Chamber events featured through the close of 2012

The onset of autumn is just over a week away.

That means things will kick into high gear in the community in the coming weeks.

An assortment of fall festivals are on the horizon and the holiday season isn't too far behind.

For the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce, this is a busy time of year.

The organization will sponsor and put on three big events in the near future: a concert featuring the music of the Rolling Stones (see story, BQ8), a harvest festival and the annual lighting of the Christmas trees on the Village Green (see stories, this page).

"Anything [the Chamber] can do to bring people to downtown -- and anywhere in New Milford -- we do," said Bob Hanna, Chamber first vice president.

The harvest festival and tree lighting were formerly sponsored by the Village Center Organization of New Milford, which disbanded earlier this year. The Chamber of Commerce took the events under its wings.

"I'm very big into giving back," Mr. Hanna said. "Everyone thinks the Chamber is all about business -- and we are -- but without the community, we wouldn't have business."

Jayson Roberts, who previously spearheaded the Harvest Festival for the VCO, is assuming that role this year.

"I'm really strong on making New Milford a destination. People need to know there are things going on consistently," he said.

Events like the Harvest Festival put the town on the map.

"It's about giving people that sense of `this is our town and we have fun stuff happening'," Mr. Roberts said.