By Owen George: Trees Asheboro Board Member

The summer of 2008 will go down in Trees Asheboro history as a time of growth, maturity – and fun. Over the last few weeks, TA programs have been an amazing catalyst for new friendships, growing community awareness, teaching and learning. We started the summer with an exciting project to create colorful public murals with our young friends at the Central Boys and Girls Club. Funded by a grant from the Randolph Arts Guild, the project has been completed and the results are outstanding. Visitors to the Boys and Girls Club are now greeted by a sidewalk mural of a colorful fantasy city – a big red heart at its center.

A second mural is painted on a 40 feet long section of retaining wall located on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Formerly tagged by gang graffiti, the mural inspires passersby with the message Change Your Thoughts Change Our World, Your Decisions Determine Your Future.

Thanks go to Project Director Robin Breedlove and Creative Directors Cori Cagle and Vikki Luther. Most of all, let’s congratulate the Boys and Girls Club kids for their discipline and hard work!

Another summer TA program was Green Day, a day of environmental learning, mulching and weeding at the Central Boys Club.

Thanks go to TA board member Mary Helen Ferguson who taught the kids about soil testing, and volunteers Linda Gunter and Donna Miller who helped out in our community garden.

Mulch was donated by Gold Hill Landscape Supply. Total Land Care made it all happen by providing the transportation and the strong back.

Again, thanks to all of you who help make Trees Asheboro possible!