Corporate Buddy		Major Sponsor

Year in Review
October 2005 to October 2006

Roslindale Village Main Street
An independent 501(C) (3) nonprofit
corporation established in 1985.

2A Corinth Street, Roslindale, MA 02131
617-327-4065 - www.roslindale.net - director@roslindale.net

Mission Statement
The purpose for which the corporation is organized is to encourage the development, redevelopment, revitalization and improvement of the central business district and adjoining areas in Roslindale, Massachusetts: to initiate and promote the programs for the civic and commercial betterment, or any other improvement of the central business district and adjoining areas of Roslindale…

The Main Street Approach – National Trust for Historic Preservation
The Main Street Four-Point Approach™ is a comprehensive strategy that is tailored to meet local needs and opportunities. It encompasses work in four distinct areas — Design, Economic Restructuring, Promotion, and Organization — that are combined to address all of the commercial district’s needs. More info about the National Main Streets is available at www.mainstreet.org.

Promoting Roslindale & the Roslindale Business District
The Organization Committee hosted tours of Roslindale for: Midori NAKANO from Hearts Environmental Design Ltd. Urban Design, Planning, and Architecture, Tokyo and The national Congress for the New Urbanism.

The Economic Development committee created and distributed a tri-fold brochure promoting the restaurants in Roslindale.

RVMS provided ribbon cuttings with Mayor Thomas Menino for the following new
businesses: Salute, Dr. Jay’s Sports Cards, Bangkok Café, NuVo, Dandelions and Tremont Credit Union.

Solicited an article about the Roslindale Bakeries “Flour Power” by Anna Rubin that appeared in the Boston Globe April 9, 2006.

In the past year RVMS organized and ran over fifteen community events that brought thousands of people to the business district. Most events include free activities for kids run by our Promotions Committee volunteers.

Worked with a number of businesses to help them develop a web site through Tech Boston and Boston Main Streets.

Through Boston Main Streets offered members discounts with Staples and Constant Contact.

Worked with Boston Main Streets to be the first Main Street district with free WiFi

Moved Farmers Market to Adams Park for increased visibility and increased foot traffic into the business district. Added Brookwood Community Farm from the Blue Hills (organic farmer) in August.

Did a holiday shopping promotion with West Roxbury Main Street. Provided trolley to take shoppers through both districts and had a promotion to get people into stores (prize was $500 of Main Street Dollars that had to be spent in the respective business districts). Also sponsored by Bank of America.

Featured Roslindale business Pet Cabaret on Boston Main Streets’ BNN TV program “Making Your Neighborhood Work”

Currently working with Boston Main Streets to provide a Boston Community Change Card. The card will offer Roslindale merchants technology that will allow them to compete like bigger stores. The card will allow the merchants to offer discounts and specials electronically using a Mastercard Network, giving them flexibility and data capture. It is a loyalty program that will benefit both merchant and shopper.

Miscellaneous Work on Behalf of the Business District
RVMS is working on achieving Historic Register status for the MBTA Building on the corner of Washington and Cummins Highway.

Advocated and worked with the Registry of Motor Vehicles, City of Boston, Councilor Rob Consalvo and Representative Jeffrey Sanchez to find a temporary location for the RMV in Roslindale. They had to close due to renovations to the Roslindale Community Center. Unable to find location but secured commitment that they will return when the new community center opens.

Nominated Jennifer Goldson, RVMS Board Member and city planner, to serve on the Roslindale Advisory Group (Roslindale AG). The Roslindale AG, appointed by Mayor Menino, is working with the Boston Redevelopment Authority and Crosby|Schlessinger|Smallridge, a Boston-based consulting firm, to create a strategic plan for Roslindale. For more information on this community planning initiative, go to: http://www.cssboston.com/projects/roslindale.index.htm.

Partnered with Countdown to Kindergarten for the second year in a row to introduce new Boston Public School students and their parents or guardians to the Roslindale Village business district. After cookies and juice in Adams Park, Grand Marshall Rob Consalvo paraded the group to different businesses where the students received gifts.

Achievements
RVMS received the “Urban Pioneer Award” from The National Trust for Historic Preservation in June in New Orleans at the annual Main Streets Annual Conference. The award was in celebration of RVMS on its 20th anniversary for establishing one of the first pilot urban Main Street programs in the United States.

Worked with Wentworth Institute of Technology and hosted graduate students from the University of Venezuela during the summer. They were doing preliminary research work on Roslindale for a project currently being done by 4th year architecture students at Wentworth. The project will be available in December for public review.

Maintenance of the Business District
RVMS maintains Adams Park though a generous grant from the Cooperative Bank of Roslindale.

Participated in “Boston Shines” yearly spring clean up. Collaborating with Roslindale’s Green and Clean Group to do landscaping in public places.

RVMS is working with City of Boston and Roslindale businesses to address issues with electrical outages. Met with Nstar who is replacing the entire electrical system supporting the district.

The RVMS Design Committee is working on new environmental signage for the
commercial district. Signs to better highlight parking and also to highlight the gateways into the area to designate entering a shopping district and a kiosk to promote the
businesses.

RVMS worked with Councilor Rob Consalvo and Public Works to replace dead trees on Belgrade Ave. and to replace or fix street lights on Corinth Street.

RVMS worked in collaboration with Green and Clean to landscape the intersection at Belgrade and Corinth, Taft Court and Savage Park.

Worked with property owner of Redemption Center to remove trailers from back of business and to clean up graffiti, etc.

Worked with City of Boston and Councilor Rob Consalvo to get benches replaced at Savage Park.

Working with the City of Boston Public Works Department to fix tree grates and tree cages throughout the district.

Worked with the Brown Fund and the Parks Department to repair mosaic art work in the middle of Adams Park.

Keeping People & Businesses Informed

RVMS maintains the web site www.roslindale.net that lists events and happenings in Roslindale.

RVMS sends a monthly email to over 1,600 subscribers listing events and happenings in Roslindale.

RVMS sends quarterly newsletters on updates to all Roslindale businesses.

RVMS writes columns in the local newspaper Roslindale Transcript to promote the business district.

Thank You to Our Volunteers
Over 1,000 volunteers hours were spent in the revitalization and promotion of the Roslindale Village Business District in the past year.

Organization Committee - Volunteers
Members: Charlie McCarthy, Barbara Lottero, Vinny Marino, Greg Laham,
Glenn Williams and Carter Wilkie

Design Committee - Volunteers
Members: Jennifer Goldson, Stephanie Carver, Darlene Donovan, Bill Fallon,
Maggie Redfern, Richard Kort and Rachele D. Rosi-Kessel

Economic Development Committee - Volunteers
Members: Wayne Beitler, Rick Ward, Pam Harbeson, Steve Gag

Promotions Committee - Volunteers
Members: Nancy Chausse, Tom Donahue, Mary Ellen Gambon, Glenn Williams

Fundraising
In the past year the organization committee worked on a major fundraiser for RVMS. On May 25, 2006, RVMS hosted over 400 people at a “Roast of Mayor Thomas M. Menino” at Cedars of Lebanon Hall in Jamaica Plain.

Miscellaneous
The Design Committee worked on a new logo and signage for RVMS. We moved our office into a retail space at 2A Corinth Street. Bill Fallon, Roslindale resident designed the new logo pro bono.

Referred multiple businesses to City of Boston RESTORE program. Tremont Credit Union had their sign designed through the program.

Assisting Potential Businesses
RVMS provided demographic data (compiled by a project RVMS did with MIT last year) for Boston Cheese Cellar who will be opening up on 18 Birch Street next month.

Roslindale Village Main Street Sponsored Events

June to October – Farmers Market in Adams Park (including a Corn and
Tomato Festival on August 5)

July and August - Summer Concerts in Adams Park – concert sponsored by the City of
Boston Special Events. RVMS Promotions Committee runs the arts and crafts tables at the concerts.

September 30, 2006 – Harvest Festival in Adams Park

October - Annual Cooperative Bank Trick or Treat Trot

November - Holiday Tree Lighting in Adams Park

December – Holiday Shopping Events

April - Egg Hunt in Adams Park

Roslindale Village Main Street Funding
The majority of funding to sustain the Roslindale Village Main Street organization comes from our own fundraising. Our fundraising revenue comes from sponsors, local businesses, resident members and fundraising events.

This year over $15,000 of the revenue went directly back into the businesses and community to run events, purchase prizes, for office rent and the purchase of refreshments for meetings.

RVMS Sponsors
The Cooperative Bank
Citizens Bank
Bank of America
Greater Roslindale Medical Center
Vinny Marino
Sullivan’s Pharmacy
Dunkin Donuts
Yale Electric
J.B. Edward Uniforms
Trethewey Plumbing
Wallpaper City
Centre Cuts Salon and Day Spa
Sebastians Hair Salon
Tremont Credit Union
Lymneos Insurance
Krupa Insurance

RVMS Supporters
Alex Liquors
Bangkok Café
Birch Street Bistro
Solera Wine
Albert J. Todesca, Jr. & Son

RVMS In Kind Supporters
Brickhouse Cafe
Dandelions
Emerald Society
Gourmet Caterers
Healthy Roslindale/Rossie Reps
Linens by Alice
M.J.s Pizza
NuVo Kitchen and Wine Bar
Pet Cabaret
Pleasant Café
Sophia’s Grotto
Salute
The Sons of Italy
Village Market
Village Books
Village Sushi
Zia’s

Current RVMS Board of Directors - Volunteers
Wayne Beitler - resident
Stephanie Carver – resident, city planner
Tom Donahue – resident and RVMS Board Clerk
Steve Gag - resident
Mary Ellen Gambon - resident
Jennifer Goldson - resident and city planner
Greg Laham – owner Sullivan’s Pharmacy, Roslindale
Barbara Lottero – Director Greater Roslindale Medical Center & RVMS Board Vice President
Vinny Marino - resident, developer
Charlie McCarthy – resident and RVMS Board President
Cathy McCarthy – resident and VP of Cooperative Bank, Roslindale & RVMS Board Treasurer
Jim Nichols – owner of Krupa Insurance, Roslindale
Adam Rogoff – resident and environmental lawyer
Anthony Ross – Law office in Roslindale
Rick Ward - resident
Adela White – Manager of Citizens Bank, Roslindale
Carter Wilkie – resident and VP with Bank of America
Glenn Williams - resident, BNN TV Producer, BNN Board Treasurer

Executive Director – Janice Williams