Sprout into Spring event set to decorate Elkins community
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Penny Heflin, sales manager at Elkins Builders Supply and lead project member from Our Town, Inc., stands beside the model flower she painted and decorated for the Sprout Into Spring event, which is set to begin in downtown Elkins on March 20 and continue for a month afterward.
ELKINS -- A new community event, Sprout into Spring, is being planned by the same Our Town, Inc. volunteers who brought the scarecrow event and the gnomes to downtown Elkins in 2020.
The project will decorate Elkins with wooden flowers that can be painted and decorated by each participant in order to welcome spring to the community.
Wooden flowers, each 22 inches in diameter, along with wooden "stems" and additional items will be provided to any business, group, family or individual who wish to take part.
Our Town volunteers will be at the Delmonte Market today from noon until 5 p.m. to distribute materials until supplies are exhausted. Finished products are to be returned to the same location on Friday, March 12 and Saturday, March 13 during the same times.
"Everyone is encouraged to paint the flowers with spring colors and decorate to reflect your business, organization or with a spring theme," a press release states. "You may sign your work or include a logo. All creativity is encouraged but no political or controversial statements, please. Child and student art is encouraged.
"The flowers will be placed throughout town 'sprouting' from the parking poles and some colorful streamers will be added to the trees along Davis Avenue and Third Street, providing another open air viewing opportunity for everyone," the release states.
After the decorated flowers are returned to the Delmonte, Our Town volunteers will then begin decorating the town in preparation for March 20, the first day of spring. The committee would appreciate those who may be willing to help with the decorating event at times and dates to be decided. Flowers will be kept and stored for future use.
Organizers are also adding another twist to the Sprout into Spring celebration.
Recently a variety of cloth streamers were tied upon a tree next to the entrance of the Old Brick Playhouse to introduce some joyful color in that area. Our Town would like to follow that model by adding more streamers to trees along Davis Avenue and Third Street.
"Our Town projects are intended to involve everyone in our community who want to participate," a separate press release states. "In an effort to complete this project during this pandemic, we would like to invite families, groups, businesses and others who function in a safe 'bubble' to 'adopt a tree' and place streamers on them.
"Materials will be supplied to volunteers who can be accomplish the task a few days before March 20," the release reads. "We have a process that should not be harmful to the tree, itself, by gently looping streamers on the branches that will not restrict growth or developing buds and can be easily removed. Volunteers will be asked to wear face coverings and will be spaced away from others at their designated work site."
Anyone would like to be part of the tree "adoption" process, or who has questions about the Sprout into Spring event, may call 304-636-0415 for further information.
The Sprout into Spring committee wishes to thank the employees or Elkins Builders Supply and both the employees and volunteers at the Wood Technology Center for the work on the project.