Real estate agent Stephanie Cashman hopes to heat things up at January’s First Friday this week.
Cashman of Re/Max Allegiance, 11 N. Sandusky St., will be among downtown businesses offering free samples, free activities, free crafts and free entertainment from 6 to 9 p.m.
It’s why this week’s First Friday was named a “FREEze Fest” by Main Street Delaware, which organizes the monthly event.
Cashman said she will be providing downtown patrons a free bottle of hot sauce because “the real estate market is hot.”
“It’s just a fun community event,” she said.
Re/Max Allegiance is among the 16 participating businesses that include the recently opened Olivina Taproom, the Backstretch and the Strand Theatre. Additionally, the Delaware Community Center YMCA, which will mark its five-year anniversary, will temporarily open shop at 22 S. Sandusky St., where the former Rabbit-Quick Inc. was located.
The YMCA will be sponsoring the event for the first time, said Matt Bruns, YMCA district executive director of Delaware County.
“It’s a good time of the year for the YMCA,” he said, as January is a time when people think about going to the gym.
YMCA staff will be available to talk about its opportunities and provide free activities for children, Bruns added.
There will be information on the nonprofit’s membership and upcoming programs including: Daddy Daughter Dance, Date Night, baseball/softball, and Safety Town.
Main Street Executive Director Susie Bibler said everyone should stop by the nonprofit’s office for a list of participating businesses.
“I am thrilled with the amount of businesses who decided to participate; looks like a good time,” she said.
The First Friday of 2017 kicks off a new year for Main Street, which welcomed its new director in October. Bibler replaced Frances Jo Hamilton, who was the director for nearly a decade. So far, Bibler has overseen two First Fridays (including the community tree lighting), the city’s 30th annual Christmas parade and a holiday open house for downtown businesses.
Cashman said Bibler has great ideas for the nonprofit and looks forward to seeing more participation and different kinds of events.
“I think 2017 is going to be fantastic,” she said.
