Many ideas have been suggested to the appearance commission and the dream list is long too long for the county to implement. But the good news is that you, the readers, your neighbors, your clubs, your businesses and churches can play a very important role.

Many of you enhance your property with seasonal flowers and other plantings. Some businesses have landscaped. Groups have adopted a highway. New properties in Columbus have landscaped and used environmentally friendly lighting. All this is beginning to make an impact. Wouldnt it be so much better if all of us did our bit to enhance the beauty of our county?

Some more good news the appearance commission itself is working on several projects to improve the appearance of Polk County. Among these are: introducing an Adopt-A-Road or Block program; the Gateway project that would enhance Highway 108-176 with tree plantings (grant application pending for part of this project); suggesting ordinances to the county commissioners that would help. These are only three of the appearance commissions current efforts. But, there are so many others the commission would like to see implemented, for example, much needed kudzu control.

Are you interested? Check out the web page at www.beautifulfoothills.com. Attend the meeting held the first Tuesday of each month (except December) at 5:30 p.m. at the visitors center in Columbus. Call the appearance commission chair, Joe Cooper, at 828-894-2324, and talk over your ideas of what you think you can do.

The appearance commission knows that together, each helping in his or her own way, we can make Polk County ever more attractive. The vision: trees along our highways, gardens in small pockets of land, inviting streets and parking lots for shoppers, no litter, and no eyesores.