 Using little wooden paddles, barbecue skewer sticks and craft foam,
she was making two-sided balloons that will be placed in each of
the hanging planters that adorn the downtown square, in celebration
of the Lincoln Art & Balloon Festival.
During the festival, there will be dozens of activities going on
in the downtown area, including the Main Street Art of Wine tent,
the Kansas City Barbeque Society-sanctioned cook-off sponsored by
the chamber, a sidewalk chalk art exposition sponsored jointly by
the Lincoln Park District and city of Lincoln, and much more.
It is expected that the number of visitors to the Lincoln area
during the balloon fest weekend will reach into the thousands, and
it is at times like this in particular that the city wants to put
its best face forward for those who come.
This year a portion of the beautification of the downtown area
came in the form of new hanging baskets scattered around the square
on both the merchants' side and the courthouse side of the streets.
The baskets are a part of the work that is done by the Main Street
organization.
Main Street organizations all over the country work within a few
common goals. They are to help preserve local history through
historic structures and landmarks in their downtown areas. They are
to encourage downtown business retention as well as encouraging new
businesses. They strive to come up with new ways to attract shoppers
to the downtown merchants, and they are dedicated to keeping the
heart of their city appealing to the eye.
The hangers for the baskets feature busts of Abraham Lincoln in
two versions. They were manufactured by the Lincoln Community High
School industrial arts class. The city of Lincoln assisted in
getting them mounted to light poles around the square, and the Logan
County Master Gardeners filled the planters with flowering plants.
Once all of that was done, the daunting task of watering the
plants became the next issue. A method of getting the water to the
plants was quickly resolved when Big R of Lincoln pitched in with a
water tank that could be pulled in a small wagon around the city
square.
With all the arrangements made to get the baskets in place, the
only thing left was to find people to pull the wagon and work the
water wand.
And according to Rohlfs, she had more than enough volunteers for
the project even before they were needed. What may surprise some
folks is who those volunteers were. They were eight members of the
National Honor Society at LCHS.
Rohlfs said that when the kids contacted her, they were really
excited about getting to take care of the plants, and once their
services were needed, they were very dedicated to it.
At the same time, Mary Kelley, the Logan County circuit clerk,
was thinking about getting involved as well.
Kelley said, "I had read about the need for volunteers and was
thinking, why not. I'm here every day. I could come early and help
out."
Rohlfs also took up that offer of help and asked Kelley to be the
adult who would accompany the kids around the square and look out
for them in the early morning hours of the day.
Kelley said it was especially nice for her because her daughter
Angela was one of the volunteers. "I really enjoyed spending time
with her, and I really enjoyed getting to know the rest of the
kids," she said.
Kelley also admired the dedication the kids had to the project.
She explained that they divided themselves into groups of two and
took turns arriving daily at the Main Street office. Taking the
water wagon across the street to the courthouse to fill with water,
they then worked all the way around the square, watering the hanging
baskets as well as the half-barrel planters on the sidewalks.
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"They never missed a day," Kelley said. "On the really hot days
they were there at 7:15 every morning to do the job. On cooler days,
we waited until 7:30."
The students began doing the daily chore as soon as the baskets
were hung on June 11 and continued through the end of July. Rohlfs
and Kelley both explained that many of the kids involved, in
addition to being honor students, are in other school activities
such as sports. By the first of August, some of them were getting
back into those activities, so they had to stop with the watering.
Rohlfs said that as soon as they stopped, several area merchants
and business people were ready to take over. She noted that they
also divided up into pairs and take turns so no one group has to do
it every day.
Right now the watering is being done by Andy and Melody Anderson,
Judy Conzo, April Doolin, Jill Douglas, Melissa Fleshmann, Seth
Goodman, Gary and Melinda Lessen, Ed Malkowski, Natalie Marquez,
Roger Matson, Barb Reinwald, and Rohlfs.
The members of the National Honor Society who provided the
services were Ethan Anderson, Clarissa Bess, Victoria Haferkamp, Ben
Hauter, Angela Kelley, Anna Maxwell, Abi Ray and Elaine Tiffany.
Rohlfs said all the plants around the square this year were very
nice, and she certainly appreciated everyone who contributed to the
project from beginning to end.
She also noted that next year, she wants to try some new plants
in the baskets so that they will once again be something fresh and
interesting.
Before returning to her balloon project, Rohlfs commented: "This
year has been a learning experience for all of us. We have enjoyed
it and truly enjoyed the people who have been working on the
project.
"When you look at the younger people from the National Honor
Society, they were very enthusiastic about it. They were here every
morning bright and early to do it.
"Then, when the students went back to their high school
activities and the adults took it over, we have a whole group of
good volunteers; they are all so great.
"One of the things they talk about is that people stop by and
talk to them and tell them, 'Good job,' and 'Keep up the good work.'
"I really do thank all of them," she concluded.
[By NILA SMITH]
Album posted June 13:
Main Street dedicates flower baskets
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