Joia Hughes: There is much to celebrate in Laconia's revitalization

To The Daily Sun,

It’s been discouraging to read all the recent letters and social media posts listing the shortcomings in Laconia.

Laconia is working to revitalize its downtown area and brand it as an arts and culture hub. With a combination of public and private investment, our city is working to become a destination.

Six “Concerts on Canal” spearheaded by Dan McLaughlin of NH Vintage Vinyl were fun and well attended. Financial support from the Laconia Rotary and the Putnam Fund shows the strong community backing for this. 

The Colonial Theatre sells close to 40,000 tickets annually, and the CAKE Theatre brings in 12,000 visitors each year. These venues are not only attracting people from across the country but even from abroad. 

The city's downtown revitalization is a collaborative effort. A group of downtown businesses and local representatives meet to discuss ways to improve the appeal of the area. We are seeing businesses come and stay. Kristin Bastille has made a significant investment downtown with her businesses, Defiant and now The Candy Bar. Many small businesses are celebrating five- and 10-year anniversaries, and a few are celebrating their very first. 

As we enter the fall and winter season, things will start to slow down. The city will host Laconia Pumpkin Festival and this 10-year-old family friendly event takes lots of community effort, but is well loved. 

I encourage all residents to take time during the offseason to frequent the small, local businesses who make this area special. These shops and restaurants are the heart of our community. Laconia can build on these successes; we can be a destination for arts and entertainment in the Lakes Region. 

Sure, there’s still some things to work on, but can we take a moment to celebrate the good, too? 

Joia Hughes

Meredith