Main Street is true to its mission

There’s been a lot of doom and gloom this year.

But, Meridian Street in downtown Portland is a little brighter.

Anyone who has driven along Meridian Street after dark in the last few weeks had noticed the change.

We’re greeted by angels clad in blue heralding the holiday season. They are joined by prancing reindeer, white bells with red bows and Christmas trees topped by red stars.

Along with the festive lights attached to poles downtown, there is a bright new Christmas tree atop John Jay Center for Learning. It stands above the Meridian Street entrance to the building and is eye-catching while driving from either direction.

While the donor of the tree expressed a wish to remain anonymous, it was Portland Main Street Connect that was responsible for purchasing the new downtown Christmas lights. (Portland Redevelopment Commission provided funding for the worthwhile effort.)

Portland Main Street Connect has been quietly making a positive impact in the downtown area since it was formed in June 2019. Its first such effort was the relatively small gesture of passing out flags to local businesses to be displayed on Independence Day that year.

If you’ve been paying attention, you have noticed some of the group’s other contributions. It has provided new trash cans for downtown Portland. It has placed benches along Meridian Street and some of its side streets. And it has acquired new planters for Meridian and Main streets.

The group, made up of local business owners and others interested in improving the downtown, includes Reda Theurer-Miller, Kayla Darby, Rusty Inman, Jenae Blasdel, Matt Glentzer, Jane Ann Runyon and Portland Mayor John Boggs. If you see them around, say thank you.

Portland Main Street Connect, upon its founding, settled on the following mission: “To breathe new life into the economy, appearance and image of downtown Portland.”

The Christmas lights downtown are the latest — and brightest — example of the group making good on that mission. — R.C.