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Visiting students plant garden downtown

Twenty-three Central American high school students and their three mentors helped plant a garden Friday at the corner of Washington and Fourth streets in Marquette as part of a Central American Youth Ambassador program. (Journal photo by Ryan Jarvi)

MARQUETTE — Twenty-three Central American high school students and their three mentors helped plant a garden Friday at the corner of Washington and Fourth streets in Marquette.

The students were participating in a Central American Youth Ambassador program, organized by Georgetown University, Northern Michigan University and the U.S. Department of State.

Lila Isleib, international education and services adviser at NMU, said the students visit the U.S. for about three weeks, spending one week in Washington D.C., one in Jacksonville, Fla., and one at NMU.

The CAYA program has been visiting Marquette for about seven or eight years, organizers said. This year’s students came from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, Panama, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Collaborating with the Marquette Beautification & Restoration Committee, the students helped create “Ellie’s Garden,” a memorial for Ellie Raymond, who passed away from Alzheimer’s disease.

Jill LaMere, co-president for the beautification committee, said while living at home and suffering from the disease, Ellie had enjoyed watching hummingbirds from the view out her window.

LaMere said Ellie’s husband, Al, before he moved out of the area, contributed to the project and hoped the garden would attract hummingbirds.

Ryan Jarvi can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 270. His email address is rjarvi@miningjournal.net.

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