It's Strawberry Season!!!!

A few years ago, with a huge bumper crop of fresh strawberries, I began a search on how to quickly and effectively process them.  I stumbled upon the ultimate in freezing techniques: Dry Ice!

Unconventional?  Yep!  Strange?  A bit.  The kids will love it!  And, you might just have some fun too.

After tracking down a place that actually carried dry ice packs (hint:  welding supply stores carry convenient small quantities of dry ice), I took a cooler, packed with crumpled up newspaper to Harrisonburg to purchase my dry ice.

The berries were washed and left to dry.  Then a bowl of berries was placed in the cooler, and dry ice heaped over them.  Using a metal spoon, the berry and ice mixture was gently stirred.  Then left to sit for a few minutes.  The solidly frozen red ice cubes were then transfered to freezer bags, and in the freezer they went, awaiting our mid-Winter hankerings for fresh strawberries.  It was that simple.  (Though we highly suggest wearing gloves when working with Dry Ice!) 

This quick freeze method keeps the berries at their peak freshness, and holds the color in as well.  Plus, having them individually frozen means that you can open the re-sealable bag without having to thaw an entire bag of berries for just one any time you want a handful for a garnish, or just to eat.  

To thaw, simply leave at room temp, left in the fridge overnight, or place under cool running water.

Of course, you can always freeze them the conventional way too.  To do that, we suggest washing, drying, and placing berries on a cookie sheet so they don't touch each other.  Then put the whole thing in the freezer until they are frozen.  Finally, pack the frozen berries in freezer bags and place back in the freezer. 
This method works for all sorts of veggies and berries.

At last night's public hearing on sign ordinances, the Ordinance Committee, chaired by Council-member Todd Holtzman and which met Friday, presented further changes to the amendments we posted yesterday.  These further changes can read be here:

Ordinance O-03-12 Sign Ordinance, amendments.

The proposed size of sandwich boards may not exceed 4' in height and 9 square feet in area per side.  This translates to a maximum sized sign of 2'-3" x 4'. 

Off-premise signs are still not permitted. 

The Mount Jackson Farmers' Market (located at the former Farmers' CoOp building) is one of about two business in Mount Jackson to have no frontage on a major Road - whether that be Main Street, Conicville Road or Route 263 - with exception to perhaps businesses operating out of residences.  Valley Fertilizer has a Sign on Main Street because they own a lot on Main Street.

We have been told that the Way-finding Sign Program is "still active", though we have not been given a date as to when the signage will actually be installed.  (The trial sign is illegible to passing vehicles.)  This signage may ultimately serve to remedy our particular problem, but only if the signs are large enough to be seen by vehicles.

The outcome of the public hearing last night is that the Planning Commission has deferred decision on the proposed Sign Ordinance amendments for further review and until further input can be received from the public.  The Planning Commission Chair woman, Bonnie Good, has requested that comments be directed in writing to Charles Moore, the Town Manager, and the Planning Commission at the following address: 
       
                Town of Mount Jackson
               PO Box 487
               Mount Jackson, VA 22842

Or by email to the Town Manager at: townmanagerATmountjacksonDOTcom. 

You can also cc the Assistant Town Manager, Mr. Clark Draper III at asstmanagerATmountjacksonDOTcom  (Replace the AT and DOT with the appropriate email symbols - we did this so as not to open the Town's email system up to unwanted SPAM.)

The Planning Commission will review this again next month at their regularly scheduled meeting.

We will be at tonight's Council Meeting, where our Special Use Permit to allow us to operate a Farmers' Market will be set for Public Hearing, which will be June 4th.  We are currently operating under permission granted last year.  All supporters are encouraged to attend. 

Please note that we are very much happy that the Town continues to review sign issues as they relate to businesses, especially those in the Central Business District (Downtown).  It is frustrating that these things are taking so long, but we are confident that the Town wants to improve the atmosphere for small businesses in Downtown.

Here's WHSV's clip that ran on the 11 o'clock news last night:
  

"The purpose of this section is to regulate [ALL EXTERIOR SIGNS]; to protect the public health, safety, convenience and general welfare; to facilitate the creation of a convenient attractive and harmonious community; to protect property values; and to further the Objectives of the Comprehensive Plan." 

At 7 PM tonight, the Planning Commission is holding a public hearing to "hear from the public" on proposed sign regulations.  The hearing is at the Town Hall.

What are the proposed regulations?  I'm only going to highlight those that are important to our business., but they cover everything from yard sale signs to Billboards.

First off, NO "off-premise signs" whatsoever.  (Well, non-profits, churches, and educational facilities can still put out "off-premise" temporary signs, but now ONLY 30 DAYS in advance, as opposed to 6 months.) 

Portable Signs are still NOT ALLOWED. 

When a special meeting was called last year, we were told that our violations were "off-premise" violations, and that the other violations in town were allowed because they were "on premise" violations.  So, 7-11, Sheetz, and other large companies in Town are, unfortunately, still in violation., but "this okay, because this is a small Town," as we were told.

These amendments, under the umbrella of Town Beautification, will make it very difficult for many businesses to advertise, other than with very limited permitted signage.  Those with building fronts right on the street can't put out portable signs.  (Did you know that there was a coffee shop on Main Street for about two years?  One of the reasons they failed was no one could see their sign.)  Signage needs to be PERPENDICULAR to vehicular traffic, not simply pasted on the front wall of a building.

We are very concerned about this topic BECAUSE THIS IS A SMALL TOWN.  Every week at the market we have new people say to us, "You need signs.  We didn't know where King Street was, and we couldn't find you." 

Please consider showing up tonight to voice your opinion.

Our Stance is simple, portable signs should be allowed, provided that,

• the size is regulated,
• they are not in a public right-of-way,
• they are removed at the close of business each day,
  
• and that special exceptions for businesses not located on Main Street be permitted "Off-Premise" signs located on Main Street.  
  

Also, "any Billboards or signs of similar size" are prohibited, though neither Billboards or the size is defined.

The new language also propose the allowance of Freestanding, Monumental Signs, up to 8' tall, in the B-1 Zone.

We are generally supportive of Town Beautification, and VERY MUCH supportive of Economic Development of the whole COMMUNITY.  However, there is no reason to have a beautiful Town if there are no businesses because signage is over-regulated.

Download the PDF file of the proposed Ordinances Here. (Sorry, these are upside down.  That's the way they were sent, and I cannot change it.  Your PDF reader should have a way to rotate the views.) 

PostScript:  I (Gerald) actually sat through an entire college Urban Planning Course on Signage - so I'm not speaking out of my, well, um,  backside.   The fact is that many similar small towns, in efforts to help their businesses compete with the Walmarts of the world, permit the use of off-premise and on-premise sandwich board signs.

Have you signed up for our newsletter yet?  If not, you're missing a great opportunity.  In this month's newsletter, several of our vendors have provided wonderful coupons to be used this month. 

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