Angie Cernovich, left, and Crystal Martin, right, pose in front of a winter planter. The planter project is intended to beautify the city in the winter months. [Facebook photo]

Angie Cernovich is on a mission to beautify downtown all year long.

The Winter Planter Project was created as a way to enhance the downtown area during the winter months, Cernovich said.

“In years past, the city has placed metal caps on the planters as a way to deter pedestrians from thinking the empty planters were trash cans,” she said.

Cernovich hopes the evergreen and birch arrangements in the planters will prevent that and encourage people to use trash cans instead.

“I care deeply for this town and service is my love language,” Cernovich said about why the beautification project is important to her. “Small projects and attention to detail can go a long way with the citizens and investing in the downtown can help attract customers to the shops.”

The planter on the corner of Tremont and Second streets near the historical museum is one of 33 winter planters scattered throughout the city. [Photo by TD Welch]

Assisting Cernovich with the project has been Sue Sagmoen, owner of Blooms by Heartfelt. The floral shop owner offered advice such as using artificial evergreens so they would not brown and become an eyesore while frozen in the planters all winter. She also generously provided supplies at a wholesale price, Cernovich said.

The project was funded by the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce from a fund in memory of Richard Schieler.

“I was told this gentleman loved downtown beautification projects,” she said.

Other donations of supplies came from Kewanee citizens. Many residents responded to a social media post Cernovich made months ago asking for donations of old Christmas trees.

“My father-in-law, Rick, was tasked with disassembling every tree,” she said. “This was probably the hardest job. Then a team of volunteers removed the dying summer flowers, secured the birch branches deep in the soil, finished the base with full strands of garland and added the evergreen branches for added texture from the donated Christmas trees.”

“We completed 30 city planters and three planters in front of Parkside Apartments for a total of 33. We are finished with the base, however, we hope to be able to add in red berries, red dogwood twigs, ribbon, magnolia leaves and pinecones. This variety of accents would really make these arrangements stand out,” Cernovich said.

Residents can still donate to the project by sending a check or donating in person at the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce office, located at 113 E. Second St.