50+ Lifestyles

Welcome 2021 – Hilltop Campus Village is Looking Forward

The merchants of the Hilltop Campus Village want to give a big shout out to all of you that have supported them, not only on Small Business Saturday but throughout this past year.

On Small Business Saturday, the Hilltop promotions committee set up a booth, giving away shopping bags, maps and money vouchers. Sixteen local businesses participated in this Saturday event. Even with the pandemic, this event seemed quite successful.

Plans are underway to have another shopping day with vouchers and prizes sometime in the spring or summer… when we see the pandemic in the rearview mirror! Be sure to follow the Hilltop Campus Village website hilltopcampusvillage.org or Facebook @ Hilltop Campus Village for more details as they become available.

Some beautification projects took place last year. Two bright, colorful murals have been added to the sides of a couple of buildings. The first one, at 14th and Harrison, was done by Derek Colvin of Rock Island. The building on which it was painted is D’Allen Beauty Salon Suites.

Natalie Smith is the artist of the second one, at 1617 Harrison. This is on the side of the building that was once Mary Sue’s Cafe. The building is now home to the new business, Mighty Quinn’s LLC, an interior and exterior painting contractor.

The guidelines for the pieces were to reflect a theme of growth and rejuvenation. This theme was set by the Hilltop Business Association. They sponsored the competition. This competition was suggested by Kelly Wallace, the treasurer of the Hilltop Business Association and a local business owner herself, of The Estate Sale Shop located on Brady.

Art and color seem to bring people together and make for a nicer neighborhood, therefore there is a discussion of perhaps more murals with this same theme throughout the Hilltop Campus Village.

Landscaping has also started at the Hilltop Plaza Park on Harrison between 15th and 14th. More work will be done this spring.