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MARIGOLD MANIA: Smaller event still comes off at Miners Park amid pandemic

Ellery Earnest, 8, plants flowers during Tuesday’s Marigold Mania at Miners Park in Negaunee. The Negaunee Beautification Committee had to tone down the annual event because of the COVID-19 situation, with fewer children taking part. (Journal photo by Christie Mastric)

NEGAUNEE — There will be marigolds, at least in Miners Park.

Every year, the Negaunee Beautification Committee, a group formed within the Negaunee Parks and Recreation Commission, organizes the event, in which Lakeview Elementary School fourth-grade students raise flowers in the school greenhouse and then plant them.

Obviously, that wasn’t possible this year with the COVID-19 crisis.

But Marigold Mania took place on Tuesday anyway, although it was scaled down from previous events.

Negaunee Beautification Committee organizer Anna Mattson led Marigold Mania, which involved students from Little Friends Children’s Center in Negaunee.

“We are doing our ‘pandemic form’ of Marigold Mania, which we never, ever thought we would have to do,” Mattson said.

Fortunately, students from the day care center gave the event a feel of past youth-oriented Marigold Manias.

As the project began, Mattson explained to the children how they should plant the flowers — with adults helping them, of course.

William Potes, who turned 4 years old on Tuesday, was enthusiastic about the flower planting and wanted to be involved right away.

“I want some gloves too,” the boy said as equipment was being distributed.

The youngsters also received trowels to use for planting flowers around various sections of Miners Park, which has a playground and is located along U.S. 41.

Had the school year been normal, the Negaunee Beautification Committee would have started flowers in its own greenhouse to use in Miners Park, Mattson said.

Instead, the group purchased marigolds from Snyders Drug Store in Negaunee.

“We had to buy everything this year, which was fortunate in that we had money from donations,” Mattson said. “That’s how we get our funding.”

Dahlias were to be planted at Miners Park as well for added color.

This year’s Marigold Mania also was different in that it didn’t have the Negaunee Historical Society and the Negaunee Police Department speak to attendees.

“We as a group try to incorporate as much community awareness and involvement that we can,” Mattson said.

Mattson said the Negaunee Beautification Committee has been involved in Marigold Mania since 2011.

“What we hope to do is instill in the kids a sense of ownership,” said Mattson, who acknowledged they might not know what that means. “That gives them a chance to say, when they come here to play, they get to say, ‘Oh, look. I planted those flowers. Look at the flowers we planted.’

“So, it gives young kids a chance of ownership.”

The Negaunee Beautification Committee, she said, follows through with Negaunee Middle School students, having them help with the pocket park, and Negaunee High School students, who build 1844 ore cart planters. The committee also gets help from the National Honor Society, whose members need volunteer hours.

“They’re always willing to help us with our projects,” Mattson said.

Christie Mastric can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 250. Her email address is cbleck@miningjournal.net

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