Published: October 09, 2008 08:48 am      

For one day, city taking state spotlight

Public invited to meet Cabinet as Cumberland becomes Capital for a Day

CUMBERLAND — It goes without saying that elected officials will be involved with Cumberland’s Capital for a Day, but the public is invited to meet the governor’s Cabinet on Friday at 10:30 a.m. in the Allegany Arts Council building.

Gov. Martin O’Malley plans to announce the results of the first statewide survey of the arts and commemorate National Arts and Humanities Month. The arts council recently moved into new quarters at 9 N. Centre St.

Following the presentation, Mayor Lee Fiedler, Allegany County Commission President Jim Stakem and Sen. George Edwards will discuss local issues.

The Greater Cumberland Committee will host the governor for lunch at Windsor Hall with an update on revitalization efforts in the Cumberland area by committee executive director Colleen Peterson. O’Malley will deliver brief remarks.

Cumberland will be declared Capital for a Day officially at 1:30 p.m. in a ceremony at Canal Place to include the commitment to Heritage Area tax credits and the Klotz Mill project, which is a planned affordable housing project in South Cumberland.

The governor will be given a trolley tour of the Klotz Mill property earlier in the day and the Virginia Avenue revitalization area after a live interview on the Magic 100.5 FM morning show with Pat Sullivan at 8:15 a.m.

The day’s events will conclude with a tree planting at Canal Place with students and the principal from Cresaptown Elementary School, which received the National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award.