CPI Board discusses Fall Open House for Sept. 4 -5

Friday and Saturday, Sept. 4 and 5 are the days set for a Fall Open House and Great Pumpkin Hunt in Old Town California (formerly California Historic District). The event will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. The big event was discussed Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Board of Directors meeting of California Progress, Inc. (CPI). Old Town California is under the umbrella of CPI.

Friends, neighbors and visitors will be able to browse local shops, which will offer door prizes, sales and other incentives of their own, and try seasonal snacks from street vendors. There will be a prize pumpkin at each location and a card to be punched. Once the card is punched, the card can be entered to win one of three prizes worth $50 to $75 each. There will be retailer gift cards and local items at each participating store. A bonus entry is obtained at each store with any purchase, and a second entry with a purchase of $25 or more. This is an event of the promotion committee.

In other business, Richard Elliott, CPA, reviewed the changes in the CPI accounts. The accounts are being simplified and streamlined for ease of understanding. The Organization Committee reported that there will be a "Dancing with the Stars" event, in spite of having fewer participants than anticipated. The Farmers Market Committee is considering a different location, probably along Business 50. Although the participants prefer the Saturday morning schedule, there was discussion of starting it at a later time in the year. There was also a discussion of the possibility of having entertainment. Participation of vendors and customers were hampered by the rain and then the heat and humidity of an unusual year.

The Design Committee reported that "way-finding" signage would most probably be placed on MoDOT property along Highway 87 (Oak Street, part of Main Street and East Street). MoDOT must approve of the signs on the highway property. It also changes the height of the poles and size of the signs. MoDOT also has colors to recommend based on how long they last out in the elements.

Ann Albertson reported several loan applications approved for Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP) facade and sidewalk grants. Forty-one thousand dollars has been loaned with another $59,000 available to loan to qualified applicants.

The Promotion Committee is planning to determine which events to continue based on which have been successful.

The next meeting is 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 17, at the Moniteau County Library at Wood Place, second floor.