Arts, crafts association gives back
Staff writer
There's something new downtown, and if you haven't seen them yet, look up.
In December the Hillsboro Arts & Crafts Association voted to purchase new banners for downtown. The banners went up in early January, and there have been positive comments so far.
With the renovation of the downtown area, Hillsboro put in new light poles, and the poles didn't accommodate the old banners. The banners either had to be cut down or custom made.
"It's a whole lot of 'welcome'," said Hillsboro Electric Department Superintendent Mike Duerksen. The city takes care of the banners for the association and puts them up during the year.
"The new banners are a lot smaller, and since they're not on every pole, they might not show as well," said Jane Long, Arts and Crafts Association member and co-chairman of the banner committee.
Long and Elva Suderman headed up the banner committee, working to find new banners and decorations for downtown
The old banners measured 30" by 60", and the new size is 24" by 49".
"Sometimes cutting them down would have detracted from the design or cut off lettering, so we had to get new ones," said Long.
The association, which has always purchased the banners for the city, bought 22 banners for the winter at a cost of almost $2,000. There are two other banners and a holiday decoration in addition to the new dark blue "welcome" banners.
The "flag" banner, which decorates downtown from May through July 4, has been resized. The Arts & Crafts fair banners were cut down as well and were ready and up for last year's fair. The wreaths that hung this past holiday season were a transition piece and will be replaced this year.
"I heard some comments that the old Christmas decorations were better than the wreaths we had this past year, but they were better than having no decoration at all," said Marcella Mohn, Arts & Crafts Fair assistant director. "As with the banners, the new light poles downtown wouldn't accommodate the old decorations. We will have new decorations for this holiday season, just what they will be is up to the committee."
The association has discussed the possibility of purchasing more banners to alternate with the dark blue banners, but as of yet no decision has been made.
The association also donated $1,500 to the summer theatre program. The money will be used for staffing, scripts, costumes and set.
"Without their donation, we wouldn't have a summer theatre program," said Lynn Just, program director.
The association's main purpose is to promote the appreciation of arts and crafts in the Hillsboro community and to sponsor the annual Arts & Crafts Fair. The association is a non-for-profit organization and continues to give back to the Hillsboro community every year
