Jonna Maule, owner of Company Ballet School and Performing Arts Center. “It’s been tough.”

Young hopes to grow this into a larger annual event, similar to other business districts in the area.

“There are thoughts out there how to keep this going,” Young said. “From what I’ve seen the whole business community is very supportive of it.”

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