To the editor:
One of the greatest things about Newton is the hundreds of volunteers that give of themselves for our community. Each volunteer needs to be thanked personally by those they help. Several people have worked on projects that I know of and I think they need recognition.
These people volunteered their time, money, equipment and quite often “volunteered” their friends and family. I don’t have permission to give their names but here’s what they have done for you.
A family used their own money, time and equipment to water the downtown flower beds a couple times a week all summer long. Remember how hot and dry the summer was. Without them, our downtown flower beds would have quickly burned up. Those concrete beds are like ovens in the hot summer sun.
The “walking alley” on First Avenue West was watered and weeded this summer by a neighboring building owner. And, after hearing that there was no plan in place to take care of the downtown flower beds a lady stepped forward to weed the beds around the square this summer.
You may have noticed the major clean-up around the railroad viaduct on First Avenue West. One lady has put in many hours and is continuing to work on them. A special thanks to her.
Early this year a young man designed three of the panels that were painted on the “Manatts Wall” just north of I-80 Exit 168. He even took a day off work to help on Red Pride Service Day to help the high school kids do the painting.
These paintings help to make one of our main entrances to Newton extremely attractive and welcoming.
Another gentleman gave up several evenings to help outline all those “Manatts Wall” panels so the groups could paint. Thanks to him for all those nights and the use of his equipment.
A group that needs recognition is Teen Challenge. They came to Newton and in a couple of afternoons trimmed and weeded the six flower beds on the west side of Highway 14 along the frontage road to Culvers. These beds have been neglected for a couple years and were really bad. Special thanks to them and to Debb for organizing this work.
This is a main entrance into Newton and needs to look especially welcoming.
These are only a few of the volunteers who have been working to make Newton a more inviting place for all of us. They have quietly taken on long neglected projects to make Newton a more attractive place to live.
Their hard work is appreciated by myself and all of Newton. A special thanks to all of them.
Bruce Showalter
Newton