100 Days to the Festival
Only something extra-ordinary could land its own TV show AND gain audience with the top business leaders in Rockland County. This past week alone, The Suffern Music+Arts Festival (SMAF) was able to do both.
We’re 100 days away from a Labor Day weekend like none other. All facets of our community are taking notice because the Festival truly is “community” at its best.
I could not have predicted just 5 months ago that what began as an effort to transform Suffern’s downtown commerce would be so boldly accepted. Everyone’s initial reaction to hearing the news about SMAF always includes “it’s about time” or “we’ve been dreaming of this forever”. How great is it that.
The Festival is a soft-walled organization made of 100+ social entrepreneurs. At the core, there are business people offering skills, resources, leadership and mentoring. Everyone on this project is a volunteer. And the numbers grow by the day. And as intended, new businesses are already taking heed of what Suffern, 10901, and western Rockland County have to offer.
We’ve all heard how people can interact to make something that’s “greater than the sum of its parts”. That cliche is absolute genius when it takes hold.
Getting back to this past week.
First, the TV Show. Let’s just say, the vivacious Townsend Jordan (SMAF’s Sponsorship Director transplanted from New Orleans) did a walk-on to the Christopher St Lawrence Show last Thursday night and left with her own one-hour gig. Supervisor St. Lawrence so enjoyed the tales of SMAF that he is dedicating a portion of his show weekly to the Festival. It will be called the “Townsend Hour”. Tune in Thursday night (Channels 77 or78).
Second, the Rockland Economic Development Corporation. Thanks to Ron Hicks (President/CEO) and to all the business leaders and politicians in the County who welcomed our SMAF presentation on Wednesday evening. The Suffern Chamber of Commerce has taken an innovative step up in an otherwise down economy, and it has not gone unnoticed.