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Ishpeming Beautification Committee launches fundraiser for floral baskets

The Ishpeming Beautification Committee's work can be seen around the city. (Photo courtesy of Linda Andriacchi)

ISHPEMING — The Ishpeming Beautification Committee is working on its curb appeal.

The IBC launched a fundraising campaign on Feb. 15 in the hopes of increasing the number of hanging baskets filled with flowers that adorn the city’s downtown.

The committee gets much of its funding from the Downtown Development Authority, which has budgeted $11,000 for beautification this year. Those funds go to buy mulch, flowers, fertilizer and other gardening necessities for the existing hanging baskets and about 25 gardens and raised garden beds all over the city.

As part of the fundraiser, baskets can now be sponsored by businesses or individuals starting at $75 for the season.

IBC master gardener and volunteer coordinator Linda Andriacchi said one goal of the fundraiser is to incorporate the new gateway to the city into the beautification efforts.

“Our goal is to include all areas where the new street lights are that are capable of hanging the baskets. With our new roundabout, we would like to hang baskets on Second Street, Third Street and around the roundabout to welcome everyone to our city,” Andriacchi said.

Andriacchi said the IBC has increased the number of hanging baskets every year since the commitees inception in 2014.

The membership has grown yearly too, Andriacchi said, with several community members helping by contributing their time.

“A beautiful city: encourages community pride; welcomes new people to the area; creates a healthy, pleasing environment that promotes wellness and growth in the community; and encourages people to create beauty in their own yards,” Andriacchi said.

Every year IBC has increased the number of hanging baskets downtown, with a total of 71 self-watering containers in 2016, consisting of 66 16-inch baskets and five 23-inch baskets.

There were only 13 hanging baskets on Main Street prior to 2014, Andriacchi said.

In addition to the hanging baskets, IBC volunteers are responsible for several raised garden beds around the city as well as other fixtures including several individual beds on Lakeshore Drive; seven fixtures in or near Lake Bancroft Park; the Old Ish garden; gardens and containers at City Hall; the garden on Hematite Drive in front of Bell Forest Products, two corner beds on Hematite and Second Street near the Post Office and opposite corner; the bed at the corner of Third Street and Hematite Drive; the parking lot garden on First Street and Cleveland Avenue; and the park on Canda and Main Street.

In 2015 Andriacchi said the IBC recruited volunteers assigning them individual garden beds to care for.

“They were to take care of those beds as if they were their own,” Andriacchi said. “They take pride in their work and are committed to their project.”

For more information about sponsoring a basket, email Andriacchi at linda.andriacchi@gmail.com or the Greater Ishpeming Chamber of Commerce at ginccdirector@gmail.com

Andriacchi said people can also donate to the cause by sending a check to the city of Ishpeming Beautification,100 East Division St., Ishpeming.

Anyone wishing to volunteer can contact City Manager Mark Slown at 906-485-1091, ext. 204, or by sending an email to linda.andriacchi@gmail.com.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242.

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