Castle Country Radio was able to sit down with Mayor Lenise Peterman to talk about the happenings taking place in Helper. She came in to discuss phase six of the river restoration and the return of Helper’s First Friday events.

The city recently received funding for the final phase of the river restoration they had been looking for funds to help with this phase for about two years. “What we needed which was $2.2 million to address phase six, which is our most ambitious phase. What that will entail is the removal of an obsolete dam, it’s a 12-foot dam and we’ll implement some graded drops that will allow for both fish and human passage, which today you can’t do. Then we’re really looking at the Gigliotti’s Pond area and wanting to revamp parking, restrooms, and make it a much nicer, recreational event where people can engage the river and get in at that point and tube all the way down to behind the Balance Rock,” stated Mayor Peterman. This is a big phase of work that will go into this, so individuals are urged to proceed with caution while the work is taking place.

First Friday events are back beginning on Friday, May 6. This month it’s all about having a community pot-luck dinner and planting flowers. “It’ll kick off at 5:00 pm going till about 8:00 pm, we’re going to host a community pot-luck in the Main Street Park. So grilling hot dogs and hamburgers – hot dogs provided by Cindy Curry, burgers provided by the city. We’re asking participants to bring chips, to bring condiments, to bring desserts to enjoy. We have plants that are going to be available in front of the Balance Rock and that via Ed and Lorne Callor’s little garden. We’re asking people to bring their shovels and to plant the pots along Main Street,” explained Mayor Peterman. This event is a great way to beautify Helper, plus get ready for another summer full of Helper First Fridays.

To stay informed on the happenings in Helper visit the city’s Facebook page.