Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
HURLEY THIRD graders plant flowers on Silver Street Wednesday with the help of volunteers. Among those participating in the planting were, from left, Connor Saari, Iron County Sheriff's Department Lt. Paul Samardich, Kayla Pearson and Anmarie Allen.
HURLEY - Hurley's Silver Street looks a bit nicer after the area master gardeners and Hurley third graders planted flowers in the planting barrels along the street Wednesday.
The annual event has become a Hurley tradition that has been going on for roughly 16 years.
In fact, a number of interns with Iron County's University of Wisconsin Extension office are participating in their second Silver Street planting.
"Our summer interns remember doing this (when they were in third grade), so it's become quite a tradition," said Darrin Kimbler, the extension office's horticulturist.
Helping the students with the planting were a mix of master gardeners, parents and other local volunteers - including several from the the Iron County Sheriff's Department, Hurley Chamber of Commerce and Hurley Police Department.
One of those volunteers, Hurley Chamber of Commerce marketing and events coordinator Rita Franzoi, said the flowers were an excellent way to brighten up Silver Street.
"Obviously it brings a lot of vibrant colors to our downtown, it makes community look fresh and inviting," Franzoi said. She also thanked a number of local businesses that donated food to feed the kids following the planting.
"The community support is very important," she said.
Several of the students said they enjoyed the chance to get out of school and get their hands dirty.
"It was fun, it's not that hard," said third grader Tyler Saim, adding that while he does help with gardening at home, the project's ease makes it good for beginners, too.
