Press Release
Local Newsmaker Profile
April 29, 2006
It's the thing that ate Anniston and vice versa. By this time next week, downtown Anniston will be ready for the next installment of the Noble Street festival. In its third year, the event is expanding from one city block to four. Event organizers expect that, starting at noon next Saturday, more than 8,000 people will gather to eat food from more than 25 restaurants, listen to live music, view art, watch bicycle races and generally be merry.
If that's not enough, bicyclists can ride in the Cheaha Challenge bicycle race the following day. (Information about both events can be found online at noblestreetfestival.com and cheahachallenge.com.)
Mike Poe, volunteer director of the Cheaha Challenge & Noble Street Festival, recently answered a few questions about the festivities.
Q: Mike, next weekend is a huge one for downtown Anniston and the region. How long have you and the other organizers for the events been working on this year's events?
A: We met a few days after the 2005 event and began planning for 2006.
Q: Last year's festivities drew several thousand. How many are you expecting this year?
A: We are prepared to handle over 8,000 festival attendees (compared with about 4,000 in 2005).
We have increased the number of restaurants from 10 to 26, and they are prepared to serve over 15,000 full meals.
Q: Once we've got all these visitors here, what's the impression you want to leave with them, both downtown and alongside the path of the Cheaha Challenge?
A: We want to leave visitors with the impression that we are not only the most hospitable place in the South, but that we're a very progressive, innovative and forward-thinking community, as well. We want to do this by offering "cutting edge" entertainment. We have Cheaha Challenge cyclists signed up from more than 20 states. The races on Saturday night have 500 cyclists from across the U.S. and more than 10 foreign countries.
Q: Speaking of which, what about the other 51 weekends? What's needed, entertainment/shopping-wise, on Noble Street to attract more folks the rest of the year?
A: Coldwater Mountain is an untapped resource for downtown tourism and an incredible local "quality of life" opportunity. This 5,000-acre Forever Wild property, located within a stone's throw of Noble Street in the city limits of Anniston, is managed by the Lands Division of the State of Alabama. Our cycling club, with the endorsement of the Lands Division and Forever Wild Board, approached the City of Anniston over six years ago about developing a system of 40-plus miles of multiple-use trails with an all-volunteer work force. This would not only be a major tourism draw, but also a "green" project for Anniston and a great resource for locals.
Our club's interest was for mountain bike trails - again, a huge opportunity for tourism that would mesh very well with the Ladiga Trail and bringing locals and tourists to Noble Street for dining, entertainment, coffee shops, etc. A similar trail outside of Birmingham draws more than 90,000 cyclists per year.
Our club brought in a nationally known trail-design consultant who was in awe of the opportunities this green space offers - especially so close to a downtown setting.
The holdup is access to the property. The city has been studying the options for a parking lot since 2000. I understand funds have been set aside, but I am not sure of any progress or what front-line person at the city is responsible for a time line for this project.
Q: Let's turn to the Ladiga Trail for a moment. Plans are to have the trail extended so that one could bike from downtown Anniston all the way to Atlanta. What's the latest? How soon will that be possible? What would an Anniston-to-Atlanta bike trail do for tourism?
A: The concept of the Ladiga Trail extending through downtown is very exciting. I do not know the time line for this project. I hope the city has placed someone in charge of the project and given this person a directive to push the project along - complete with a time line to keep the public informed.
The approximate seven-mile unpaved "missing link" in Cleburne County is very close to receiving more pavement. I understand that the pavement could extend farther north of Piedmont as soon as this fall, with full connection to the Silver Comet Trail in Georgia by the end of 2007. This will most certainly bring an influx of affluent visitors seeking lodging, good food, entertainment, other ways to spend money.
Q: Anything else you'd like to add?
A: There is a small army of volunteers who do the real work for these events, and they deserve thanks and recognition. So as you are downtown next weekend or on the mountain for the Cheaha Challenge, please thank these fine folks for creating such a positive image of our community.
And one more thing, the Cheaha Challenge benefits the Chief Ladiga Trail, having donated more than $16,000. The Sunny King Criterium and Noble Street Festival benefit Calhoun County Relay for Life. $7,880 was donated to Relay in 2005 and our goal for 2006 is $10,000, so come out to the festival and help us reach this goal.
Bob Davis is editor of The Anniston Star. E-mail him at bdavis@annistonstar.com with suggestions for other interview subjects.
IN BRIEF
Name: Mike Poe, volunteer director of the Cheaha Challenge & Noble Street Festival
Age: 37
Birthplace: Birmingham
Education: BS, Corporate Finance & Investment Management, University of Alabama
Other jobs: Investment and financial adviser, A.G. Edwards in Anniston
Hobbies: Mountain and road cycling, backpacking, family camping, whitewater kayaking, travel
Your words to live by: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
Local News Newsmaker Profile: Mike Poe - An appetite for attracting visitors Q&A By Bob Davis