T-L Photo/SHELLEY HANSON LIFEGUARD Bailey Cianelli, 17, on Wednesday poses with one of the new art signs installed at the Martins Ferry swimming pool to replace old, worn paintings.

MARTINS FERRY — Along with the usual sprucing up of the city swimming pool this year, the facility also recently got some new artwork to brighten up window openings in the rear facade.

The new digital artwork perfectly fits the rectangular spots that dot the outside of the Rec Center exterior that faces the city’s 500,000-gallon swimming pool.

Jim Howard, member of the Martins Ferry Park Board District, said the signs were created by Martins Ferry High School art teacher Natalie Zambori and her digital art students, and also by Ultimate Signs and Graphics of Bridgeport.

The old painted artwork, though whimsical, was wearing away and peeling. It was created in 1996, Howard said. The art was signed by “Denhart.”

Mary Beth Yocum, who co-owns Ultimate Signs and Graphics with her husband Phil Yocum, said their signs were made by printing the artwork, including clipart, onto large stickers that were placed onto the corrugated plastic.

She noted the business does sometimes donate signage, but in this case it was ordered by the pool.

“We always give the city the family discount because we live in Martins Ferry,” Yocum said.

Yocum said for years they operated their sign business in the basement of their home on Broadway Street in Martins Ferry. However, after purchasing a flea market in Bridgeport they decided to move the business to that building.

The former Jack’s Flea Market was renamed NU-2-U flea market by the Yocums. Their sign shop is inside the same building.

“We never dreamed about buying a flea market, but the timing and price was right,” she said, adding they were friends with the previous owners.

Yocum said they also did some sign work for the Warren Township Pool before it opened for the summer.

“We did all the interior signs, the pool rules … “ she noted.

For the Yocums, seeing their sign, banner and lettering work in Martins Ferry and other communities is very satisfying.

“We love to see our artwork everywhere,” she said. “We’ve been working for 24 years; we get around.”

Zambori said her digital imaging students started working on the graphics during the school year, and then she finished the process this summer. Her method was similar to the sign company’s.

“We’re always wanting to show our work in the community and to be able to help out in any way we can,” Zambori said.

Some of the student-designed signs include artwork featuring a starfish, sunglasses, a beach scene, a crab, a beach ball and one that says “pool.”

Pool Manager Bobbi Howard is pleased with the finished products.

“It’s been a long time. It needed done,” she said.

In other pool news, a fundraiser is being planned to raise money to purchase a new diving board for the facility. On Aug. 21, a Cardboard Regatta will be held at the pool. This involves people building a two-person boat made with cardboard and duct tape. The race occurs in the pool. More details will be released on Monday, Jim Howard said.