Virtual presentations highlight local projects

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Since 1963, Perryville has participated in the annual Missouri Community Betterment Program, which highlights the hard work and dedication that individuals have poured into their communities across the state, winning multiple awards. In fact, the MCB website lists Albany, Caledonia, and Perryville as the three communities that have been participating throughout the existence of the yearly recognition. That participation coninued this year, despite a few changes. Under normal circumstances, the committee presents each of its projects in person to judges, often touring facilities related to each. This year, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented in-person presentations, moving the judging process online. This year’s projects — the downtown mural, the Hometown Heroes banner project, the Lucas & Friends all-inclusive playground, the Catalyst Center for Business and two youth projects involving the planting of a Liberty Tree and the production of cloth face-coverings to help slow the spread of the virus — were presented to judges under the title “Amazing and Historic” during a virtual meeting Tuesday at the Catalyst Center for Business. According to its website, the MCB “is designed to facilitate, promote and showcase meaningful community efforts and serve as a conduit to technical assistance.” As a part of this mission, each community that participates is asked to submit a series of projects that could be categorized as community betterment. The mural project was presented by Perry County Heritage Tourism director Trish Erzfeld, who told judges the idea for the project stemmed from the city’s lack of public art. “Other than a mural painted in 2002 by a local business, the city had no public art,” Erzfeld said. “None. In 2015, when the tourism office was created, it was something that was on our long-term strategic planning radar. This year, Erzfeld said, she felt it was time. Working with a budget of $6,000 and the cooperation of the City of Perryville, Erzfeld began searching for an artist and a building to serve as the site for the intended artwork. “It was a project that the City of Perryville and the Perry County Heritage Tourism wanted to partner together on,” Erzfeld said. “By collaborating we knew the time was right to begin bringing more art to Perryville.” The artist, Christine Brunk-Deshazo, the owner of Spectrum Graphic Studios in Murphysboro, Ill., and a member of an artist group known as the Wall Dogs, completed work on the mural — located on the South Main Street side of the Southeast Missouri Regional Planning building on East St. Joseph Street — in June. The Catalyst Center for Business, which served as the host for the virtual presentation, was also on the project list. Spearheaded by Perry County Economic Development director Scott Sattler, the Catalyst Center, located at 510 N. Main St. in Perryville, the Catalyst Center is intended to serve as a hub for small businesses and entrepreneurs who need resources, education and training to succeed. “Perry County is a county with historically low unemployment, which makes it hard to attract new industry,” Sattler said. “The Perry County Economic Development Authority has shifted its focus to concentrate on our current industry and entrepreneurship. The Catalyst Center for Business helped meet that need by creating a co-working space and a business incubator.” In addition to housing the Perry County EDA and Perry County Heritage Tourism offices, the Catalyst Center also offers meeting rooms, space for seminars and training, and four additional office spaces available for rent to small businesses which might need a professional space to operate or meet clients. The building, which was purchased and completely renovated by Buchheit, Inc., also houses the newly opened America’s Tractor Museum and a gift shop run by the Heritage Tourism department featuring items crafted by local artisans. The biggest — or at least most expensive project presented Tuesday was the Lucas & Friends Backyard Adventures all-inclusive playground. Plans for the playground began taking shape three years ago when local youth Lucas Fritsche noticed that not all of his friends were able to play on the same playground. Since that time, Lucas — with the aid of his mother, Jennifer Fritsche — has been able to raise more than $400,000 through various grants and donations for the playground, which will be located at Robert Miget Memorial Park on French Lane. Construction on the park began this spring. “Lucas & Friends will be Perryville’s first all-inclusive playground,” said Jennifer Fritsche. “This playground will be a place to interact and play, giving children and individuals with disabilities an opportunity to enjoy them selves without barriers or obstacles. The Perryville Area Chamber of Commerce’s contribution to this year’s list of projects was the Hometown Heroes banners displayed on the downtown square in Perryville. Originally intended to be part of the theme for the city’s annual Mayfest celebration — which was postponed and ultimately canceled as the county dealt with the pandemic — the 46 banners pay tribute to active duty military, in addition to saluting the various branches of service, first responders and local veterans service organizations. “Our military is a huge part of Perryville pride,” said Chamber director Jackie Wengert. “This project can be considered an extension of the many ways we recognize those who serve. This joins our Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial, our military museum and our Wall of Honor.” For the youth program portion of the presentation, Perry County 4-H youth development program associate Dianna Koenig presented a pair of projects led by local 4-H groups. The first project involved the planting of a Liberty Tree on the campus of Missouri‘s National Veterans Memorial. The project was spearheaded by Teen Council, which is co-sponsored by Perryville Chamber of Commerce Community Betterment Committee and Perry County 4-H. “This youth service learning project was planned to bring a piece of living history to the landscape at the memorial,” Koenig said. “It helps everyone visiting the memorial remember our founding fathers and the sacrifices they made.” The Liberty Tree is a Tulip Poplar that was bud-grafted from the last standing Revolutionary era Liberty Tree, under which the Declaration of Independence was read and America was born. These trees served as gathering places for American colonists fighting for their independence. According to Koenig, the Perry County 4-H Council wrote and received a grant for the tree, a plaque and a certificate of authenticity from the Missouri 4-H Foundation, in partnership with Crader Distributing and local STIHL dealers. The second project involved making cloth face coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19, particularly in the early day of the pandemic when PPE gear was limited. “When the local Perry County Memorial Hospital put out a Facebook message in March saying they needed face masks, the local 4-H Youth program and ‘Super Sewer’ volunteers swung into action,” Koenig said. “Through the spring and summer months, thousands of masks were made.” The group will find out how the judges rated their presentations next month during the 57th Annual MCB Conference and Recognition Event, which will also be held online.