While it may be a little while yet before colourful blooms appear in Fort Frances, the local Chamber of Commerce already has flowers on the brain as it gears up for its annual town beautification program.
Co-ordinator Dawn Booth said Thursday that it looks like the Chamber will be putting out 40 baskets in June—10 more than last year—that will brighten up the stretch of King’s Highway from the cemetery to Central Avenue, as well as on the 400 block of Scott Street.
There also will be 18 planters put out on the traffic islands at Central Avenue.
The Chamber’s beautification project is meant to complement that of the local Business Improvement Association, which includes flower baskets on the 100, 200, and 300 blocks of Scott Street, as well as benches and trash cans.
But beauty has its price and the Chamber needs community support to keep the program going.
“We are looking for sponsors for 2004,” said Booth. “With more sponsors, we add additional baskets. With more baskets, we can cover more area.”
Booth noted the program, which was sponsored wholly by the Chamber in its first year, has seen generous support from the community over the past few years.
The second year saw 50 sponsors—mostly local businesses—while 2003 drew about 70, with more and more individuals sponsoring the baskets (some in memory of deceased loved ones).
“We’re definitely hoping to have at least as many sponsors as last year,” said Booth, adding she’s waiting to see if the Town of Fort Frances once again will agree to water the flowers during the summer months as it has in the past.
She noted the Chamber’s long-term goal is to have flower baskets lining a path from Sunset Country Ford to the end of Scott Street at the upper Rainy River. But, of course, this all depends on sponsors.
Booth noted 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 to five years at a time if they choose.
For more information on the beautification project, or to be a sponsor, call Booth at 274-5773 or drop by the Chamber office at 474 Scott St. (across from Safeway).
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
