Ridgeway Town Council received reports from various town committees last week and voted to fund the Arts on the Ridge at the same level as last year, even giving Historical and Cultural Committee Chairperson Virginia Lacey permission to expand the scope of Ridgeway’s arts festival.

Lacey reported to Council that the total cost of last year’s festival was about $2,300, with about $1,100 of that coming from the Town. She outlined several cost-saving measures that the committee had already identified, including limiting advertising and elimination of paid performers. She also stated that the committee had previously made several one-time purchases such as easels and banners which would be re-used for subsequent festivals. Mayor Charlene Herring thanked Lacey and other committee chairpersons present at the meeting for their work on town business; Councilman Robert Hartman added, “We’re lucky that we have people so involved with the town. This festival wouldn’t happen without Mrs. Lacey.” Arts on the Ridge takes place on the first Saturday in May, which this year will fall on May 2, 2009.

Council also approved Lacey’s request to allow participating artists to set up their own booths outside the Century House, where the festival is headquartered, in order to sell greater quantities of their artwork than what has been displayed inside at previous festivals. They agreed on a $15 fee which will be waived for in-town artists who already pay town fees.

In other business, Council voted to replace the four trees that either fell or were removed due to poor health in 2008. This was in accordance with a pre-existing town ordinance that states that the town shall replace any trees that are taken down for a cost not to exceed $500 per tree. Mayor Herring and Councilman Rufus Jones agreed to consult the recommendations previously given by arborist Jimmy Walters and get bids for trees that met his criteria.