‘We can do that’

Andrews – The town got a bit more colorful in mid-May, when Hillside Nursery & Garden Center hung 92 floral basket arrangements on downtown streets.

The beautification project started with a slight bit of jealousy when project coordinator Bill Anderson admired flowers in Murphy.

“Murphy always has such beautiful flowers so I said, ‘We can do that in Andrews,’ ” Anderson said.

After discussing his idea with others, and amid a few naysayers due to the cost involved, Anderson suggested he could raise the needed money.

He set out to find people who would be willing to sponsor the beautification project. That was seven years ago, and it continues today.

“It was my job to get the sponsors,” he said proudly.

Businesses, civic organizations, churches and individuals wanted to add color to downtown Andrews as well and were more than willing to toss their money into the hat to make it happen.

Each of the poles that are holding the hanging baskets have the names of the sponsors attached via a small plaque in appreciation for their sponsorship. The Town of Andrews made the poles.

The cost to brighten up the town with eye-catching hues includes maintenance and watering five days per week.

“It just shows the generosity of the people who helped make it happen,” Anderson said.

Lynn Bogle and Avery Gardner were visiting from Jackson, Tenn., and noticed the baskets right away.

 “They are absolutely beautiful,” Bogle said. “It just shows that the town cares about what they look like.”

“They’re beautiful,” Gardner said.”We’ve seen a lot of the baskets driving through. It really makes the town feel homey. I like being able to see florals around The beautification project was done without having to take the money out of tax dollars thanks to 94 sponsors this year alone. In the past seven years, $96,000 has been raised to fund the flower baskets thanks to much generosity.

Nola Cooper, executive director of the Andrews Chamber of Commerce, summed it up by saying, “They’re absolutely gorgeous. It’s wonderful to be able to sit and look out
at them everyday. They make our town look so beautiful.”