Members of the Magnolia Fire Department saved lives on Main Street on Wednesday, August 12, 2015, but it was not in response to the typical emergency call.
Firefighters Mark Hudgins and Hayden Collier offered lifesaving water to the miniature crepe myrtles and juniper in the landscaping plots planted by Making Magnolia Blossom at the organization’s October 2014 Big Splash Saturday kickoff event.
Kelsey Urgo of Making Magnolia Blossom (MMB) was as relieved to see the firemen step up to help the community by saving these right-of-way landscaping plots as the plants themselves. Urgo headed up this landscaping initiative for MMB, and had gotten input and assistance from the Magnolia Master Gardeners, Donna Pittman, and others.
“All the volunteers that came out in October worked so hard to make Main Street a more beautiful place. The firefighters were more than happy to come out to make sure these plants didn’t die, but it’s only a temporary solution,” said Urgo. “We hope that going forward, the work that has been established on our volunteer days doesn’t come undone; and that we can work together in honor of our community and keep Magnolia looking great on a daily basis.”
The October Big Splash also highlighted the painting of two Main Street historical buildings, curb painting, lot clearing, mowing, weedeating, and other completed projects tackled by more than 500 Magnolia citizens and Southern Arkansas University students, faculty and staff. The fall event was followed up by a Big Splash Spring Edition, which focused volunteer efforts towards downtown and included the refurbishing of the 1940’s style service station at the corner of Pine and Main.
Making Magnolia Blossom hosts Second Saturday every month at various sites throughout the community. September 12 will focus on CCAPS. In lieu of a Second Saturday cleanup in August, MMB will host an SAU Campus Cleanup starting at 8 a.m. on August 19. The Second Annual Big Splash Saturday will be held October 24. Please contact Deana Taylor at dltaylor@saumag.edu or 870-235-4922 for more information on all of the events, and check magnoliablossom.org for updates and volunteer registration information.
