Rock Shrimp Parade

We need you! The St. Marys EarthKeepers will be marching in the
upcoming October 3 Rock Shrimp Parade, and we're looking for a real
strong turnout so that we can show our town we're all still
passionate about living green. We'd like as many children to join us
as possible as well. We'll feature our marchers in the next issue of
St. Marys Magazine. Please let me know if you can join us. The parade
starts at 10:00 am but organizers require us to get there earlier
(9:15 latest). I look forward to hearing from you. Also, we need a
couple of people who would be willing to help place our recycling
containers early that morning.

Memory Garden

In January of 2009 it came to the EarthKeepers' attention that City Council intended to pave a large greenspace beside historic Oak Grove Cemetery in order to create a little-needed parking lot. In the process of this, more than 40 trees would be destroyed.

Summoning public support the EarthKeepers, through a letter-writing campaign and persuasive speeches, prevailed upon Council to abandon the plan. Instead we proposed the creation of a Memory Garden for all citizens – and Council agreed with the provision that it be built at absolutely no cost to the city. Thus began the search for help from the residents and businesses of St. Marys. Swiftly others leapt to offer assistance: advice, materials and expertise.

 

Due to the generously-donated services of our local media, a neighborhood greenhouse, landscapers, bricklayers, the gift of the gazebo from the EarthKeepers Chair and the considerable sweat of EarthKeepers' members, the Memory Garden was completed and formally dedicated by Mayor Rowland Eskridge on July 11^th, 2009.

 

The Memory Garden, with its spacious gazebo (wheelchair access/interior benches) and surrounding landscaping, now provides a place for our historic cemetery's pre or post-service gatherings, a lovely greenspace for our downtown area, and a peaceful oasis of rest and reflection for our citizens. Leading from the gazebo is a brick pathway upon which citizens are invited to have the names of loved ones (including beloved pets) inscribed upon the bricks. By August over 150 bricks had been inscribed and installed (and orders continue to pour in), creating a true "Tribute Pathway".

 

Total cost to the City – zero. The value to the citizens – immeasurable.