Sheri Ingles, Mayor Adam Stockford’s mother, painted two river barriers above the St. Joseph River on Union Street earlier this month. 

“I walk by the barriers every day,” Ingles said. “I just wanted to do something in my neighborhood.” 

Ingles said after she consulted with City Manager David Mackie and Director the Department of Public Services Jason Blake, she submitted a volunteer waiver and received permission to paint the barriers. 

“They were glad to approve them and it was such an easy process,” Ingles said.

Ingles painted the sun on one barrier and the moon on the other, which are near the coffee shop Rough Draft.

Ingles said she hopes to paint more barriers in the city and is waiting on the final clearance to paint the barriers on Oak Street in October.

“Hopefully some other groups will step up and do some, so everyone can be part of lifting up the community and making it look better and happy,” she said. 

Stockford said he enjoys seeing his mom’s art work, whether that be in her home or throughout the city. 

“She’s very artistic and just wants to beautify her community,” he said. 

Stockford said his mother owns Glass Act Studio, a repurposed glass studio. 

The studio is located at 3273 W. Carleton Road, and Ingles said she is just now getting it up and running.

“I’ll be teaching fused-glass classes there,” she said. “It’s a very fun process and, and I’m hoping to teach others because the fuse classes are something both children and adults can do.”

Heather Tritchka ’98 said she helped paint the river barriers throughout Hillsdale with St. Anthony’s church youth volunteers. She said she noticed it was time to repaint them but someone else did it before she could.

“I was very happy to see another community member jump in and clean them up and do some painting,” she said. “She did a great job.”

Senior Alexandra Gess said she walked by the barriers and thought they looked cool.

“It made me happy to see them,” she said. 

Ingles said she hopes her artwork on the river barriers makes people smile. 

“I am very thankful to the city for allowing me the opportunity,” Ingles said.