Adopt A Street Spotlight "Shining Light 7th Day Ministry"

Shining Light Seventh-Day Ministry

The Beautification Committee feels it is important to praise individuals who put time and energy into making our town beautiful. The Beautification Committee would like to say a special THANK YOU to Shining Light 7th Day Ministry for their hard work and adoption of not only 1 but 3 streets. They even have plans to adopt 3 more in the very near futureThis team of dedicated individuals are so creative and have even created their own personalized safety vests to use while cleaning up their adopted streets.

Shining Light 7th Day Ministry, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!

Faith owner of eco ike has a mission "to encourage people to go green and take care of our small world." Her small organic tee company makes "green" tee's for "tots" using products that are made with 100% super-soft organic cotton, and then are hand screen printed with water-based inks. The water-base inks she uses are non toxic and lead free making them completely safe for your little one. Eco Ike goes well and beyond creating a product that is environmentally friendly by bringing "green" into the work environment. In keeping with their mission they utilizes recycled packaging and paper along with eco friendly cleaning supplies and give 5% of proceeds to environmental organizations.

Keep up to date with eco ike by visiting their blog http://ecoike.blogspot.com/

Business of the Month

City Beautification announces the Businesses of the Month July-October

October:Central Electric

6 National Hwy

September:Carniceria Dos Toros Meat Market

512 National Hwy

August: Joe Beans Coffee House

1420 National Highway

In the Lowe's Foods Shopping Center

July : A Cleaner World

801 Julian Ave

Congratulations Businesses!

Tuesday: Eco Chic Artist and Crafters

We get so "wrapped" up about the perfect gift to buy especially during the holiday months but do we ever stop and think about packaging and how it should be "Eco Chic" as well. Let me introduce you to Stacy from Fluffnfixings and Fluffnflowers. Pinch Garden Trio -- Amber

She uses materials found on construction sites and plastic grocery bags to create gift bags and mailers that are not only sturdy but a unique and creative form of recycling. 8.5x5.5 inch Fused Plastic Mailers

She also has another great shop dedicated to plants and seeds called Fluffnflowers. She uses organic principles when creating her product and even has these wonderful 'growing kits' that come with a fun recycled/upcycled container made from used glass.

Etched Glass Sunflower Garden

Broken China Business Card Holder - Blue Swirls

Tanya the artist behind Broken China Treasures transforms old pieces of china, such as plates, cups, and saucers into beautiful pieces of jewelry and trinkets. Tanya finds broken china at garage sales, auctions, antique stores, flea markets and from individuals who are looking for a place to discard their broken treasures. Old Country Roses Broken China Pendant/Necklace
She creates items such as earrings, pendents, and unique business card holders. She can even design custom orders out of a piece of china you have tragically broke and can't bear to part with. So if during the holiday season you break a dish don't throw it away...send it to Tanya so she can transform your trash into a treasure.
Oriental Rose Broken China Earrings

Tuesday: "Eco Chic Artist and Crafters" Recycled Ideas

Holly the artist behind Recycled Ideas transforms 100% post-consumer content such as used office paper, junk mail, and used envelopes into reusable paper that serves not only as a beautiful card but also paper that can be planted and grow flowers, herbs, and trees.Lavender Seeds
Holly collects seeds in the fall from plants she grows and embeds them right into the paper. Christmas Dove Tag
You may be wondering how you will transform the paper into a plant. Holly explains that all you have to do is wet the paper then cover it with a little bit of soil. Be sure to keep the paper damp, and it grows. So next time you are in need of a card check out Holly's Etsy Shop, Recycled Ideas and give someone more than just a piece of paper.

Call to local artist and Crafters: If you are a resident of Thomasville, NC or surrounding area we would love to see your recycled art and crafts. We want to see local efforts to keep Thomasville looking beautiful using creative measures. Please e-mail us at citybeautificationtville@gmail.com with your stories and ideas.

Picture taken from Craftzine

Not to discredit the article about plastic and paper bags from yesterday's post but here is a craft that you might find surprising and useful.

Fusing plastic bags is a unique way to transform waste into material you can reuse to create coasters like Marria and Amanda or to make very sturdy tote bags.

The possibilities are endless.Once the plastic bags are fused you can use a sewing machine to create a piece of usable art. The possibilities are endless. Check out the tutorial from ETSY LABS for full instructions.

Paper and Plastic are out Reusable is in

Do you come home from the store with loads of groceries and find yourself overloaded with plastic or paper bags? At first you may keep a few to reuse for packing a lunch or as a trash bag but after weekly and sometime daily visits to the store your bag collection can grow to enormous proportions, which may lead you to ball them up and throw them away.
Of course placing them in a trashcan, or better yet the recycling bin, is better than throwing them on the street but the impact of plastic and paper bags can be more of a threat than expected even if you are taking the proper precautions to keep them from littering the roadways.
According to a website, www.resuablebag.com, “Plastic bags don’t biodegrade, they photo-degrade—breaking down into smaller and smaller toxic bits contaminating soil and waterways and entering the food web that animals accidentally ingest.” There was once a debate that paper bags were better but according to reusable.com “it takes more than four times as much energy to manufacture a paper bag as it does to manufacture a plastic bag” and manufacturing of paper bags “generates 70% more air and 50 times more water pollutants than plastic bags.” To alleviate your worry regarding how your shopping habits effect the environment a new trend is hitting stores and shoppers. Now many stores are offering a choice other than paper or plastic by selling reusable bags around the cash registers.
This trend is present in several stores around Thomasville in hopes that shoppers will become trendsetters and join the reusable bag effort. If purchasing bags at your favorite store is not allotted in your weekly shopping budget there is an alternative - make your own. Making your own bags can is very simple and only requires a few t-shirts and glue.
First gather your supplies: old t-shirts or tank tops, fabric glue, and scissors. Turn the shirt inside out and glue the bottom of the shirt together. If you are using a tank top once the glue has dried your bag is ready to be used. Simply turn the shirt right side out. If you are using a t-shirt, cut off the sleeves once the glue dries and then cut a larger opening around the neck of the shirt creating handles. If you have access to a sewing machine, a simple stitch in place of the fabric glue will work as well. Get your kids involved by letting them decorate the bags with paint and gemstones. You can make enough bags for your weekly or daily shopping trips in less time than it will take you to figure out what to do with all of those plastic and paper bags.
Visit the City Beautification Committee’s blog at www.citybeautification.blogspot.com for more information and pictures on how to make a reusable t-shirt bag. Next time you visit the store and the cashier asks “paper or plastic?” answer; neither, I brought or better yet made my own.
Published in the Thomasville Times by Pam Baldwin

ETSY Tutorial

Tuesday: "Eco Chic Artist and Crafters"

Marissa and Amanda, the artists behind re:Vision Design, have a unique and creative talent to transform materials that would end up in the landfills into something chic. They create everything from coasters out of plastic bags to bowls out of old records. They are taking on the "go green" movement with style. Be sure to visit their shop on Etsy (a site dedicated to handmade goods) where their recycled and re purposed items are for sale.

If you are looking for a fun pair of earrings to wear out for the night or a "green" gift for a friend you will be surely find something in their shop.

Recycled Craft Friday: Paper Mache

To follow up with our "Eco Chic" artist from Tuesday and since it is Halloween I thought you might enjoy these pumpkins. These awesome pumpkins are made from paper mache (newspaper, water, and glue) and were created using a similar technique that Susan uses. Check out the website STOLLOWEEN for instructions on how to paper mache and create these festive decorations.via CraftZine

If you are local to Thomasville and have a craft for recycled Friday or create "Eco Chic" art or crafts please contact us by e-mail citybeautificationtville@gmail.com we would love to feature you.

Welcome to the first addition of “Eco Chic: Artists and Crafters” where every Tuesday we will meet an artist or crafter that takes items, that typically end up in the trash, and transforms them into a piece of usable art.With that said I would love to introduce you to Susan from Middleburg Folk Art Studio

Harvest Pumpkins

Susan, the artist behind Middleburg Folk Art Studio, creates gorgeous sculptures by making her own paper mache out of 100% recyclable newspaper and water. She feels that her art form insures "post consumer waste is not just being put back into a cardboard box, but into a sustainable piece of art, that in no way harmed the environment and/or any ones health in creating it or bringing into their environment."

Halloween Graveyard Ghost
Susan has a website http://www.middleburgfolkartstudio.com/ along with an Etsy Shop http://www.middleburg.etsy.com/ where you can view and purchase her art work. She has everything from wedding cake toppers to seasonal items for the holidays. Be sure to check out her shop and support an art form that reuses and protects the environment.

Blue Bird Wedding Cake Topper

Be sure to come back on Friday for a tutorial on Paper Mache!

Recycled Friday Craft: A "Spin" off the Typical Cork Board

Making a Cork board is a very practical way to reuse/recycle old wine corks and create a unique and usable piece of art.

There have been many tutorials to make a"Wine Cork Board" but this one has "spin". View Pam Baldwin's Blog Inspiration Turn Design for full details on how to make your own Wine Cork Board.

If you make this project or a project from previous "Recycled Craft Fridays" Please send your pictures to citybeautificationtville@gmail.com. We would love to see and post your creations.

Recyled Craft Fridays: T-Shirt Shopping Bags

Bringing your own bag to the store has become a popular trend. Most stores around Thomasville offer you to purchase your own reusable bags at the check out line. While buying grocery bags might not be in your budget you can easily make your own using an old t-shirt of tank top. Check out Martha Stewarts tutorial at her website for instructions

Click HERE

Also stay tuned for a news article regarding making your own bags in the Thomasville Times.

Everybody's Day 2008

Thomasville celebrated its 100th Everybody's day on Saturday Thank you to everyone who purchased a raffle ticket for our potted plant giveaway.






The beautification Committee gave away litter bags that had a pencil, several stickers, and brochures about keeping Thomasville clean.

Recycled Craft Fridays

There are so many things you can do with trash besides throw it away. Each Friday I am going post a craft or activity that takes trash and makes it useful again. This Friday we are making paper bag note cards. All you will need is:

A paper Bag from the grocery store

glue stick

white paper

decoration supplies (paint, glitter, etc.)

Step 1: Cut your paper bag into pieces measuring the size card you want to make. My pieces measured 9" x 6".2.Next fold each piece in half creating a card.

3. You will then need to cut white paper (this can be used paper from the office, junk mail, etc) slightly smaller than the paper bag size and glue using a glue stick to the inside of your paper bag card. My white paper measures 8.75"x5.75"

Once Dry the next step is to decorate the outside any way you would like. Make it into a birthday card or personalized stationery by monogramming it with your initials.

If you have a project idea or tutorial you created that incoprated recycyled materials please e-mail citybeautificationtville@gmail.com. We would love to feature local crafters on our blog.

August Business of the Month Joe Beans Coffee House

For the Month of August Joe Beans Coffee House located at 1420 National Highway Thomasville Crossing Shopping

Congratulations Joe Beans

Don’t throw your Money out the Window

Imagine driving down the road and holding a twenty dollar bill in your hand. You don’t need the money right now and don’t feel like waiting until you get home to put it away so you simply crack the window and toss the twenty dollars right out onto the street.
If this seems outlandish, it is, but this is exactly what people are doing every time they litter except the amount of money they are throwing away is far greater than twenty dollars.
Were you aware that if you are caught by a police officer in the act of littering it can cost you a maximum fine of $1,000? Below is a breakdown of the law regarding littering in NC, take the time to understand the consequences of littering and be prepared pay them if you break the littering law.
Littering under NC law is described as “disposal of waste (toxic or non biodegradable) upon any public property or private property not owned by the person.” If you are caught and it is your first offence you will be fined $100 and may be required to complete between four and twelve hours of community service. If within three years you are caught a second time littering you will be fined $200 and may be required to complete between eight and 24 hours of community service (NCDOT http://www.ncdot.org).
All of these consequences are associated with litter less than 15 pounds therefore if the weight of the litter increases the fine increases.
Before you think that littering is ok as long as a police officer is not looking, think again. The North Carolina DOT has put together a campaign called “Swat-A-Litterbug” and Thomasville’s Beautification Committee is putting this program into action. “Swat-A-Litterbug” is a program that is geared towards community involvement to catch and turn in individuals who litter. If you see an individual littering obtain the following information; the individuals NC License Plate number, Date, time, and location of the littering, and the litter you saw being disposed of. Once the information is turned in the individual whose name is registered under the license plate will receive a letter that indicates they or someone in their car was reported littering and be informed of the fines and consequences associated with the act.
To “Swat-a-Litterbug in Thomasville reports can be made by calling the office of Major Tim Driggers, Thomasville Police Department at 336-475-4263. Stop throwing your money out the window and join the campaign.

Yard of the Week

Here is a recap of the "Yard of the Weeks" beginning in May. These Thomasville residents work hard to keep their yards looking beautiful. Congratulations!

Week 1 May 5-9 ... Mike Leach ... 806 Carolina Ave.

Week 2 May 12-16...Emma King...701 Pennington Ave

Week 3 May 19-23...Jose and Bertha Rosles...621 Field St Week 4 May 26-30...Gary and Connie Hunt...605 E Sunrise Ave

Week 5 June 2-6...Lynn and Diane Myers..119 Timber Creek Ln

Week 6 June 9-13...Jerry and Judy Smith...108 Lakeshore Dr.

Week 7 June 16-20... Matthew and Dee Swanson...605 Pennington Ave.Week 8 June 23-27...Debbie Smith...301 Broad St.

Week 9 June 30-July 4...Buddy and Renee Gobble ...710 Dogwood Rd Week 10 July 7-11...Tommy Jenkins...16 Rotary Cir

Week 11 July 14-18...Hoyle and Betty Grubb...904 Blackstone Cir

Week 12..July 21-25 ... Richard and Pat Reddect... 616 Duke St.

What makes our City Beautiful?

What makes our city beautiful? Plants, trees, renovated historical buildings, updated parks, and litter free highways. Sure, these things contribute to the beauty of the city but as a resident of Thomasville you are what makes Thomasville Beautiful far and beyond the plants and trees.
Without devoted individuals Thomasville would not have the flowers, beautiful renovations, improved parks, and litter free roads. The effort to keep Thomasville beautiful is a group effort and Thomasville needs everyone to pitch in. You do not have to possess any special talent but only make small changes that ensure you are adding to Thomasville’s beauty, not subtracting.
Adding to Thomasville’s beauty can be as simple as keeping a trash bag in your car to avoid throwing it on the roadways or picking up trash you see on your walk around town. Enjoying the newly renovated Fair Grove Park and make sure it is kept free from litter.
What is in it for you? If knowing you have contributed to the beauty of Thomasville is not enough for you to take action think about it from an economic standpoint. For instance litter on the roadways not only looks horrible but also brings down the value of your home, slows down economic development, and can cost you money through ways of fines and higher taxes.
In Thomasville there are numerous ways to pitch in and beautify the city. For instance, adopt a street or spot which is a specific area or park in town and keep it free from litter. Nominate a “Yard of the Week” to praise those who are keeping their property beautiful. If you have participated in the past with adopt a street or spot, or would like to participate please contact the Beautification Committee at (336) 475-4219 or citybeautificationtville@gmail.com to update your information or get involved.
Get connected; keep our streets clean and our city beautiful. Keep up to date with the Beautification Committee’s efforts to continue making Thomasville Beautiful. Visit our website/blog http://citybeautification.blogspot.com/ with weekly updates, tips, and ways you can help. Written by Pam Dover, City Beautification Committee Member; Published in Thomasville Times

Business of the Month-July

A Cleaner World located at 801 Julian Ave. in Thomasville is recognized as Business of the Month for July by the Beautification Committee.