Beautiful.

That adjective describes the new set of lamppost banners that adorn downtown Alpena.

The Downtown Development Authority conducted a competition seeking artwork for the new banners and received 21 submissions. From that group, four final designs were chosen, including designs by Derek Bromund, Brooke Stevens, Sandra Neumann, and Makayla Grochowski.

DDA Executive Director Anne Gentry complimented all the artists who submitted work to the competition.

“Many talented artists call Alpena home,” she said.

The idea for the new banners was spot-on, and we congratulate Gentry and the DDA board for pulling off the project.

As evidenced by the work that was chosen, it surely does capture the magic and wonder of winter in Northeast Michigan.

If you haven’t seen the new banners yet, make sure you visit downtown soon and see them for yourselves.