FREDERICK NEWS POST
December, 1999
Morningstar
Design wins bid to coordinate
Frederick County's special year 2000 events
By ED WATERS JR. News-Post Business Editor
Frederick County residents, and visitors,
will be able to enjoy a myriad of millennial events in the coming
months thanks to the ideas and expertise of a local advertising
and marketing company.
Morningstar Design Inc. of Frederick has won
the bid to serve as coordinator of millennium events for Frederick
County, according to Misti Morningstar, president.
The county sent out a request for proposals
asking for a plan to help the county celebrate 2000 and the millennium
in 2001.
On Thursday, Frederick Mayor Jim Grimes endorsed
the company's letters seeking sponsors for the events.
Ms. Morningstar's proposal noted that her
firm has established relationships with resources that could provide
cost-effective services and materials; is an award winning firm
of creative professionals, and Morningstar Design has an in-house
pre-press bureau that could save the county money on related services.
The first even will be a countdown to 2000
at the Frederick Fairgrounds featuring exhibits and demonstrations
by businesses and industries, community groups, volunteer and
school groups with a charge for $3 for adults, $1 for children.
The even will showcase the diverse economic aspect of the county,
as well as its quality of life.
One of the major events is First Night 1999/2000.
The event will focus on downtown Frederick’s retail, restaurant
and historical ambiance. The event is envisioned to include musical
entertainment, theatrical performances, tours of historical sites,
climaxed with a countdown by Mr. Grimes and other personalities,
followed by fireworks and a laser light show in Baker Park.
There will be entertainment for the entire
family and there will be no alcohol sold outside as part of the
event. “It is designed as a family event, for everyone,”
said Ms. Morningstar.
Along with the First Night events downtown,
efforts are planned to distribute balloons, cards and mementos
to Frederick Memorial Hospital and terminally ill patients in
the area. Also, the first baby born in 2000 will be given special
honors at Frederick Memorial Hospital.
Admission to the First Night events will be
$7 for adults, $3 for children, with participants given a button
to wear signifying they have paid.
Morningstar Design also created not only the
admissions buttons, but promotional T-shirts, sweatshirts, posters,
banners, location placards and other First Night souvenirs. The
company will provide all the marketing and promotional services
related to the events.
“The events will be funded by money
raised to support them,” said Ms. Morningstar. Some of the
proposed events include a 10 kilometer foot or bike race with
Olympic-style events, a golf tournament at Westwinds, a cook-off
open to area restaurants and organizations, a recycle art contest
and auction, and an antiques or art auction.
The events are designed as non-profit. “We’ve
had experience in this coordinating the annual air show in Frederick,”
said Ms. Morningstar.
Throughout 2000, Frederick and other municipalities
may have special events ranging from historical and house tours
to neighborhood cleanups. Ideas for Frederick proposed include
a tour to the city’s museums and galleries, carriage rides,
Civil War reenactments, restaurant cook offs, and an open house
at one of the fire companies.
According to the company’s proposal,
Morningstar Design would provide pro-bono design services for
communities interested in purchasing banners, posters, T-shirts
and other items for their events.
Joining Ms. Morningstar and her staff will
be Carol L. Gordon of CLC Promotions to help with fund-raising
and sponsorship activities; Tad Janes of the Maryland Ensemble
Theater and technical director of the Kussmaul Theater at Frederick
Community College; Larry Way of Digital Image and Sound; Mark
McLaughlin, a local performance artist; Luther Horine, fireworks
coordinator; and Bernie Fogel, who will coordinate parking, among
others.
A Web site that will be linked to www.morningstardesign.com
to keep people abreast of the various events and brochures will
be printed when all of the events are finalized.
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