Mahncke Park Neighborhood

217@110

Aug 09, 2004

It wasn?’t expected to be done in just a morning. But it was. On a cool, albeit humid,Saturday a group of friends got to work setting 217 tiles over a concrete retaining wall at 110 Wesley Place.

Marcia Dahlman had set her mind to building a tribute to beauty and her friends way before this day though. In May, she had the first of several tile-painting parties to which she invited friends to come and express themselves creatively. Each tile is a unique expression of the individual, from cats to dogs, from a pinto bean to a 6-tile abstract.

Joe L. Salazar, the president of America's Global Granites, the new, nicely landscaped business at 2600 Broadway, 226.9800, www.americasgranite.com, along with his assistant, Robert Yetmen, generously offered a mini-class in tile setting and a loan of materials, all for free. Friends took turns setting the tiles or spreading the backing. Eventually, before noon, Marcia herself set the last tile in place to a loud round of applause (see photo).

The results can only be described as another wonderful addition to our neighborhood.