King getting ready to look its best for Communities in Bloom judges
By Bill Rea

King councillors were decked out in these new T-shirts recently as they proclaimed their support for the Township's participation at the national level in the Communities in Bloom competition. Mayor Margaret Black (third from left) is seen here with Councillors Steve Pellegrini, Peter Grandilli, Linda Pabst, Jane Underhill, Bill Cober and Jack Rupke.

Volunteers have been out all over the area, sprucing up King Township in anticipation of the arrival of judges in the Communities in Bloom competition.

Lynda Rogers, chair of the Communities in Bloom committee for King, stated the judges will be touring the township next Tuesday and Wednesday (Aug. 8 and 9).

I think we have a lot of wonderful things to show the judges," she declared.

This will be the second year that King has competed at the national level after winning the provincial competition in its population class in 2004. Last year, the Township earned four blooms and 986.75 out of a possible 1,000 points.

The local effort will be judged in eight criteria; tidiness, environmental awareness, community involvement, natural and cultural heritage conservation, tree and urban forest management, landscaped areas, floral displays and turf and ground covers.

Ruta Shupe, of the Nobleton and King City Horticultural Society, and King's Communities in bloom chair Lynda Rogers were out recently sprucing up some of the plantings in Nobleton. The Communities in Bloom judges will be in the area next week.

The judges are going to be David Urquhart from Fredericton and Edgar Toop from Edmonton. Rogers also said Urquhart will be delivering a talk Tuesday on woodlot management at Laskay Hall, starting at 3 p.m., and all are invited.

Rogers reported the community volunteer effort has shown plenty of strength over the last couple of weeks.

"We've had volunteers out on tidy Tuesdays and they've been doing a great job, but we can use more," she remarked.

She expects people to be out in force this weekend making final efforts to get things ready. She urged residents to pitch in any way they can, be it pulling out some weeds from their front lawns, tidying up their flower beds or just picking up whatever litter they find.

"I'd say the Communities in Bloom magic is working in the township," Rogers said.

She added King has a lot going for it heading into this year's competition. "I think we have a much stronger committee this year," she remarked.

One of the highlights of the event will be the Judges Community Showcase, set for next Wednesday at the Kettleby-Pottageville Lions Community Hall. It will run from 7 until 9 p.m. and Rogers said the winners of the garden competitions will be announced at that time. As well, there will be a series of display panels and materials outlining for the judges what has been accomplished in King over the last couple of years.

"There's going to be a very exciting King T-shirt fashion show, not to be missed," she declared.

For more information of King's effort in Communities in Bloom, contact Rogers at (905) 8594148, or the Township Parks, Recreation and Culture Department at (905) 859-0056.