First of all, I wish to say the Tractor Show at the Cambridge Fun Fest was one of the best well-run shows that I have seen put together. In 2008, I heard a lot of bad reviews about the show in Cambridge. This year I have heard nothing but positive reviews and I work with a number of the antique tractor groups in Henry County. The letter Karen Hutchinson received was outrageous and wrong.
After the Cambridge Fun Fest, I received a letter from Cambridge Main Street. The following is my personal response to that letter. I was shocked and offended by this letter.
In the first paragraph of this letter it said: “We were a little disappointed that you didn’t go thru the Cambridge Main Street office when you decided to put your events on.”
Why would I go through Cambridge Main Street to rent or buy a building and put a business in it?
This is America and as a citizen of this country, I can rent and buy any building I wish and put in a legal business. I was not putting on an event. I was seeing if a certain type of business in an empty building downtown would work. I do not need anyone’s permission to do so. Question: Did anyone in the community having a yard sale request permission from you, or did the library request your permission to have a book sale?
In paragraphs two and three of this letter, I am accused of taking advantage of your advertising and hard work. I certainly did not take advantage of your advertising and hard work. Again and Again rented the building, cleaned it up and put in a viable business. I paid over $500 in newspaper and other advertising myself, created flyers and signage promoting our business and the event—requesting no funds from Cambridge Main Street. I did offer to co-op slide advertising at Central Theater with Cambridge Main Street. As for paying you a fee—I truly did not realize to put a business in downtown Cambridge you had to pay a fee to Cambridge Main Street.
In paragraph four, I am accused of not letting you know what I was doing and you were upset with my signage. I did call you and let you know that we were putting in a business and we were going to open our space up to a Farmers’ Market. You did not tell me Cambridge Main Street was selling or leasing spots. We didn’t sell any and if we would have it would have enhanced the activities. As for my signs‚ they only said “Again and Again—one-day sale,” “Cambridge Library Book Sale” and “Bella Pizza—open all day.” What would confuse people about this and why would someone be upset? Please explain to me and make it in simple words because I find this whole thing ridiculous.
In paragraph five, you say you don’t want to jeopardize your working relationship with Creative Images Center. How dare you threaten me with jeopardizing the working relationship with Creative Images Center. Creative Images Center had no part in this business. Creative Images Center has donated over $200 in services to your organization this year, an item for your auction and given coupons for free note pads. They also gave you a working copier—was that last year, I’m not sure of the date. Besides everything they have done for you—it is a corporation and I am only a partner—They had no part in the business of Again and Again. It was totally my idea for showing people this would be a good business for Cambridge and to attract others to start like businesses in our town. Creating a healthy downtown—I know, a strange concept.
As for accusing me of taking advantage of your hard work—let me tell you—my partner in Again and Again and I put in untold hours trying to contact building owners to lease a building. Once we were able to lease a building, not only did we put in many hours of hard labor cleaning the building inside but paid to have it power-washed on the outside. Then we set up the business on the inside and did our advertising. We included the Fun Fest on our promotions—no charge to Cambridge Main Street. I have spent many hours—unpaid— promoting Cambridge and its businesses over many years. Also to refresh your memory, it was my hard work as well as a core group of seven people who created Cambridge Main Street including getting its state and national certification in 1997. This included going to workshops—I paid for myself—to learn how to help my community.
If you think it was easy cleaning up that building and putting a business in, think again. If the building owner was asking a reasonable price we were going to stay—hoping to bring more business to Cambridge. Thank heavens he wants $150 thousand for it—so this does not make it viable for us. Please be assured your hospitality has ensured we will not pursue another building in Cambridge.
Finally, paragraph six asks me not to be offended. Well, you have that wrong. I do not understand how I would not be offended. Your accusations and threat do not intimidate me. You need to look at what Main Street is supposed to be because you have lost sight of your mission. You are suppose to bring business to Cambridge, support the businesses in Cambridge and bring people together, not create division and hostility. You should be in those businesses we do have asking what you can do for them. You should also be seeking out new businesses and ways to promote Cambridge. Two events a year does not do it. What are your goals and budget for this year? What is your plan for promoting Cambridge? How are you bringing the community together? Where is your village liaison on the board? How many business owners do you have on your board?
I have spoken to the mayor and the president of Cambridge Main Street face-to-face and let them know what would be in this letter. They will receive a copy. I am also sending this letter with the letter sent to me to Illinois State Main Street.
I know a lot of people look at Cambridge with no hope but I don’t—I am an artist full of vision and creativity. Cambridge could do well and grow if we all worked together for the benefit of our community. I have that cockeyed-optimism that someday this will happen. Let’s think about solving problems and not creating them.
Cat White
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First of all, I wish to say the Tractor Show at the Cambridge Fun Fest was one of the best well-run shows that I have seen put together. In 2008, I heard a lot of bad reviews about the show in Cambridge. This year I have heard nothing but positive reviews and I work with a number of the antique tractor groups in Henry County. The letter Karen Hutchinson received was outrageous and wrong.
After the Cambridge Fun Fest, I received a letter from Cambridge Main Street. The following is my personal response to that letter. I was shocked and offended by this letter.
In the first paragraph of this letter it said: “We were a little disappointed that you didn’t go thru the Cambridge Main Street office when you decided to put your events on.”
Why would I go through Cambridge Main Street to rent or buy a building and put a business in it?
This is America and as a citizen of this country, I can rent and buy any building I wish and put in a legal business. I was not putting on an event. I was seeing if a certain type of business in an empty building downtown would work. I do not need anyone’s permission to do so. Question: Did anyone in the community having a yard sale request permission from you, or did the library request your permission to have a book sale?
In paragraphs two and three of this letter, I am accused of taking advantage of your advertising and hard work. I certainly did not take advantage of your advertising and hard work. Again and Again rented the building, cleaned it up and put in a viable business. I paid over $500 in newspaper and other advertising myself, created flyers and signage promoting our business and the event—requesting no funds from Cambridge Main Street. I did offer to co-op slide advertising at Central Theater with Cambridge Main Street. As for paying you a fee—I truly did not realize to put a business in downtown Cambridge you had to pay a fee to Cambridge Main Street.
In paragraph four, I am accused of not letting you know what I was doing and you were upset with my signage. I did call you and let you know that we were putting in a business and we were going to open our space up to a Farmers’ Market. You did not tell me Cambridge Main Street was selling or leasing spots. We didn’t sell any and if we would have it would have enhanced the activities. As for my signs‚ they only said “Again and Again—one-day sale,” “Cambridge Library Book Sale” and “Bella Pizza—open all day.” What would confuse people about this and why would someone be upset? Please explain to me and make it in simple words because I find this whole thing ridiculous.
In paragraph five, you say you don’t want to jeopardize your working relationship with Creative Images Center. How dare you threaten me with jeopardizing the working relationship with Creative Images Center. Creative Images Center had no part in this business. Creative Images Center has donated over $200 in services to your organization this year, an item for your auction and given coupons for free note pads. They also gave you a working copier—was that last year, I’m not sure of the date. Besides everything they have done for you—it is a corporation and I am only a partner—They had no part in the business of Again and Again. It was totally my idea for showing people this would be a good business for Cambridge and to attract others to start like businesses in our town. Creating a healthy downtown—I know, a strange concept.
As for accusing me of taking advantage of your hard work—let me tell you—my partner in Again and Again and I put in untold hours trying to contact building owners to lease a building. Once we were able to lease a building, not only did we put in many hours of hard labor cleaning the building inside but paid to have it power-washed on the outside. Then we set up the business on the inside and did our advertising. We included the Fun Fest on our promotions—no charge to Cambridge Main Street. I have spent many hours—unpaid— promoting Cambridge and its businesses over many years. Also to refresh your memory, it was my hard work as well as a core group of seven people who created Cambridge Main Street including getting its state and national certification in 1997. This included going to workshops—I paid for myself—to learn how to help my community.
If you think it was easy cleaning up that building and putting a business in, think again. If the building owner was asking a reasonable price we were going to stay—hoping to bring more business to Cambridge. Thank heavens he wants $150 thousand for it—so this does not make it viable for us. Please be assured your hospitality has ensured we will not pursue another building in Cambridge.
Finally, paragraph six asks me not to be offended. Well, you have that wrong. I do not understand how I would not be offended. Your accusations and threat do not intimidate me. You need to look at what Main Street is supposed to be because you have lost sight of your mission. You are suppose to bring business to Cambridge, support the businesses in Cambridge and bring people together, not create division and hostility. You should be in those businesses we do have asking what you can do for them. You should also be seeking out new businesses and ways to promote Cambridge. Two events a year does not do it. What are your goals and budget for this year? What is your plan for promoting Cambridge? How are you bringing the community together? Where is your village liaison on the board? How many business owners do you have on your board?
I have spoken to the mayor and the president of Cambridge Main Street face-to-face and let them know what would be in this letter. They will receive a copy. I am also sending this letter with the letter sent to me to Illinois State Main Street.
I know a lot of people look at Cambridge with no hope but I don’t—I am an artist full of vision and creativity. Cambridge could do well and grow if we all worked together for the benefit of our community. I have that cockeyed-optimism that someday this will happen. Let’s think about solving problems and not creating them.
Cat White
