With Christmas lights up and the trees lining downtown streets swathed in color and light, a final touch was being added Tuesday morning to downtown Selma’s preparation for Christmas &045;seasonal flowers in the sidewalk flower boxes.

According to Veleshia Adkins who was working with a crew on the south side of Water Avenue just west of Broad Street, flowers are replaced about three times a year &045; fall, winter and spring.

The service is provided to the city by Cahaba Center for Mental Health-Mental Retardation Services as part of a program that enables consumers of the mental health services provided by Cahaba center to engage in productive outside work year round.

With the consumers are staff members such as Adkins and others who are hired to round out the team of about 13 people.

In addition to the city of Selma, Adkins said that the crew has other clients, including the city of Orrville. There are also private clients such as Peoples Bank & Trust Co.

Adkins, who has been on staff at Cahaba center for five years, said that it’s a wonderful opportunity for Cahaba center consumers. &uot;They enjoy it,&uot; she said.