Lions brighten uptown Marlin streets

“We serve,” was the resounding message by John Armstrong. Thanks to his planning and coordinating, and the help of volunteers who showed up to help, the message was bright, loud and clear ... and very yellow! 

For the fourth time since last November, John Armstrong led Lions Club volunteers this time to the street curbs between the Falls County Courthouse and the Citizens Bank. With a truckload of buckets of paint, paint brushes, rollers, cloths, rakes, shovels, brooms, dustpan, and leaf blower, John Armstrong, David Lawson, Sheila Lawson, and Anthony Roppolo prepared to paint uptown Marlin curbs that should be yellow. 

Why yellow? Yellow curb painting follows the Texas Colored Curb Zones rules. A curb painted yellow means a car can be stopped only long enough to load or unload passengers - no longer than posted. Drivers are usually required to stay with their vehicle. 

It was not an easy but a rewarding task on Saturday, May 15. To prepare the curb for the paint application, Lions Ron Armstrong, Sheila Lawson, David Lawson and Anthony Roppolo first removed any organic material near the curb, scraped off any existing loose paint, and cleaned any oil spills. Any debris and loose material left was then swept and disposed properly. Then they applied the paint to the vertical and horizontal face of the curb with the roller or brush.

The yellow paint is water-based and only soap and water are needed to clean the roller and other painting tools used. At the end, the tools are cleaned and made ready for another round of painting to take place next month.

These Lions did not create a mural or fancy paint work as one sees on street crossings in larger cities, but it is yellow paint, it is painting, it is art. And, it brightens while marking street safety areas in Uptown Marlin streets. When the art comes in, it shows that residents really care about the community. 

Lions Club of Marlin invites residents to join the effort and fun painting yellow street curbs. Connect with  Lions Club of Marlin-Home on Facebook.