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Benches approved for downtown Williams
Woodworkers and youth collaborate on community project

<br>Ryan Williams/WGCN<br>
Pictured left to right is Susan Tamulevich, Liz Minor, Brian Hart, Josh Hemanway, Tony Robertson and Rico Trujillo, Jr. Inspirations Inc., in collaboration with local woodworkers, plan to sell benches to local merchants as a fundraiser for the youth program.

<br>Ryan Williams/WGCN<br> Pictured left to right is Susan Tamulevich, Liz Minor, Brian Hart, Josh Hemanway, Tony Robertson and Rico Trujillo, Jr. Inspirations Inc., in collaboration with local woodworkers, plan to sell benches to local merchants as a fundraiser for the youth program.

WILLIAMS - With the help of Junior Inspirations Inc. and Williams-Grand Canyon Masonic Lodge No. 38, downtown Williams may soon have a lot more places to sit and people watch or just take in the view.

Junior Inspirations Inc., a subsidiary of Inspirations Inc., is a youth group part of whose mission is to create dialogue between adults and youth in and around Williams. The group is responsible for the "Windows of Inspiration" project, which has transformed the empty downstairs retail space at the Masonic Lodge into window art installations honoring area families and depicting Williams history.

Susan Tamulevich, Junior Inspirations adult leader, said the project is an effort to get the youth of Williams involved in the community.

"It came with the idea of working with the kids and the seniors together in town. And the businesses. I want to see people working together," she said. "What we're doing here is, we wanted to see the windows, instead of an empty building, we wanted to see this be created into something beautiful. Because, as the tourists come in they see the empty buildings and it just doesn't look good."

With the success of the windows project, Junior Inspirations has begun a new project designed to spruce up downtown Williams and raise funds for the group as well.

Local woodworkers Tony Robertson, Josh Hemanway and Brian Hart have designed benches made of Aspen that can be purchased and placed in front of downtown establishments, creating seating areas for tourists and residents alike.

Businesses can purchase a bench for a $400 tax-deductible donation. A portion of the money goes back to the bench makers to cover the cost of materials with the remainder of the money going to Junior Inspirations. Tamulevich said that two businesses have committed to purchase a bench.

Rico Trujillo, Junior Inspirations' public relations director, said the benches have been approved by the Williams Historical Committee.

"One of the commissioners said 'it's one of the best benches he's seen in a long time' and then I told him the story of who is doing it and he was really impressed," he said.

Danny Harness, the Masonic Lodge's Chairman of the Board of Trustees, said the lodge is enthusiastic about supporting Junior Inspirations' projects.

"The Masons voted unanimously at several meetings to support these young people and their adult leaders. Now we're planning a Christmas window display," he said. "The Masons chose this group over many others in town who do great work for the city because of the on hand, in person contact with the young people, who are the young leaders of Williams and the future."

Tamulevich said the new window display will be in place a week after Thanksgiving. She went on to say that the window displays and benches are community pride projects.

"What these projects have done is brought the youth together with the adults and the artists in town and it's just brought a real closeness for everyone and it's been beautiful," she said.

Trujillo said Junior Inspirations plans to continue the bench fundraiser and hopes to start a community garden project in the future.


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