The case for incremental improvement

It must be spring, because cleaning and renewal are on the brain.

I'm looking at all the work that needs to be done in and around our home before we host a graduation party in six weeks. I also need to take down the snowflake decor in the New Rockford store window and replace it with something more "seasonally-appropriate."

I wish I had gotten that knack from my mother. She changes her décor every month, and the tables, archways and other areas of her home are always in season.

We renewed our commitment to the Carrington Garden Club's flower pot program. Soon there will be a beautiful hanging basket out in front of our Carrington office. I will also go to work planting the whiskey barrel pots out front, to get them ready for another growing season.

Meanwhile, city officials are reminding residents and property owners to "spruce up." In Carrington, door hangers are being hung on homes and businesses that are in violation of the city's junk ordinance. Similar efforts are underway in New Rockford, as public works staff identify things that need to go.

In the midst of all this, I've been scrolling through a presentation by Roger Brooks, a placemaking expert who travels around the country. He visits communities and gives them step-by-step advice on how to improve their town to make it more appealing to visitors and potential new residents. His style is "tough love," so it certainly isn't for everyone, but working with him has translated into results, particularly for towns in the "Rendezvous Region" of northeastern North Dakota.

I came across this spring-themed quote by American writer Anais Nin that fit perfectly into my mindset this week: "And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

Sometimes, to "remain tight in a bud" is to hang on to things that no longer serve us, or to feel powerless and allow our properties to slowly decline. Maybe it's financial, or maybe it's emotional. That old car in the yard might be the only thing left of grandpa, or perhaps the cost to renew the registration tabs is more than the budget allows right now.

Whatever the reason, "the risk it takes to blossom" might appear daunting. Yet, the time comes when we must take that step. Otherwise, a year will turn into 10. That car will still be parked in the same spot, and the elements will have deteriorated it much more.

Part of living in a community is taking pride in our surroundings, and working hard to ensure that visitors know we care. Therefore, the time to take that step is now.

If you had $100 to do anything you wanted to the exterior of your property, what would you do? How about $500, or $1,000?

Whatever your budget, identify one thing that bugs you and fix it. Buy a quart of paint and change the color of your front door. Call in that favor from your neighbor and have him trim those overgrown bushes or reattach those shutters that have come loose from the window frames.

Cleanup Week is coming soon, and it's a great opportunity to rid your property of things that are unsightly, unusable or underwhelming. The hand-me-down couch that's been in your basement or garage might need to go to its final resting place.

If you see your neighbor do something that makes their property look great, try it on your property. I'm not saying we should blatantly copy each other, rather coordinate and accentuate.

There are also small things businesses can do to make customers more welcome. Put a bench in front of your business' facade, facing the street. Add a sign to your store window that tells customers when you're open.

That's the basis of what Mr. Brooks teaches.

One thing we did right, according to Mr. Brooks' philosophy, is add LED lights around the perimeter of our store windows in New Rockford. I give Colleen Hagen all the credit for that. She purchased the lights for the firecrackers display and even helped me put them up.

We could improve by adding lights along our roof line as well, Mr. Brooks says. I think of the lights at Log Cabin. I stopped by to purchase fireworks and some holiday cheer right before the 4th of July last year, and I watched as Joe and Linda put them up. Those lights are now a welcome sight every time I approach town via the overpass at night.

Are you looking for something you can do with little money that will have a lasting impact on your property? Planting trees is one of the most cost-effective renewal efforts we can undertake.

We lost a huge personality in New Rockford about a month ago. David "Tubby" Bymoen was the biggest cheerleader for New Rockford I know. He had so much knowledge about the history of the community and had a vision for what he wanted to see change.

Now the New Rockford Golf Club has started a great renewal project in memory of Tubby Bymoen and Jeanette Buckmeier. The goal is to replace the hundreds of trees that were lost in the 2018 wind storm. Supporters are asked to donate a 10 ft. cathedral elm or contribute towards the purchase of a tree. Each tree costs $400, including planting fees and water bags.

Those cathedral elm trees grow fast, and they will last more than 90 years! Yes, they require annual pruning for the first 10 years, but that's a small effort to ensure nearly a century of enjoyment.