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America in Bloom judges in town next week

Written by Register Staff

Friday, 23 July 2010

Judges from the America in Bloom competition will visit Rising Sun on
July 29 and 30. ... Judges from the America in Bloom competition will visit Rising Sun on
July 29 and 30. Rising Sun is in its sixth year of competition in this
national program, and is one of 28 towns across America that is working
on local revitalization programs with the hopes of being named the best
blooming town in America.
Rising Sun is competing against McCall, Idaho; Greenwood Lake, N.Y.; and
Lewes, Del. in the 2,001 to 4,000 population category.
Judges are Diana Weiner and Leonard Perry.
Dr. Leonard Perry has served as an Extension Horticulture Specialist at
the University of Vermont for 29 years. In this role, Dr. Perry provides
information and programming to the industry of Vermont, region, and
North America. He holds an undergraduate degree in landscape design from
Auburn University, and both masters and doctorate degrees from Cornell
University.
Home gardeners in Vermont and surrounding areas know him from his
frequent television appearances, periodic radio interviews, and news
articles. As a professor, Dr. Perry has an active research program on
all aspects of perennial production and overwintering. Communities
across the U.S. have met him through his role as a judge for the America
in Bloom program. Dr. Perry has become known across North America for
his internet web site Perrys Perennial Pages - perrysperennials.com.
Perry said, Having never been to Rising Sun, Im most excited to have
the opportunity this summer as an America in Bloom judge to get an
in-depth tour of what my advance reading shows to be a lovely area. I
look forward to learning more about how the community has supported and
utilized arts as a medium in their economic renaissance. Congratulations
on being rated one of Americas top artistic communities!
Diana K. Weiner is a horticulture consultant and lectures to groups
around the country. She recently joined the staff of the Friends of High
School Park as the Restoration and Volunteer Manager for this 11-acre
native plant sanctuary in Elkins Park, Pa. She also coordinates the
volunteer program for and lives at Meadowbrook Farm, the historic estate
of philanthropist J. Liddon Pennock, in Abington Township, Pa.
For 16 years she served as the community horticulture educator and
Master Gardener coordinator through Cornell University for Cornell
Cooperative Extension of Orange County, N.Y.
Weiner remarked, I am very excited to visit four proud and caring towns
in four different regions of our country! I look forward to having the
special privilege of judging your town for America in Bloom.
Judges spend two days in each town and do extensive touring, have
interviews with municipal representatives, and meetings with community
volunteers. They evaluate eight criteria: Community involvement,
tidiness, environmental efforts, heritage preservation, urban forestry,
landscapes, floral displays, turf and groundcovers. These criteria are
examined across three sectors: Commercial, municipal, and residential.
Judges will prepare an extensive written evaluation offering
observations of exceptional practices and suggestions for improvements.
It is given to the community after awards are announced in October. Many
towns use these evaluations as a blueprint for further enhancements to
their quality of life and to support grant applications.
Rising Sun promotes its America in Bloom activities through the local
newspaper and also on their website, www.enjoyrisingsundowntown.com.
Rising Sun has earned a four-bloom rating, received special mention for
Landscaped Areas, Floral Displays, Community Involvement, and Heritage
Preservation. In addition, they have received a prestigious America in
Bloom national criteria award for Heritage Preservation.
To date, nearly 200 towns and cities from 38 states have participated in
the program and more than 20 million people have been touched by it.
Awards will be announced on Oct. 2, 2010 at AIBs National Symposium and
Awards, held this year in St. Louis, Mo.

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