Upcoming Dedication on April 1st

Of all the things that the Pamela Darnell Memorial Fund has helped sponsor, the one that is easiest to watch coming along is the new boiling springs project. The original boiling springs, for which Boiling Springs, NC was named, had pretty much dried up many years ago, but was still trickling to some extent through an underground pipe to the lake on Gardner-Webb University's campus. There had been an old white gazebo sitting on top of it for about 40 years. Nothing special. The town and the university had been looking for a way to renovate this area for many years, and formally mark the location of the town's namesake.

At the same time, we had been looking for a spot on campus for something we could do like a fountain or small waterfall in Pamela's memory. Plans for the springs area were being developed by the university and the town and we were asked if we wanted to join in their effort. When the university first mentioned this possibility to us, we were slow to decide to do it, but we are very glad we did now. It will be beautiful. It will eventually be close to the center of campus based on the direction campus is growing, and very near the new student center when it is eventually built. (On the hill above the lake overlooking the fountain, we have been told.) It will be a pleasant and peaceful area to mark the original historic boiling springs for the town as well as the campus.

The area is in the process of being totally revamped and the spring brought above ground in a beautiful meandering flow to the lake. There are also many rocks, large and small, in the stream to provide the soothing sounds of little waterfalls along the way. There will be new landscaping, new lamp posts, new sidewalks with stone pavers leading to the area from both sides of campus. There will be places to sit and walk and meditate. From there you can see the lake and the fountain. That new fountain in the lake is such a beautiful sight to me every time I am there. It is so splashy, lively and fun... it suits Pam's personality so well!

There will be a ribbon cutting and dedication for the new springs project at 10 am Saturday, April 1st. Anyone who wants to come is more than welcome. Many of you who were involved in the fund or memorial service will be receiving an invitation, but it is not necessary to have one to attend, of course. It is open to the public. You are all welcome to come that day if you would like, or wait to see it sometime when it is more convenient for you to come in the future.

Gardner-Webb will be hosting a festival that day called Springs Alive, so there will be booths, music and games around campus for those who might be interested. The brief ceremony for the springs ribbon cutting will be early so people can have the rest of the day on their own for fun and games, if they desire. We would be honored to see some of you there that day to share in this special day of remembering Pamela.

Pamela loved this campus so much, and all the people connected, staff and fellow students alike. It is an honor to assist in this beautification project so this special area can be used much more that it has in the past. Pam had taken pictures of the springs area exactly one year ago, during her last month on campus, and of the little fountain that used to be in the lake. She often said she loved the lake, but it really needed a bigger fountain. Well, Miss Pamela, you did it for them. :-) Now everyone can enjoy the beauty and playfulness of it for many years to come. God bless you.

Betty Darnell