Tag: town

The Parking Lot

Jennifred Jones

Where I work we will be having a 50 year anniversary celebration. 1970 was the groundbreaking year for our public service building.

The parking lot, also being that old, had a big hole developing in the concrete-right as you pull in and drive out.

Several contractors were asked to come take a look and give an estimate but never showed up. A fellow citizen of the community saw the need and was having some concrete work done in his nearby garage.

Today when I pulled in the parking lot, up drove a cement mixer and three men. They quickly removed all the broken concrete pieces and within 15 minutes the sinking hole was filled, leveled and smoothed, and surrounded by the same citizen’s sawhorses to shield the work while it set up.

I went to thank him, and all he said was, ‘the men had to clean out the mixer, and I said, ‘we’re going to fill the hole in the parking lot’.”

It cost our business nothing; it didn’t really cost him anything except his time and effort, yet what he did will continue to spread good will among our small community.

He decided to make it his project. It made a great impact on our little town.

His action motivates me.

What can you do to benefit your city, your town, your neighborhood, your street, your yard, your home… to elevate morale and show care for others?

Be on the lookout. Then take action.

Draw Out the Talent in Our Youth

Jennifred Jones

This spring an old bridge was graffitized by some local students. Some people were up in arms over the situation, but I chose to see it from a different angle. Below is my letter to the editor posted in the Carroll County Comet July 2014:

Xenia Bridge: Vandalism versus Artwork

Let’s take a different perspective on the Xenia Bridge ‘vandalism’ episode. Why do we sometimes allow ourselves to get all up in arms over things like this?
No lives were hurt or lost, no trees were cut down, no fields were burned, no homes were broken into, no animals were stolen, and no one was stabbed, killed or robbed. All it was, was paint-artwork-on an old bridge that was probably rusty not that long ago. Who or what are we trying to protect; our kids and their future, an old bridge which has no life in it, or are we worried about what others might think if we don’t correct those kids? Was it truly malicious intent by the students, or are they like some the rest of us…looking for a way to make their mark on the world, to be noticed, to use their creative minds. Our kids are our best investment. They are tremendously talented. Some of these students are Class A art students and their work would make any parent proud!
Let’s choose some of our older buildings and walls around town and give our students a project—design and paint something unique and colorful on it that represents where they live and let them put their spin on it. Let them paint the town bright and colorful. Put their creative minds toward a good purpose and who knows, maybe our little towns will become a tourist attraction! “This town, this bridge, this wall was designed and painted by our kids, and that one was done by mine!”
by Jennifred Jones