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Rockton competes in beauty contest
By Hillary Wundrow
Daily News staff writer
ROCKTON - “The more people that participate the better our region is going to look.”
That's what LaVonne Brown said about the 2007 America in Bloom contest. Rockton residents Brown and Jan Herbert are leading up an effort to beautify Rockton and encourage other communities to enter in the national contest.
America in Bloom is a non-profit organization committed to promoting nationwide beautification programs. Every year the group awards communities for using flowers, plants, trees and other environmental and lifestyle enhancements to better serve their communities. Since 2001, America in Bloom helped more than 130 communities improve.
In 2005, Rockford won the contest for a community of its size. Because of Rockford's efforts, the city was chosen to host this year's awards ceremony on Sept. 30 at the Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center. America in Bloom organizers will be in Rockford Sept. 27 - 30 to host educational events and tours.
“We really want to increase participation in the region. If the awards were held somewhere else, attendees would have to pay airfare. With the awards ceremony and symposium held in Rockford, anyone from the surrounding communities can participate,” Brown said.
Committee member Jan Herbert said Rockton has a good chance at winning the contest. Herbert hopes to fill the 94 feet of window boxes in Rockton's downtown with flowering plants and unify the look of the village.
“We hope to bring some cohesiveness to the community look. Some times when you look at downtown you see a heritage building next to a neon one,” Herbert said. “Maybe with beautification efforts, it will blend together more.”
America in Bloom judges look at eight categories of beautification including floral displays, environmental awareness, landscaped areas, tidiness, urban forestry, heritage preservation, turf and ground covers and community involvement.
Rockton will shine, Brown said, in the heritage category with the Macktown Living History site and historic limestone homes.
Sonoco, an environmentally friendly company, recycles cardboard and paper. The new “green” Wal-Mart set to open in March, includes new energy efficient heating and cooling systems.
Brown also expects the village to score high on its river front and new gazebo.
Herbert and Brown have already received the go ahead from the Rockton Village Board for the application fee. The two women are busy filling out the necessary paperwork to participate in the contest.
The great part of America in Bloom, according to Rockton Mayor Dale Adams, is that the judges come and stay for three nights and two days in the various locations. The judges will then give critiques on the look and feel of the community and give local officials detailed action plans for improving it.
Beautifying communities can be a boost for economic development, according to Ruth Miller, program director for the City of Gardens in Rockford.
“We don't have a lot of opportunities where lot of people can work together on one goal. Sometimes we miss what's in our own backyard. We don't see all the positives and the true beauty that our region has to offer,” Miller said.
Miller said she hopes Beloit will get involved with the contest because of all it has done to revive its river front and downtown. Winning the competition allows communities to receive local, state and national attention. Such awards, Miller said, can be used in economic development and planning efforts.
The contest is also an opportunity to bring people together. With so many different categories, the young and old as well as church, youth and civic groups can partner together.
“It an be as simple as planting a tree or organizing a community cleanup,” Miller said.
To volunteer call Brown at (815)624-0934. For more information, go to www.americainbloom.org.
That's what LaVonne Brown said about the 2007 America in Bloom contest. Rockton residents Brown and Jan Herbert are leading up an effort to beautify Rockton and encourage other communities to enter in the national contest.
America in Bloom is a non-profit organization committed to promoting nationwide beautification programs. Every year the group awards communities for using flowers, plants, trees and other environmental and lifestyle enhancements to better serve their communities. Since 2001, America in Bloom helped more than 130 communities improve.
In 2005, Rockford won the contest for a community of its size. Because of Rockford's efforts, the city was chosen to host this year's awards ceremony on Sept. 30 at the Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center. America in Bloom organizers will be in Rockford Sept. 27 - 30 to host educational events and tours.
“We really want to increase participation in the region. If the awards were held somewhere else, attendees would have to pay airfare. With the awards ceremony and symposium held in Rockford, anyone from the surrounding communities can participate,” Brown said.
Committee member Jan Herbert said Rockton has a good chance at winning the contest. Herbert hopes to fill the 94 feet of window boxes in Rockton's downtown with flowering plants and unify the look of the village.
“We hope to bring some cohesiveness to the community look. Some times when you look at downtown you see a heritage building next to a neon one,” Herbert said. “Maybe with beautification efforts, it will blend together more.”
America in Bloom judges look at eight categories of beautification including floral displays, environmental awareness, landscaped areas, tidiness, urban forestry, heritage preservation, turf and ground covers and community involvement.
Rockton will shine, Brown said, in the heritage category with the Macktown Living History site and historic limestone homes.
Sonoco, an environmentally friendly company, recycles cardboard and paper. The new “green” Wal-Mart set to open in March, includes new energy efficient heating and cooling systems.
Brown also expects the village to score high on its river front and new gazebo.
Herbert and Brown have already received the go ahead from the Rockton Village Board for the application fee. The two women are busy filling out the necessary paperwork to participate in the contest.
The great part of America in Bloom, according to Rockton Mayor Dale Adams, is that the judges come and stay for three nights and two days in the various locations. The judges will then give critiques on the look and feel of the community and give local officials detailed action plans for improving it.
Beautifying communities can be a boost for economic development, according to Ruth Miller, program director for the City of Gardens in Rockford.
“We don't have a lot of opportunities where lot of people can work together on one goal. Sometimes we miss what's in our own backyard. We don't see all the positives and the true beauty that our region has to offer,” Miller said.
Miller said she hopes Beloit will get involved with the contest because of all it has done to revive its river front and downtown. Winning the competition allows communities to receive local, state and national attention. Such awards, Miller said, can be used in economic development and planning efforts.
The contest is also an opportunity to bring people together. With so many different categories, the young and old as well as church, youth and civic groups can partner together.
“It an be as simple as planting a tree or organizing a community cleanup,” Miller said.
To volunteer call Brown at (815)624-0934. For more information, go to www.americainbloom.org.
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