Deb Downey pictured in the center with Farmers' Market vendors.

Deb Downey is the June 2010 Colfax Main Street Volunteer of the Month. Deb recently organized the Farmers' Market in downtown Colfax and things are going great! There are a variety of vendors offering home grown produce and vendors with local crafts. The Farmers' Market is open every Wednesday from 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm, May 19 - September 15 at Mineral Springs Park in downtown Colfax. Vendor applications can be picked up at Kum-N-Go, and are also available on the Colfax Main Street web site. For more information about the Colfax Farmers' Market, please contact Deb at familyfarmer@uscellular.blackberry.com or 515.249.3020. Thanks Deb for your leadership with this event!

The Colfax Main Street Volunteer of the Month is chosen by the Colfax Main Street Organization Committee. To nominate a volunteer, please call 515.681.7654 or contact heather.christine@gmail.com.

You are invited to come to Colfax for free Music in the Park on Sunday, July 18th to watch Bob Dorr and the Blue Band perform at Anspach Stage in Women’s Club Park located on 13 East Division Street. Be sure to stay and watch the Jasper County Fireworks at dusk!

In the Blue Band's 25+ year history, the group has averaged playing 125 dates a year, traveling mainly 300 miles from its base in Cedar Falls IA. The Blue Band is a 5-7 piece group whose sound can only be described as The blues/soul/rockabilly/reggae/creole/rhythm Band! The band can play nearly three hours of original music or another three hours of popular covers. For more information, please visit: www.theblueband.com.

This is the 5th year that Colfax has hosted free performances at Anspach Stage in Women’s Club Park. All concerts start at 7 PM. Be sure to bring your blankets and lawnchairs. Treats and refreshments (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be available to purchase. No coolers will be allowed.

The final concert of the season will be held Saturday, August 7, with Boomerang.

A community conversation/public meeting will be held on Tuesday, July 13 from 6:00-9:00 pm at the Howard Street Christian Church. It will be facilitated by Main Street Iowa staff, and is intended to be very interactive. Participants are encouraged to generate ideas and opportunities for improving downtown Colfax. We are still working out the details, so please RSVP to the Colfax Main Street office if you would like to attend. Be sure to check our web site for more details.

Plans are underway for the annual Colfax Mineral Springs Days, scheduled for Friday - Sunday, August 27 - 29.

Check out the Colfax Mineral Springs page for the all the details.

2010 is the 26th year for Colfax Mineral Springs Days!

Colfax Main Street is also looking for local organizations, churches, businesses and individuals to get involved and volunteer. If you are interested in having a food stand, sponsoring an activity, or hosting an event, please contac the Colfax Main Street office and let us know.

Welcome MaKayla and Elena!

Colfax Main Street welcomes its first-ever summer interns, MaKayla Alexander and Elena Dunblazier!

MaKayla is a Senior at Central College studying Marketing, and will graduate in December of 2010. She is a 2007 graduate of Colfax-Mingo High School and lives outside of Mingo. She looks forward to learning more about Colfax Main Street and how to apply the marketing principles she has learned to real life situations. But most importantly, she can't wait to ride the mechanical bull during Colfax Mineral Springs weekend!

Elena is a Marketing student at Des Moines Area Community College and lives in Colfax with her three children. Elena is eager to help plan new events for Mineral Springs weekend and learn more about Colfax Main Street.

The First Annual Memorial Day Barbecue in downtown Colfax was a success! The free will donation event--which served hamburgers, hot dogs and all the fixin's to over 380 people--raised $1,500 toward the Veterans Memorial Beautification Project at the Colfax Cemetery. Two local acts offered entertainment to add a summer party mood to the festivities: Erin and Megan Hilker on steel drums, and David Pitt on keyboard and vocals.

Our thanks go out to the local churches for providing the food, supplies and volunteers. A special thanks to Stuart Patterson, Chet Williams and Jessica Williams for providing the inspiration and leadership for the event. We look forward to another successful barbecue next year.

Darla Ueding, Deb Downey and Steve Ueding at the Farmers Market.

Many people have talked about having a Farmers' Market in Colfax for a long time, and this year it finally happened! Deb Downey has taken the reins and is the new volunteer Colfax Farmers' Market Manager.

The Farmers' Market is open every Wednesday from 4:30 pm - 7:00 pm, May 19 - September 15 at Mineral Springs Park in downtown Colfax. Vendor applications can be picked up at Kum-N-Go, and are also available on the Colfax Main Street web site.

For more information please contact Deb at 515.249.3020 or familyfarmer@uscellular.blackberry.com.

Colfax was honored in the special edition of IAbiz – Best of Iowa Business 2009 in the Community Revolution section which recognizes cities and towns throughout Iowa have banded together to reclaim the charm and function of main street and tourist attractions, creating a favorable business climate and revitalizing community spirit. Check out the below article!

Teen Challenge is Colfax Main Street's April 2010 Volunteer of the Month. At the recent Colfax Main Street Downtown Clean-Up, Teen Challenge brought twelve hard- working and energetic volunteers who accomplished many projects. We are very thankful for their help!

Teen Challenge is a faith- based residential program for men and women coming out of life controlling issues. Teen Challenge was founded in 1961 by Dave Wilkerson in New York City. Today, there are more than 200 Teen Challenge centers in the U.S., and 250 worldwide, including Teen Challenge of Colfax, which is located in the historic Hotel Colfax.

The Colfax Main Street Volunteer of the Month is chosen by the Colfax Main Street Organization Committee. To nominate a volunteer, please call 515.681.7654 or contact heather.christine@gmail.com.