Repairs are necessary to ready the watering system and banner hangers for the Town Center. Photo by Neal Hefty

Flowers and banners for our Town Center

The Cedar Mill Business Association (CMBA) is realizing a long-held goal of providing flower baskets and banners for our downtown area along Cornell Road. Thanks to generous contributions of time, expertise and funds from several members, along with the work of our Downtown Beautification Committee and several years of membership dues, 13 light poles along Cornell between Murray and Saltzman will be sporting hanging flower baskets and banners identifying our community.

Cities normally undertake this kind of community pride activity but since we’re unincorporated county, it’s the CMBA that has taken this responsibility. We have taken over the water account from the county, and repairs are underway to the watering system that was installed when the roadwork was completed in 2006. Banner supports need additional hardware to secure them.

CMBA member Hal Beighley, Landscape Architect, has been instrumental in researching and repairing the irrigation system, with the help of landscape contractors, New Growth Landscape. Money to buy the first year’s flower baskets was donated by the Sunset Athletic Club’s owner, Chuck Richards, who has also contributed research into the necessary hardware to complete the irrigation and banner hardware.

Baskets have been planted by Cornell Farm, and should be ready for hanging in mid-to-late April or early May. Landscapers from Bales/Findley Property Management will monitor the baskets and do any needed pruning or fertilizing, although this should be minimal, according to Cornell Farm co-owner Deby Blatter, because the planting mix contains a slow-release fertilizer.

The Downtown Beautification Committee of the CMBA has been meeting for a couple of years to make this happen. Current committee members include Dean Shade, Ryan Egge, Hal Beighley, Mike Irinaga, Tim Kober, and Virginia Bruce. At the last meeting we reviewed the budget, recommending an expenditure of $2033 for repairs to the irrigation system, $1950 for banners, and $1066 for additional banner hardware. This was approved at the March meeting of the Board of Directors. Along with the donated funds for the flowers, the total budget for the project will be around $7000.

Thanks to everyone involved. This project would not have been possible without the tremendous growth in membership that the group has enjoyed over the last few years. We ended 2009 with 94 members, and with renewals and new members, we’re at 86 already this year! We hope everyone enjoys the additions to our downtown, and we encourage all business folks with an interest in Cedar Mill to join and help us continue to make this a great place to live and do business!

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