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		News Bill Sewell July 28, 2003 Guest Column © 2003 Bill Sewell. Garden photos © 2003 Keweenaw Now. Photo of Bill Sewell © 2003 Pengfei Song.

Volunteers beautify Hancock with gardens

By Bill Sewell

HANCOCK -- Hancock's mayor, Jim Martin, has initiated a project to beautify Hancock with gardens in several locations around town. The first and largest of these offers a variety of brightly colored flowers greeting anyone who takes the shortcut from U.S. 41 down White Street into Hancock. Volunteers have been working on this garden since spring and continue to maintain it all summer.

The project is being supervised by Nancy Carr of Carr Landscaping and Design in Hancock. In addition to receiving financial support for flowers from the City of Hancock, Nancy and her son Anthony Carr have bought, grown and collected over 60 hybrids and species of flowers for the project and the volunteers. Both of them have put in many hours to make these gardens a reality. This summer a number of local residents have formed the Hancock City Garden Volunteer group.

"All are welcome, regardless of age or experience, to come and beautify our city," said Nancy.

Hancock resident Nancy Carr of Carr Landscaping volunteers many hours, plants, materials and tools for the Hancock garden projects. (Photo by Bill Sewell for Keweenaw Now)

Even though she has a landscaping business, Nancy is working on the project without pay and is donating materials, too. She says she is happy to be involved with the project and to be working with the other volunteers.

"I love the city and people. I want to give something back. We will be helping with two more projects: Omega House in Spring 2004 and the Community Arts Center Labyrinth Project at the Portage Lift Bridge in Hancock in August," Nancy said.*

In addition to the White Street project, Hancock's Pine Street Park was planted last November by Dylan Gerhart, son of Ray and Crissy Gerhart of Franklin Township, and members of  Dylan 's Boy Scout Troop 208. The Volunteers are maintaining this garden as well.

Jill Scharfenberg, foreground, of Hancock has adopted one section of the White Street garden (indicated by her sign),  maintains it regularly and helps with the rest of the garden as well. Nancy Carr, who never runs out of smiles and praise for her volunteers, offers planting advice. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

Besides her own plants, Nancy is using plants donated by the city that were left over from other projects. In addition, she is using plants purchased from local nurseries with money she has donated from her business. The mayor has even grown geraniums for the project in the windows of his home. Somero Farms has donated annuals. The entire Beautification Project will be done at a minimal cost since the plants are donated and the work is being done by volunteers.

Volunteers come in all sizes and ages. Tiffany Liimatta, foreground, and Freddi Clifton prepare ground for spring planting at the White Street Park. The girls have continued to volunteer during the summer. (May 2003 Photo by Bill Sewell)

Some of the younger volunteers are enjoying their first gardening experience.

"I had a good time," Alyssa Wolter said after working on a Saturday morning at the White Street garden. "I want to come back again."

At the White Street garden, Beth Flynn works on a plot adopted by the Copper Country Peace Alliance. (Photo by Bill Sewell)

Young Kristyna Alatalo said she had fun, too, and planned to come back.

"I pulled foxtail, and I cut dead flowers and trees," Kristyna said proudly. "I like gardening -- and the outdoors."

Kristyna Alatalo, left, and Alyssa Wolter spend a sunny Saturday morning volunteering at the White Street garden. (Photo by Bill Sewell)

Volunteers assisting Nancy Carr on the project include Kristyna Alatalo, Anthony Carr, Freddi Clifton, Clarissa Dorman, Beth Flynn, Kate Flynn, Carol Hokenson (who makes sure the flowers are watered), Tiffany Liimatta, Krystal Pojola, Jill Scharfenberg, Bill Sewell, Joyce and James Tapani, Alyssa Wolter and Michele Anderson. Groups involved with the project include the Hancock Neighborhood Prayer Group (represented by Nancy Carr), the Copper Country Peace Alliance (represented by Anderson, Flynn and Sewell), Vern Olson Tree Service, Hancock City Garage and the Hancock Fire Department.

Joyce Tapani, experienced gardener, spends many volunteer hours planting, weeding, watering and maintaining the White Street garden. (Photo by Michele Anderson)

Nancy Carr welcomes new volunteers to help with the gardens. Any amount of time offered is appreciated. Nancy noted she has been motivated to do this Beautification Project because of the "extraordinary hard work and expertise" of the Hancock City Council and Mayor Jim Martin.

"The City of Hancock is thrilled and delighted with the dedication of the volunteers," she said. "We had five new volunteers this week. There has been overwhelming support. But there's always room for more. We're starting the Labyrinth Project the third week of August."

Young volunteer Kristyna Alatalo, as she helps with weeding, is nearly hidden by the tall Nepeta, or "Six Hills Giant," now blooming brightly at the White Street garden. (Photo by Bill Sewell)

If you are interested in helping out with the Beautification Project, contact Carr Landscaping at 482-2734 or just show up at the White Street Park at 10 a.m. on Saturdays.

Editor's notes: *The Community Arts Center Labyrinth project is made possible by a Community Partners Artists in Residency grant from the Michigan Association of Community Arts Agencies with support from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Ruth Mott Foundation. Learn more about the author of this article, Bill Sewell.