Tom Henihan
Express Staff
The woodshop at the Falher Friendship Corner is buzzing with activity in the midst of a new project, creating painted, wooden bees that will eventually hang from the lampposts along Falher’s Main Street.
Dolores Garand came up with the idea and brought it to the group at the Friendship Centre as a project to raise money leading up to the Honey Festival and to embellish and beautify Falher during the festivities.
“Dolores approached me with the concept and asked me if we would be interested in the project that and we said for sure and scooped it up, right Denis,” says rehabilitation worker Aimee Andresen, speaking to Denis Morin who is taking care of the wood cutting part of the process.
“There are also three clients that work in the workshop each week, usually doing their own projects, so those three clients will come in and do the painting and I will do the detail work.“
The initial target is to make ten bees but the Friendship Corner will keep going as long as there is a demand. The Friendship Corner is encouraging local businesses, farm families and other individuals in the Smoky River Region to purchase the bees.
“The committee has come up with a figure of $50 a bee but if people want to contribute more towards maintenance or replacing any that get damaged, that would be appreciated,” says Garand.
There are approximately two dozen lampposts on Main Street, Falher so there is plenty of opportunity to buy a bee for display. There is also the option for businesses or individuals to have their name inscribed on the foot of the bee.
Purchasing of a bee is also open to people who may want one to hang in the window of their business or for families to put in their yards.
The bees, which are all identical in design will be a semi-permanent fixture in Falher, going up for the 2016 Honey Festival, coming down when the Christmas lights go up and mounted again each spring.
The bees will be made to last with the image, painted on both sides, treated with a durable sealant to ensure they are well protected from the elements. So far, the materials required to make the bees have been donated to the project.
At its May council meeting, the town enthusiastically supported the project and agreed to do the hanging of the bees. In the off-season, the bees will be stored at the Friendship Corner.
Anyone interested in buying a bee for the downtown display or for their home or business contact Falher Friendship Corner at (780) 837-2007.