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Frankenmuth News
Serving Frankenmuth Since 1906
Vol. 119 No. 45 In our 119th year!
Wednesday, May 14, 2025
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NEW CASS RIVER BANK SIGNAGE . . . is in the works through the Frankenmuth City Beautification Committee, as plans are made to replace the existing plywood "Willkommen" and "Peace on Earth" signs with aluminum-based materials. The Frankenmuth Community Foundation is helping fund this project, which is about $200,000. Show above is a computer-generated rendering of the proposed sign.
New riverbank signage branded for Frankenmuth
For seven decades, the Frankenmuth City Beautification Committee (CBC) has been a dedicated volunteer organization which has been the driving force behind the city’s picturesque charm.
Established in 1955 with a vision to strive for beauty in all things, the CBC has transformed the city into a year-round spectacle of color and festive cheer.
"From petunia-lined streets and welcoming entrance signs to a sea of American flags and dazzling holiday lights, the CBC’s impact is undeniable,” Frankenmuth Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Executive Director Dan Hopp said. “With the generous support of the DDA, the City of Frankenmuth, community businesses, and numerous resident donors, the committee ensures that Frankenmuth’s beauty flourishes in every season.”
The CBC’s history is rich with milestones. Wally Bronner, originator of Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland, was a charter member and fervent advocate for community, along with this wife Irene and his entire family and the Bronner Foundation. That foundation started the City Beautification Endowment Fund, securing the committee’s future.
Herb Keinath, Frankenmuth’s city manager in 1955, shared the vision to make the municipality a "beautiful city” and that vision has been carried through the years.
“We have been successful funding beautification efforts in Frankenmuth for nearly 60 years because the people who contribute like what we do,” CBC 2025 Endowment Fund Chair Debra Hardin said. “This endowment fund helps guard those special programs from future uncertainty regardless of economic hiccups, assuring that we keep the clean and beautiful Frankenmuth we value today.”
The committee’s dedication has earned over 90 awards, including major recognitions from Keep Michigan Beautiful, Inc. (KMB), a state initiative that celebrates community beautifications.
The CBC’s success hinges on community involvement. A dedicated board of 20 members, appointed by the mayor and Frankenmuth City Council, along with ex-officio members, guides the committee’s activities. Standing committees, including executive, nominating, fundraising and special events, landscape, and Christmas, ensure that every aspect of beautification is meticulously managed.
The committee’s annual budget of $100,000 with nearly $75,000 sourced from general donation, reflects the community’s commitment. Generous contributions from local businesses, families, foundations, and memorials are vital to the CBC’s mission.
This year, the CBC is embarking on a significant project: the replacement upgrade of the iconic “Willkommen sign on the Cass River’s south bank, near the Main Street Bridge and rock ramp.
“In honor of the 70th year of the CDC, it is the CBC’s turn to give back to the community by tackling a big project, the new riverbank Willkommen sign . . . “Peace of Earth,” CBC Chair Mary Galsterer said.
The current sign is made of plywood and attached to guide wires that are strung between telephone poles. The plywood letters are repaired every year with white paint and new wood when fallen. The letters also need to be adjusted after each wind storm due to wire swinging. .
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