There is good news and frustrating news today...

First, we have 551 Signatures from those of you who want to keep the market in Old Greenwich. Keep it going. Let's get to 1,000!

The Selectmen and Selectwomen know we are upset, and have responded via their executive assistant, Ken Borsuk. Ken has stated that he will do all he can to get the market Civic Center access "next year" in 2027. He has also stated that the market is most likely going to St. Catherine's in Riverside for this year, BUT, if we can get First Congregational Church of Old Greenwich to agree to host this Summer, he would like to know. This could be a great alternative for several reasons:

1) The FCCOG is a beautiful location, with 68 or more parking spaces, plus parking across the street in Binney Park and Perrot Library. People come and go from the market and don't stay the entire time, so turnover of parking spaces is high.
2) There are green spaces at this church, a lawn and the potential for us to work with the Church to come up with programs that would support both the church, our community families and children that we would not have anywhere else at this time.
3) Another plus from working with the FCCOG is that this location is very close to the Civic Center. It would give those who attend classes and Sports programs at the OGRCC an excellent reason to stop by the market on their way to and from baseball games, soccer games, tennis, music lessons and more. If our Selectman are to help us transition to the Civic Center for 2027, The First Church of OG would be a practical half-way point that is in between the previous location and the Civic Center. It would give us all a chance to test out the move of the market in our own town, not up one of three hills to the next town of Riverside.
4) It would keep the market bikeable and walkable for many residents.

I want to remind Dana Lee and the Organizers of the Market that our community, Old Greenwich residents, have volunteered and "shown up" for this special event for 15 years, yet none of us had a say in where we wanted it to move to. Now is that time. So many of us really want to keep it in Old Greenwich and have a voice and have been vocal. We understand this has been Amy Burke and Dana's show, but so many local volunteers and community members have really cared deeply and helped out over the years. It feels unfair to move this to Riverside with out working with the community and seeking out every possible space in OG first. (Above photo was taken at the OG Farmer's Market, where both the Garden Club of Old Greenwich and UCONN Master Gardener Program had tables set up to share with local residents. This is the kind of local, educational sharing that worked in this community for 15 years. We don't want to loose this in OG!)

Can we work with the First Congregational Church in Old Greenwich? Would you support this? Can you contact Patrick and the staff at the church on our behalf and put in your vote for support? Moms, Dads, kids and local families are counting on you! See what we can pull off for our town asap. Thank you!

Learn more about the First Congregational Church here: https://www.fccog.org/#gsc.tab=0

Contact the Staff about this issue, here: https://www.fccog.org/staff#gsc.tab=0

Thank you for trying for our Community, the local Organizers and CT Farmers.

-Colleen Proppé
OG Resident, Mom & Organic Advocate