WHY I AM RUNNING FOR TOWN COUNCIL?
My name is Annette Babich. I am a mother of three grown sons and a professional event planner with over 30 years of experience and expertise. For 25 years, I owned and operated a successful wedding planning production company. During this time, I was also an adjunct professor at New York University and taught The Art of Wedding Planning and Special Event Management for five years. For the past 6.5 years, I have been the head of events for a financial firm and manage over 200 events nationally each year.
In 2018, I moved to Milton from Brooklyn. I remember the first time we visited Milton and walking in town and discovering Irish Eyes, Milton Theatre, 302 Bicycles, Ogre’s Grove and the Suburban Farmhouse and thinking, WOW, what a cute little town. My partner, Mal, and I were instantly sold. Since we moved here, four more friends have had the same reaction. They too now own homes here. Milton is a special town.
One of the best things Milton has given me is the sense of belonging in a community. It has also given me a sense of pride and responsibility to the community.
The sense of pride and responsibility is why I want to serve as councilwoman.
I truly love Milton and plan to stay here for the long term and make it my home. Having lived in a big city, I have a deep appreciation for the beauty and charm of a small town; friendly, a simpler life, safe, and all of the town activities. I am an active member of our community with my own event – Dog Days of Summer Festival, which raises monies for local charities.
I also currently serve on the Board of Directors of the Milton Theatre.
I want to serve the community because I enjoy helping people. I was raised with a father who told my brother and me every night at the dinner table that America is a great country and we were lucky to be growing up here. Coming from the Philippines, my father reminded us that the opportunity to give back to our country and serve is both a duty and privilege. My family believes in service. Two of my sons serve in the military; my eldest served in the Army and my middle son served in the Air Force and now Space Force.
Being a councilwoman is an opportunity for me to serve. The responsibilities of all town council members are the following:
- Public safety and disaster preparedness
- Positive community appearance
- Activities and recreational opportunities for youth, adults, and seniors
- Retaining the town history, character and preserving the small-town atmosphere
I welcome the opportunity to take on these responsibilities and I also believe that I have the specific expertise and experience to take on the following initiatives that are of interest to me and would be of value to the community:
EVENTS
TBC
1.
DEVELOP AND PROMOTE
MILTON FOR COMMERCIAL GROWTH
Throughout America over the last 10 years there’s been a general re-awakening on the part of businesses and consumers of the inherent attractiveness of historic downtowns. While gig economy and remote working has boomed during COVID-19, the rise in the number of people working from home has prompted many to reconsider where they wish to live.
Milton, once a bustling industrial town, has seen decades of commercial decline resulting in commercial properties being razed to the ground. We need to work towards revitalizing the downtown, revisit the redevelopment of Front Street and encourage commercial developers to consider Milton as a destination, so that residents and visitors to our town have a reason to spend time in Milton and patronize our local businesses. Central to this effort would be the re-establishment of the Milton Economic Development Committee.
- Implement specific projects in the Comprehensive Plan, including Front Street
- Encourage developers to build commercial property in downtown Milton
- Develop Business Incubators; co-working spaces, pop-up and temporary businesses premises for local start-ups, freelancers and artists
MILTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
The Milton Economic Development Committee is envisioned to promote, encourage, and facilitate the development of responsible and properly planned business and industrial growth in order to expand and strengthen the local economy and diversify the community’s tax base.
1.
DEVELOP AND PROMOTE
MILTON FOR COMMERCIAL GROWTH
Throughout America over the last 10 years there’s been a general re-awakening on the part of businesses and consumers of the inherent attractiveness of historic downtowns. While gig economy and remote working has boomed during COVID-19, the rise in the number of people working from home has prompted many to reconsider where they wish to live.
Milton, once a bustling industrial town, has seen decades of commercial decline resulting in commercial properties being razed to the ground. We need to work towards revitalizing the downtown, revisit the redevelopment of Front Street and encourage commercial developers to consider Milton as a destination, so that residents and visitors to our town have a reason to spend time in Milton and patronize our local businesses. Central to this effort would be the re-establishment of the Milton Economic Development Committee.
MILTON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
The Milton Economic Development Committee is envisioned to promote, encourage, and facilitate the development of responsible and properly planned business and industrial growth in order to expand and strengthen the local economy and diversify the community’s tax base.
Implement specific projects in the Comprehensive Plan, including Front Street
Encourage developers to build commercial property in downtown Milton
Develop Business Incubators; co-working spaces, pop-up and temporary businesses premises for local start-ups, freelancers and artists
2.
GROW ARTS & CULTURE IN MILTON
At the heart of every town center is a vibrant arts and culture scene. Arts and culture helps express a community’s values and creates an elevated sense of awareness for community members and visitors. This can take many forms: Milton Public Library, Milton Historical Society and, of course, the Milton Arts Guild and the Milton Theatre.
Arts and culture is also important to state economies. Arts and culture-related industries provide direct economic benefits to states and communities: They create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases. One way to lead this effort is to establish a Milton Arts and Culture Committee.
- Develop Art Incubators – Arts incubators are a new, but growing, phenomena in the world of local arts to nurture the growth and development of artists, arts organizations or small arts business by offering low-cost or subsidized facilities.
- Build a Community Center – A community center can provide an important hub providing families with opportunities to socialize, learn, and access general information about the community.
MILTON ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE
The Milton Arts and Culture Committee is envisioned as a gathering of diverse community partners dedicated to improving the quality of life for the entire Milton community by enhancing arts and culture in and around Milton.
2.
GROW ARTS & CULTURE IN MILTON
At the heart of every town center is a vibrant arts and culture scene. Arts and culture helps express a community’s values and creates an elevated sense of awareness for community members and visitors. This can take many forms: Milton Public Library, Milton Historical Society and, of course, the Milton Arts Guild and the Milton Theatre.
Arts and culture is also important to state economies. Arts and culture-related industries provide direct economic benefits to states and communities: They create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases. One way to lead this effort is to establish a Milton Arts and Culture Committee.
MILTON ARTS AND CULTURE COMMITTEE
The Milton Arts and Culture Committee is envisioned as a gathering of diverse community partners dedicated to improving the quality of life for the entire Milton community by enhancing arts and culture in and around Milton.
Develop Art Incubators – Arts incubators are a new, but growing, phenomena in the world of local arts to nurture the growth and development of artists, arts organizations or small arts business by offering low-cost or subsidized facilities.
Build a Community Center – A community center can provide an important hub providing families with opportunities to socialize, learn, and access general information about the community.
3.
MAXIMIZE IMPACT OF EVENTS IN TOWN
As an event planner, I have seen the power of events. Milton celebrates a number of events and festivals throughout the year – St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Horseshoe Crab Festival, Bringing Mayberry Back to Milton, Bargains on the Broadkill, Dog Days of Summer Festival, Dogfish Dash, Analog-A-Go-Go, ZombieFest, HollyFest, to name but a few.
Personally, I am very proud of our own festival – Dog Days of Summer Festival. It is an event that really makes me feel part of this community because the town and the residents support the event and as a result, in two years, we have been able to raise $15,750 for local charities:
- Milton Community Food Pantry
- Milton Fire Department
- Milton Historical Society
- Doggone Happy Animal Rescue
To truly celebrate the best of Milton, I propose the establishment of the Milton Events Committee.
MILTON EVENTS COMMITTEE
Utilizing my professional event management experience, I will work with community leaders to create a schedule of events and activities to promote Milton, attract visitors and businesses and offer both residents and visitors a reason to spend an afternoon in Milton. As a result, we will:
-
- Foster hometown pride
- Strengthen relationships within the community
- Enhance community reputation
- Generate income for local businesses
3.
MAXIMIZE IMPACT OF EVENTS IN TOWN
As an event planner, I have seen the power of events. Milton celebrates a number of events and festivals throughout the year – St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Horseshoe Crab Festival, Bringing Mayberry Back to Milton, Bargains on the Broadkill, Dog Days of Summer Festival, Dogfish Dash, Analog-A-Go-Go, ZombieFest, HollyFest, to name but a few.
Personally, I am very proud of our own festival – Dog Days of Summer Festival. It is an event that really makes me feel part of this community because the town and the residents support the event and as a result, in two years, we have been able to raise $15,750 for local charities:
To truly celebrate the best of Milton, I propose the establishment of the Milton Events Committee.
MILTON EVENTS COMMITTEE
Utilizing my professional event management experience, I will work with community leaders to create a schedule of events and activities to promote Milton, attract visitors and businesses and offer both residents and visitors a reason to spend an afternoon in Milton. As a result, we will:
Foster hometown pride
Strengthen relationships within the community
Enhance community reputation
Generate income for local businesses
I want to leave you
with this quote from Margaret Mead
(American Cultural Anthropologist):
“Never doubt that a few thoughtful citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
I am here to serve you and our community.
Your opinion matters and I respectfully ask you for your support.
Together let’s work towards creating a vibrant community.
