Pay It Forward continues efforts

Corning's "Pay It Forward" group, which is working to improve and beautify the downtown, has slowed down a bit due to weather.

But efforts are under way to get back to work at 9 a.m. on March 31, with a meeting set for 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Coffee Club Bistro to finalize plans.

So far this group of community-minded volunteers has painted Daisy's Ice Cream, power washed sidewalks, cleaned all downtown business windows, and painted trim on a few buildings.

The group has also solicited the efforts of a Job Training Center crew which has painted several business fronts.

Much of the improvement effort has been made possible due to donations of paint and supplies from several local people and businesses, including Ace Hardware, the Exchange Club, Ruth and Bob Jones, Ed and Kathy Dietz, Cindy Kay, Dave Linnet, Corning Rentals, Tehama County Landfill, and anonymous donors.

"Ace Hardware donated 15 gallons of gray paint for our upcoming projects," said Lisa Rodriguez of Edward Jones, who voluntarily coordinates and leads the improvement efforts.

Pending projects include painting the building east of Rodgers Theatre and the vacant building next to Daisy's Ice Cream.

On the March 31 workday, anyone interested is encouraged to join the group in removing the faux brick on the former Italian restaurant on the 1300 block of Solano St. Rodriguez said some sanding will most likely be needed and perhaps some putty work in preparation for painting.

The group also has plans to decorate empty store fronts.

"All ideas are welcome," Rodriguez said. "Right now we are talking about a bookstore theme for decorating. The cheapest idea so far is to gather old flat sheets and dye them. We are asking anyone with old sheets to please donate them. So far, we have five bags of books. Some were donated by the Corning Library, Friends of Library, and possibly some from the schools."

The group still needs donations of accessories and furniture for the empty store fronts if anybody can spare some pieces.

During Earth Day weekend the group has plans to meet at 9 a.m. on April 21 at Linnet's Tires to pick up trash across town as they start off a campaign for all of Corning residents to pick up their trash.