Submitted by Chris Wojnar, Barb Purchia, Sylvia Mallory, and Julie Turner, on behalf of the Bedford
Cultural District Partnership
(Editor’s note: Jeff King Bedford’s director of housing and economic development retired, effective March 8. See https://thebedfordcitizen.org/2024/02/economic-development-director-king-to-retire/)
We want to express our gratitude for the unwavering leadership and support Jeff King provided the Bedford Cultural District Partnership planning team over the last two years. Along with his responsibilities as Housing and Economic Development Director, Jeff enthusiastically organized and led our group to officially open the Cultural District after a long application process to the Mass Cultural Council. Many other community events and celebrations followed.
Jeff encouraged us collaboratively, embracing ideas and providing the means to make them happen with grant funding, town approvals, logistics, and the fun stuff of blowing up balloons, setting up tents, putting out sandwich boards in the rain, renting equipment, printing reams of flyers, and carrying vendors’ wares. He consistently affirmed that what we wanted to accomplish was possible.
Our deep gratitude goes to Jeff for his support of and contributions to our long list of projects for the community: the June 2022 festival that introduced the town to the new Cultural District; the Music and Arts Festival 2023; two December artisans’ markets; the Ukrainian art show and operatic performance; a community mural and street mural; two mini art galleries; colorful chalk art; a scavenger hunt; a story walk; Cultural District signage and maps; support of the Artists’ Directory; and planning for an upcoming music series.
Thank you, Jeff! We will miss your leadership and friendship.
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