Start getting ready for this year's Communities in Bloom judging

Cold Creek is slated to be one of the sites visited by the Communities in Bloom Have a Safe & Happy Holiday judges later this month, so efforts are under way to get things spruced up, with the help of the Ontario Trillium Foundation grant that was announced in June. Joanne Duclos was flanked by Gordon and Judy Craig as they worked on the paint detail.

King Township received five blooms and an impressive 831 out of a possible 1,000 points in last year's Communities in Bloom competition. Local organizers are hoping for better things this year.

"I believe that we will be able to win our category," commented former Township councillor Steve Pellegrini, who is chairing the Communities in Bloom (CIB) committee in King this year.

"Not only has the Township of King initiated dozens of programs and policies to beautify our community while protecting our environment and natural and cultural heritage, we have inspired King Township's residents, community organizations and businesses to do likewise," he added. "Across the township, we have united to prepare for the CIB judges' visit. Everywhere you go, you can see the enthusiasm growing."

King last year competed at the national level, against 11 other municipalities in the same population class.

Have a Safe First place went to Parksville, British Columbia. This year, the township will be in the 13,001 to 20,000 population category, against White Rock, B.C.; Brooks, Alberta; Leduc, Alberta; Pembroke, Ontario; Miramichi, New Brunswick; Grand Falls - Windsor, Newfoundland and Labrador .

Judges will be arriving in King Aug. 7, and will spend part of that day and all of the next touring the township, departing earlier Aug. 9.

Communities in Bloom is a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental awareness and municipal beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program. Since 1995, communities have recognized numerous benefits from participating in the program: • Increased civic pride and community involvement. • Participation from all ages and walks of life.

• Citizens, groups,

organizations, business and

Safe & Happy municipal. • Government all mobilized and working together. • Year-round projects and continuous improvement for the entire community. • Information and cultural exchange within the community and with neighbouring, national and international communities. • Valuable information and feedback from the judges. • Decreased vandalism. • Economic development and increased property values. • Marketing and promotional opportunities. • Positive benefits for the tourism, hospitality and retail industries. • Improved quality of life.

The program consists of communities receiving information and being evaluated either provincially or nationally by a volunteer jury of professionals on the accomplishments of their entire community (municipal, private, corporate and institutional sectors, citizens) on eight key criteria - tidiness, environmental awareness, community involvement, natural and cultural heritage

Holiday conservation, urban forestry, landscaped areas, floral displays, and turf and ground cover areas.

There are plenty of ways for individuals, community groups and business to get involved in the local effort, including setting up window box planters, lush floral displays, planting trees, cleaning up a park or ravine, adopting a park, preserving the natural and cultural heritage, etc.

"It's all about beautifying spaces and enhancing the quality of life in King," Pellegrini stated. "Feel free to team up with other groups or businesses to fulfill your vision."