Main Street Malone gets floral finery

pMALONE — A team of workers and clients from Citizen Advocates took time out of their Wednesday to help spruce up Main Street./ppThe 15 workers and volunteers placed 12 self-watering planters with flowers outside storefronts on East Main Street, taking advantage of a clear, sunny day./ppCitizen Advocates intends to install six more hanging pots from store fronts in the next week to contribute to the revitalization of downtown Malone./ppDonna Reyome, a worker for Citizen Advocates, said the planters are “a great idea.”/pp“We can always do with some color down here,” said Reyome. “Color on Main Street is wonderful.” /ppVillage Mayor Joe Riccio joined the planting team; he said it’s good for Citizen Advocates to give back and to be active and take pride in the community. /pp“It shows a source of pride not only for the people who work here but the people we support,” said Riccio, who also works as communications and government affairs director for Citizen Advocates. /ppRiccio extended his appreciation for the help the group had received from East Main Street Post Office and the laundromat, calling the beautification project “a group effort.” /ppCitizen Advocates will be out again today, placing more pots along East Main Street, from the post office to the laundromat. /ppIn May, Riccio had stated that Malone is “a resilient community,” with the potential to experience the revitalization that other local communities — such as Saranac Lake and Plattsburgh — are currently going through. /ppOther organizations, such as the Malone Revitalization Foundation, the Chamber of Commerce, the Malone Complete Streets Committee and the Foothills Arts Society have since launched a two-year plan to help add to the community’s aesthetic by adding more flower beds to the areas flanking the benches in Arsenal Green Park, painting the fountain in Veterans Park and installing public art such as sculptures and possibly murals on local buildings./ppOther local stores can be seen getting involved by including their own foliage in the display, adding their own “touch of love” to the street. /p