In Weekend News: Fox25 zips into #Gardner Kimberly Petalas News Staff Writer GARDNER — The city had a chance to show off its assets Friday morning when the Fox25 Morning News Zip Trip rolled in with hundreds of residents flocking to the Helen Mae Sauter school for the event. “It’s a chance for us to show everyone how great the city is and the wonderful things we have to offer,” said Economic Development Coordinator Joshua Cormier. “This is a great opportunity for Gardner to be showcased.” The field in front of the elementary school filled up quickly early Friday morning, with reports of children staked out at the big chair as early as 3 a.m. —waiting for the news crews. Mr. Cormier said the hope is that the segment will help attract more visitors to the area. “There are people here that aren’t from Gardner,” he said. “We hope this attracts them and the people watching at home to shop in our stores, eat at our restaurants and just enjoy our city.” Not only was the event a way to attract new guests, Mr. Cormier said it is also special for those who live in the city. “This is also a celebration for our residents,” he said. “Too often we forget how great this city really is. It gives us a chance to celebrate.” Also on hand were several city councilors and Mayor Mark Hawke, who had the chance to play a trivia game during the show. “Every year since I’ve taken office, we have submitted a request to be a Zip Trip city and they finally picked us,” he said. “It’s been a buzz since they announced they were coming.” With several segments highlighting businesses in the city, the mayor said he could not have asked for a better marketing tool. “It’s an incredible marketing piece that is broadcasting Gardner in a positive light,” said Mayor Hawke. “They are highlighting all of the great things we have here.” The planning for the event was handled by a small volunteer group which included the mayor’s secretary, Jennifer Vickrey, as well as Mr. Cormier and Elizabeth Penney, director of member services and programs for the Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce. “It’s different for us to plan something like this because it’s not an event that the city had complete control over planning,” said Ms. Vickrey. “It’s a lot of fun and there are a lot of people here ... more than any of us expected.” Ms. Vickrey said a member of the production crew noted Gardner’s Zip Trip had the largest crowd compared to other places in the past. To prepare for the event, Ms. Vickrey said work had to be done at the school. “The signs were replaced and the lawns were landscaped,” she said. “It was a combination effort of the (Department of Public Works) and the grounds people from the School Department.” Lifelong Gardner resident Andrew Boucher, who was named as the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in May, was spotlighted as “The Talk of the Town.” “I really want to help Gardner shine,” he said. “We talked about the chair luge and Oktoberfest. People who live here really take pride in this city. I was honored to learn I was the talk of the town and happy to be the voice of Gardner.” Overall, Mayor Hawke said the event was successful and exciting. “At 6 a.m. there were hundreds of people out here with signs, wearing their orange and black and just showing their Gardner pride,” he said. “It’s exciting. There was a fantastic energy here.”
Posted on: Mon, 28 Jul 2014 15:59:50 +0000
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