Association members beautify their city

North Branch Beautification Association behind banners on Main Street, mural facelift, memorial benches and Holiday Festival

by Tesha M. Christensen

It was a late night, and Laura Scaramell and her daughter Christine Larson were having dinner at the County Market Cafe after a long day at the family business, Empire Insurance Group.

The duo was chatting about an article Larson had written detailing her community and business outlook as North Branch Chamber President.

“At the time, the community was reeling from the Great Recession – people were losing homes and jobs, and Main Street needed a boost. We thought a Beautification Association would bring a much needed positive light to the community,” recalled Scaramell.

The two started meeting with a few others at the County Market cafe to toss around ideas, and the non-profit North Branch Beautification Association was begun in 2012.

“From our very first meetings, our group has grown to a hundred members with projects that were once a vision that are now a reality,” remarked Scaramell.

BANNERS, FLOWERS AND MORE

The group’s first project was installing banners along Main Street. “We focused on this because we wanted to give Main Street a big boost,” explained Scaramell.  Phase Two was banners along “School Lane.” A child from each school designed those banners. “This increased the patriotism for our schools,” said Scaramell.

The Beautification Association has continued to maintain the banners, and is also behind the seasonal decorations on the city’s light poles. The Holiday LED lights and flower baskets are sponsored by families or businesses at $90 a basket. Another mainstay project for the organization is the placement of memorial benches around town.

The group also undertakes projects that are a one-time event. In the past, this has included a farmers’ market to raise funds for beautification projects, and restoring the Coke mural in town.

The facelift for the historic Coke mural was three years in the making. When motorists drive through downtown North Branch they now see a vibrant mural on the side of the Cutting Zone building (6355 Main St.) that pays homage to Coca-Cola’s past. Tony Stafki of Walls of Art LLC retouched the mural that had not been repainted since the 1990s. Generous donors Barb and Michael Nelson launched the project with a $1,800 donation, Coca-Cola added $1,000 and the Darrin Carlson family donated $200.

The group’s next big project is being headed up by Barb Swenson. The Beautification Association has obtained approval from the city, county and state to build a large-scale, strategic planting at the main four-way stop in North Branch at the northwest corner of Highways 61 and 95. 

“We will have a small pathway, flowers, trees and a bench,” stated Scaramell. “We are looking for financial donors for this project, and people to help on this committee.”

For the past two years, the association has organized a Christmas Festival in Central Park. In 2017, Linda Prince, an original member of the Beautification Association, was the Grand Marshal for the first Holiday Light Parade. The parade itself was organized by Linda Gustafson Solle.

“The festival has been a huge success with Tree Lighting Ceremony, food, Christmas shops, a Santa tent, a live nativity sponsored by the Main Street Church, s’more roasting bonfire with free s’mores provided by our organization, games, lit Christmas parade, caroling by Veritas Academy and musical entertainment,” said Scaramell. “The cost and time spent by the many volunteers to put on this event was absorbed by our organization as a way to say ‘thank you’ to the community that supports our endeavors.”

ASSOCIATION PARTNERS WITH CITY

While the Beautification Association is not part of the city, it maintains close ties and works with the city on planning projects. North Branch GIS/Planning Specialist Nate Sondrel serves on the Beautification Association Board. “Nate has been a great liaison for us when we plan projects,” remarked Scaramell. In addition, the city’s municipal utility, North Branch Water and Light, helps hang and/or dismantle banners, install the LED holiday lights winding up the lamp posts, and hang and water the flower baskets in the summer.

“Without them, these precious projects would never have been realized,” said Scaramell. “If you see someone from our municipal utility, please thank them!”

BEAUTY DRAWS RESIDENTS TO LIVE IN NORTH BRANCH

Over the years, the Beautification Association had heard many positive responses from the community and even found out about a delegation that had been touring the city that commented to city officials on the banners and baskets. 

“We have heard from new members who joined our organization that when they were looking for places to live, North Branch stood out because it looked like the people and businesses that lived here cared about the appearance of Main Street,” stated Scaramell. “They told us this was part of their decision to move here.”

WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE COMMON GOOD

Scaramell and Larson are delighted that their late-night talk blossomed into a vibrant and ambitious group that works together for the common good.

Scaramell had been part of a beautification association while living in Long Island, NY, and her two daughters had grown up volunteering for that and other organizations. Scaramell, and her husband Joe relocated to North Branch in 2000 when their two daughters were teenagers.

Christine has been President of the Beautification Association since the very beginning and Scaramell has retained the role of Vice President. “She has been a powerhouse of energy, ideas and leadership that I, as her mom am very proud of,” said Scaramell. “In addition, my husband Joe is basically our ‘Operations Guy’ for lots of behind-the-scenes stuff. He checks the banners on the poles, does electric and lighting at our events, and in the past has cut down 600+ cornstalks for use along Main Street in the fall.”

Others contributing considerable time and passion to the beautification association include Lorie Pinsonneault (Treasurer), Barbara Boelk (Secretary), Linda Prince (Officer), Barb Swenson (Officer), and Nate Sondrol (Officer).

It is these people that she works with and “the positivity of taking our paintbrush and rendering our city a more beautiful place to live and work” that drives Scaramell.

The Beautification Association welcomes new members, and can be reached at BeautificationNB@gmail.com, 651-332-0779, or 6063 Main St; Suite A, Box 8 North Branch MN 55056.

“Come visit us in person at our membership meetings,” encourages Scaramell.

Printed in the 2018 North Branch Community Guide.