Blairsville cleans up
Dozens participate in revitalization day
By JARED PUTNAM Union Sentinel Editor

Sentinel photos/Jared Putnam Bill Boemanns, owner of Mountain Technologies Inc. and Blairsville.com, works with County Clerk Peggy Deyton to clean up one of the planters around the square.

Both volunteers and community leaders alike joined together around the square Saturday, as Blairsville took part in the Great American Cleanup.

The effort was led by the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), Mayor Jim Conley and the City of Blairsville, the Union County Commissioner's Office, and the Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce (BUCCC).

"With the groups collaborating we decided to pick an area where we could make an impact," DDA Director Janet Hartman said. "The Chamber and the county were gracious enough to say, lets pick downtown because the DDA is really trying to get some things going with the revitalization. With the planting and the sprucing up of downtown, that will give us kind of a jump start on some of the things that we have going for downtown development and revitalization."

BUCCC President Cindy Williams explained the decision to have a more concerted effort this year. "In years past each organization had kind of done their own small project, and this year we said, 'lets do something together," Williams said. "With the downtown revitalization going on, we thought this would be a great kick start. Overall I thought it was a great day, we got a lot accomplished in a short amount of time and it just turned out to be a really big success."

Blairsville Mayor Jim Conley lends some muscle to helping unload soil.

So what did the day produce?

Right at 50 volunteers in attendance, according to Hartman.

650 plants and flowers planted under the direction of Caroline Glenn.

15 bags of garbage removed from city streets.

"It was a great effort. We appreciate everybody that came out," Hartman said. "It shows that when everyone comes together, you can get a lot done in a short amount of time. We are hoping to use this year as kind of a benchmark."

"Team Depot," along with John Wishmeyer, the new manager of Home Depot, was also instrumental in the effort. "Home Depot was supportive in donating soil, mulch and fertilizer to the effort, plus they had a number of people helping," Hartman said. "That's part of Home Depot's giving back to the community, they have a Team Depot program that works [to do that.]" Plants were provided by The Basket Barn, and Hartman pointed out that the fire department has offered to water the plants 3 times each week, so that all the hard work does not wilt away under the summer sun.

Sentinel photos/Jared Putnam Volunteers line up to sign up for cleanup duties.

Blairsville Mayor Jim Conley echoed the sentiments of Williams and Hartman, describing it as a productive day where "everybody had fun."

Mayor Conley also reiterated that there will be plenty more changes to come, including lighting changes implemented by the DDA. "We're going to be doing more changes with the new lighting," the mayor said. "New street lamps will be installed down Blue Ridge St. to Ernest St, and down that street as well. They will be the same type of street lamps as on the outside of the square."

More volunteers planting around the square. BUCCC President Cindy Williams helps clean up.