Download the 2025 Membership Form Below

Letter from the President

Dear Members and Friends of the Tavern,

So often, we hear that people driving through Heathsville don’t know that we exist.  But, for those of us who are already involved and support the Heritage Arts Center, we understand what draws us to this amazing place.  First, it’s the people; people who understand the deep history of the area and who enjoy sharing their variety of talents, skills and interests with each other and the community.  And then it’s the assortment of activities and events that are held in this historic and evolving space.  

As the name implies, the Heritage Arts Center has artisans and guilds which produce beautiful, one-of-a-kind articles for sale and who teach others about their crafts.  Then, of course, we have amazing food in our café where our volunteers dream up a new and delicious menu each week.  Heritage Arts Center members also contribute to the wider community through special events such as the monthly Farmers Markets held from April through October, annual elementary school visits, scholarships and, of course, our annual Golden Village Christmas.  These are just a few of the events and activities that keep the Heritage Arts Center a vibrant and ever-evolving place.  

Of course, our 250-year-old building needs constant maintenance and with a campus of many buildings, there is always something to fix or maintain.  In fact, we currently have nine heat-pumps which are each over 20 years old and unfortunately, we anticipate the possible failure of one or more of them this year.  We also had some major expenses last year, especially in the café, as their equally-old equipment is rapidly beginning to fail. 

As we look back on 2024, we can definitely say it was a wild ride!   We endured and even thrived despite the loss of Judy Mooers, a founding member and store manager who wore so many hats as she helped set us up for success.  We wish her well as she enjoys living near family in her hometown in Colorado.  And 2024 was the first year for me as your new Board President as Mark Payne ended his six-year tenure in that role. In addition, our store leadership team implemented an automated Point of Sale system.  As we go into 2025, a new Strategic Plan for our organization has been developed that will guide us as we continue to evolve to meet the needs of our community.  It will be unveiled at the Annual Meeting on January 28, 2025.  We look forward to 2025 with anticipation and enthusiasm.

The Foundation is very thankful for both the volunteer and financial support that our members provide.  Annual membership renewal begins at the first of the year but it’s always a good time to renew or increase your annual membership, and if it’s within your budget an additional donation would be most welcome and helpful.  

Thank you again for supporting the HAC. 

     Jan Lodge, RHHT Foundation President