“We’ve been working on this project since day one,” said Allen Perkowski, a member of the group’s executive board. Association members at the unveiling of the sign wore shirts with the group’s logo—FRANCA.

The spruced-up hamlet sign, which was moved approximately 50 feet east from its original location, is staked in the middle of a circle of stones adorned by annuals and shrubbery. The sign is located about an eighth of a mile from the Big Duck, a 20-foot concrete building shaped like a duck located in Flanders. The Big Duck is featured prominently on the sign.

The Town of Southampton gave FRANCA a $2,500 grant for the project. TR Grading and Charles Frankenbach, both landscapers, donated the fill. FRANCA President Michael Brewer thanked them and Supervisor Patrick Heaney, who attended the gathering, for his support and for making the grants available.

Mr. Heaney was happy to attend. “[The hamlet sign] is a reflection of [FRANCA’s] commitment and the pride they have for their community.” he said. “This group here is the ‘energizer bunny.’ I’m very proud that I have the opportunity to work on a number of issues important to them and get a chance to breathe life into their ideas.”

FRANCA beautification chairperson Rose Nigro, who painted much of the sign herself, explained the symbolism behind the sign’s color scheme: light gray is the color of driftwood, and the red represents cranberries—at one time a major industry in Flanders.

“The sign took a lot of planning and shopping around,” said Ms. Nigro.

Mr. Brewer explained that this was merely the first phase of a three-phase beautification project. “This is our first beautification project in the community,” he said. “There are more good things to come.”

For phase two, FRANCA will work on landscaping the intersection of Route 24 and 105. “We’d like to have hamlet signs on each side of the road welcoming people to Flanders and Riverside, to identify both the hamlets,” he said. They will also be working on another triangle in Riverside.