By Beth Christian Broschart
The Parsons Advocate
DAVIS – Members of the New Davis Renaissance Group has been busy and one of its new projects is to put trash receptacles down the main street of Davis. Group members enlisted the assistance of the Kenneth “Honey” Rubenstein Center Cadets in making the trash receptacles. Member Alan Tomson said community partnerships are vital to getting things accomplished in the area.
“This is an example of how the community comes together. We had the Tucker Community Foundation provide the funding for the project, we had the Rubenstein Cadets actually construct the receptacles and overall, the project was managed by the volunteers that make up the Davis Renaissance Group,” Tomson said.
Members of the Davis Renaissance Group include Karen Peterson, April Welch and Cindy Robeson. Mary Anne Tomson and Cory Chase wrote the grant for funding the project.
“The grant was through the Tucker Community Foundation – we initially wanted to combine it with the high school art department and have them decorate the receptacles,” Chase said. “We haven’t gotten that far yet. It can still happen and we envision a season motif.”
Some of the other visions for the group include possible bike racks and benches.
Mary Anne Tomson said she feels one of the primary focuses of the group needs to be helping coordinate things that are happening in the community.
“We have a new planning commission designated in Davis,” she said. “We also have a BAD building committee that has been designated by the town council. I think there are some projects that will come out as a result of those that will be appropriate for the Renaissance Group.”
Chase said the group is working to get its ‘ducks in a row.’
Alan Tomson said from a planning prospective for the town of Davis, the group is using initiatives of people who have moved to Davis and people that have been life-long residents of Davis.
“We want to understand the culture and heritage of the area and have that reflect on the town as we go forward into the future,” Alan Tomson said.
Tucker Community Foundation Executive Director Rob Burns said TCF worked with the New Davis Renaissance Group to provide funding for this project as well as technical support.
“We can help a lot of non-profits by providing photocopying, business forms and advise when dealing with the IRS,” Burns said. “The Rubenstein Center helps with many projects and they helped us move our office. They are part of our community.”
“They had a blueprint for the trash receptacles,” Hamrick said. “Cadet Thorne was the foreman of this job and I turned them loose on this project – they did a great job.”
Cadet Thorne said while constructing the receptacles, he learned how to work with others.
“We enjoy doing projects for the community – doing anything we can do to help,” Cadet Thorne said. “I am learning a lot of woodworking skills I can use later. We have made trash receptacles, picnic tables, cabinets and dog houses.”