Editor’s note – The name of Tony Sims’ business has been corrected to Middle of Nowhere Studio. 
Members of the Jefferson Matters: Main Street board previewed what’s to come when they provided their quarterly update to the Jefferson city council Tuesday.
Jefferson residents are asked to get accustomed to new names, some of which are old, for some downtown buildings. The Jefferson Matters design committee has taken it upon itself to change the names of buildings where design work is being done.
The building on the corner of N. Chestnut and E. State St, most recently used by Lawton Chiropractic, is now City View on State St. The building at 205 N. Wilson is now The Harness Shop. The former Pizza Ranch building has been dubbed Arcade 1, 2, and 3. Those three buildings are all owned by the city.
The design committee has even renamed the empty Hy-Vee Drugtown on the corner of Lincoln Way and Wilson. The building is still privately owned, but it’s been named The Apothecary by Jefferson Matters.
All residents will notice new street decorations downtown next Christmas. The design committee has suggested 3-foot LED-lighted snowflakes for the light poles. The committee pushed to get them ordered yet this week to take advantage of a large early order discount. The quoted price for February ordering is $9,328.64. The council agreed the expense could be covered by the city’s hotel/motel tax fund, which is designated for promoting tourism in Jefferson.
The organization committee is planning Family Feud ~ Jefferson Edition for April 13. Teams are being recruited for the homegrown version of the television game show. That committee also oversees the annual investment drive. The drive has so far raided $41,784, with 61 individuals, 33 businesses in Jefferson and 31 new investors. The goal is to raise $69,000.
Jefferson Matters’ economic vitality committee is working with Greene County Development Corporation and Midwest Partnership in planning a Tour of Possibilities April 25 and 27. The tour will feature the downtown buildings with vacant second story space.
The promotion committee has already started planning the second Amazing Race for Charity, slated for Sept. 7. The new animal shelter will be the recipient of proceeds. The committee has also ordered the next historical plaque for the downtown square. Spring Lake is the topic for the plaque. It will be the 15th plaque on the brick pillars. It was paid for by the city’s hotel/motel tax fund.
The Tower View Team has selected Tony Sims of Middle of Nowhere Studio to apply rooftop art on Unger Insurance. The committee has also located the next public piano, which will be painted by GrCoHS art students.
Four mini bell towers will be placed around the downtown square in mid-May. TVT chair Deb McGinn announced the sponsors and artists for them: Peoples Bank, Matt Wetrich; Jefferson Telecom, Tony Sims; Wahl-McAtee Tire & Service, Jolene Peters; and Tri-County Lumber, Curt Nelson.
