In a little more than a week, a group of concerned Ironton citizens will take to the streets and offer their time and muscle to make a difference in their community.

Friday, April 07, 2000

In a little more than a week, a group of concerned Ironton citizens will take to the streets and offer their time and muscle to make a difference in their community.

The project, a version of the annual Make a Difference Day, will put volunteers to work at various areas throughout the city. They will clean up debris, paint, rake, mow, whatever it takes to make their assigned area a pleasant place to be.

The project is the brainchild of former Ironton councilman Randy Lilly. Lilly decided that after all the negative news the city has received in the last year, a little spirit boost – and some old-fashioned elbow grease – were just what the community needed to start again.

So, he and a few of his friends and neighbors decided to pick one day for special community projects in the city – April 15.

And what started out as a little project has blossomed into something special. In addition to individual volunteers, many clubs, groups and businesses around the city have offered to participate.

Now, what started out as a small effort has become a pretty significant project.

And there is still time for you to be a part of it.

Any group or organization in the city or county that can gather a few volunteers to be a part of this city beautification project should call Lilly at 532-0010 to register.

If you have a specific area that you like to work on, mention that when you call.

Lilly and the many people who have already volunteered to be a part of this project should be commended. With this and many more such community events, Ironton will have some pretty impressive achievements to show the next company that considers relocating in this area.

This kind of community commitment and concern is exactly what potential employers are looking for when they are choosing a place to build for their future.

Maybe, if the response is impressive, this one-time project could become a yearly event. It would be a nice way to start spring, even after all our empty buildings are full.