By Madonna Van Fossen

With the purchase of new Christmas decorations our downtown has been transformed into Candy Cane Lane!
The DDA thanks the participating businesses as well as all the students who donated their time and creative efforts in decorating store windows.
Becky Ziemanski and her high school art students did an awesome job painting Santa’s sleigh and his mailbox. It brings great joy to publicly recognize the hard work our young people invested. Good for them by getting involved!
Don’t forget to check out the Christmas Village that was repainted by many hands as well. Located just north of Burdick, on the west side of M24, this colorful village creates a smile on the faces of all who stop to look.
Spread the word about Oxford because you never know who’ll be listening.
Someone who’s looking for property just might hear you and snatch up one of the properties for lease or sale!
If you have any ideas about what you’d like to see make it’s home in Oxford, let me know and I’ll certainly pursue it or better yet, YOU get involved! There are several committees with in the DDA that seeking new members.
Several new businesses have opened with in the last few months and in conversations with their owners I am told one of the things that drew them to this town is the sense of community that exists here. I have seen this first hand since my appointment as director.
One of my personal goals for 2009 is to get more people involved with what’s going on here in Oxford. If people like being here ? for events, shopping, dinner, etc., they will come here more and more.
Spending more time here will benefit the community and continue paving the way for success to be shared among all ? residents and business owners alike.
Plans to partner with the Oxford Chamber, surrounding communities like Lake Orion, Lapeer, Ortonville, Metamora and more are being discussed.
It’s so important to get involved with your neighbors if you want to improve your neighborhood; not to mention the strength in numbers can and will benefit the region where we live.
As I continue to reflect about how to achieve this goal, I am constantly brought back to communication?.that’s the key.
In an effort to communicate what is going on and for the sake of our future as a community, here are opportunities for you to get involved: Uptown Weddings in Downtown Oxford (February 7); ACS ? Relay for Life (May 30-31); Concerts in the Park (June through August); Rural Pearl Bike Run (June 20); Lapeer County Cruise (June 27); Celebrate Oxford (August 2); the Scarecrow Festival and other holiday celebrations.
Volunteer an hour a month or jump in full force and chair an event; be on a committee or get on the DDA board (currently there are two vacancies).
Whatever you do ? do something!
Your commitment will help to make Oxford a better place to eat, dine, shop and live!
Without your support and your involvement, life as we know it may cease to exist.
Working together we can and will secure a future for ourselves and our children. All we have to do is BELIEVE!
For more information check out our new website: www.downtownoxford.org