The Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce invited all past, present, and future flower project sponsors to Robin’s here Friday afternoon to launch “Project Petunia 2006.”
Alan Tibbetts, past president of the Chamber and chair of its beautification committee, thanked the small crowd on hand for their support of the flower project in the past.
And he encouraged them to keep that sponsorship up for years to come.
“We hope we can make Fort Frances look even better than it does in the springtime and summer,” he remarked.
Sponsorship forms were passed out at the kick-off, along with free coffee and doughnuts, between 2-2:30 p.m.
Chamber manager Dawn Booth noted Monday 14 sponsors signed on for at least one year right at the launch or shortly thereafter.
Two of the people at the launch were Josie Miller and Marla Thomson of the Northern Light Credit Union. It has sponsored the flower baskets for the past five years and already has signed up to do it for another five.
Both agreed the flowers added to the town’s appearance, noting tourists really seem to appreciate them.
This is the sixth year the Chamber has done the flower project.
It will be hanging 60 baskets in May or June—10 more than last year—to brighten up the stretch of King’s Highway from Tim Hortons to Central Avenue, then up Central Avenue to the Ontario Tourism Centre, as well as in the “gateway” area of town on Church Street and Mowat Avenue.
Eighteen planters also will be put out on the traffic islands at Central Avenue, as well as one on the small traffic island across from Tim Hortons.
The Chamber’s beautification project is meant to accent projects done by the local Business Improvement Association (BIA) and “Communities in Bloom.”
The continuation of the project is due to the sponsorship the Chamber receives from the Town of Fort Frances, Lowey’s Greenhouse & Market Gardens, and the general public and business community, noted Booth.
She said people sponsor the program in memory of loved ones, in lieu of giving a gift to someone on birthdays, or at Easter and Mother’s Day, or just to help beautify the town.
Booth added sponsors should know that money donated does not go towards a specific basket or planter, but towards the cost of the program as a whole.
The cost is $50 per year, and sponsors can commit for a period of one-five years at a time if they choose. Sponsors also can adopt more than one flower basket or planter.
The Chamber’s long-term goal is to have flower baskets lining a route from businesses in the west end to the east end of Scott Street at the upper Rainy River, noted Booth.
But again, this all depends on sponsors.
For more information on “Project Petunia,” contact Booth at 274-5773.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
