Narrowsburg in Bloom

Posted 8/21/12

NARROWSBURG, NY — The Narrowsburg Beautification Group has won numerous awards through the Sullivan Renaissance (SR) beautification program including the $10,000 Silver Feather Award in 2015 and …

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Narrowsburg in Bloom

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NARROWSBURG, NY — The Narrowsburg Beautification Group has won numerous awards through the Sullivan Renaissance (SR) beautification program including the $10,000 Silver Feather Award in 2015 and the $25,000 Golden Feather Award in 2012. Jane Luchsinger pointed out that the group has been entering the SR contests every year since the first one in 2001.

This year the group has also entered the hamlet of Narrowsburg in a national beautification competition called America in Bloom (AIB), becoming the first SR-awarded group to do so, with SR agreeing to pick up the cost of the application fee.

Two judges from AIB, Douglass Airhart and Bruce Riggs, toured Narrowsburg and its many plantings on July 15, and visited the flowering back yard of resident Iris Helfeld for lunch.

Airhart and Riggs are judges for entries comprising fewer than 3,000 people. Other entities that could apply include colleges, business districts and other types of organizations.

Participants receive top overall awards in different size categories. Criteria considered in determining the winners are floral displays, landscaped areas, urban forestry, environmental awareness, heritage preservation, overall impression and community involvement. Individual awards are also given for each of those categories.

AIB also hands out two awards that include a payment of $1,500, one for a photograph and another for a YouTube video. Both will be shown at the symposium award ceremony, which will be held at the site of a previous participant, in this case in California.

From the organization’s website, “America in Bloom promotes nationwide beautification through education and community involvement by encouraging the use of flowers, plants, trees and other environmental and lifestyle enhancements.

“Participants experience better cooperation among municipal, commercial and residential sectors because everyone works toward a common goal. They enjoy visible results. Via the national symposium and awards, they have information and cultural exchanges with neighboring, national and international communities.”

Helfeld underscored the point. She said the efforts by the beautification group have spread throughout the hamlet, and more and more property owners are becoming involved in sprucing up their properties and helping to bring more beauty to the neighborhood.

The 2016 awards ceremony and symposium will be held from October 6 to 8 in Arroyo Grande, CA.

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