It may only be the end of February, but the board of directors of Uptown Wadesboro Inc. (UWI) is already looking ahead to the spring and summer months, and the start of popular summer events, the Farmer's Market and Summer Jam.

The UWI board met on Thursday for its regular monthly meeting at the Anson County Chamber of Commerce.

Farmer's Market

Carly Little, chair of the board, reported that Don Altieri had put together a proposal to the town of Wadesboro for community grant funds to help pay for 12 8-foot utility tables to use for the Farmer's Market, which is planned to start in April or May, and run through September. The amount the UWI is requesting for the tables totals $933.36. UWI would share use of the tables with the town for various events.

Little stated that she'd like to try to have the Farmer's Market in the town square, but if that doesn't work, it may be moved to in front of the Anson County Courthouse.

"I think it's a great idea," board member Anna Baucom, chair of the Anson County Board of Commissioners, said of the Farmer's Market. "I still maintain that food production will become even more important in this economy."

Added treasurer Anne Covington Leary, "If we can get people uptown, they might go inside some of the stores, too."

The Farmer's Market will run 4-6 p.m. on Thursdays.

Summer Jam

The UWI board also discussed sponsoring five summer concerts, to be held on the first Friday of each month, May through September.

Little reported that she and Altieri had appeared before the Wadesboro Town Council to ask for its support of the event, mainly by allowing UWI to block off streets and provide portable rest rooms. Little added that she had not heard back from the town yet, but that she would follow up.

The group also discussed using $880 raised from the Blue Grass Christmas to help pay for the Summer Jam concerts. Little said she's also going to try to get local businesses to sign up for $250 sponsorships and is looking for bands that charge $300 or less. She already has three lined up, she added.

The July 3 Summer Jam concert will likely be bigger than the others, and may include hot dogs served by UWI and fireworks.

Up to Code?

The board also had a brief discussion about the possibility of pushing the town of Wadesboro to create an appearance ordinance, especially for the uptown area.

"I think we're going to have to make a presentation to the town council" to make such an ordinance a reality, Leary said.

The board members decided to do a bit more research on what similar towns have done, and discuss the item again at a later date.

The UWI board of directors will next meet on Thursday, March 19, at 5 p.m. at the Anson County Chamber of Commerce, 107-A E. Wade St., Wadesboro.