Arroyo Grande in Bloom




DATELINE - The Judges will be arriving on June 1st, 2008. This year's judges are Bruce Riggs of New Rochelle, New York and Pat Bones of Tulsa, Oklahoma! Welcome to Arroyo Grande in Bloom Arroyo Grande in Bloom (A.G.I.B.) seeks to organize individual residents, city employees, business organizations and civic groups in projects that beautify and improve the appearance the City. In addition to improving our community, completed projects will form our entry into a contest in which we will compete against similar sized cities for national recognition based upon eight categories: Tidiness Environmental Effort Community Involvement Heritage Urban Forestry Landscaped Areas Turf and Groundcovers Floral Displays Who sponsors Arroyo Grande in Bloom? The Arroyo Grande Village Improvement Association and the City of Arroyo Grande have sponsored Arroyo Grande’s entrance in the America in Bloom Contest for 2007. However long-term sponsors are needed and are welcome! Who should get involved? Arroyo Grande in Bloom is open to all individuals and groups that want make a difference and have a positive influence on the appearance and well being of the community. Potential groups include: · Service groups such as: · Kiwanis · Rotary · Lions · Optimists · Men’s and Women’s Clubs · Churches · Fraternal Organizations such as: · Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks · Knights of Columbus · Freemasons · Schools · Youth Organizations such as: · Girl Scouts · Boy Scouts · Campfire Use · Boys and Girls Club · 4-H · FFA · Business organizations such as: · Chamber of Commerce · Association of Realtors · Historic Societies In addition to making the City of Arroyo Grande a better place to live and work, communities who have participated in past America In Bloom competitions have experienced the following tangible benefits: · Increased levels of civic pride and community involvement · Cooperation among residents, organizations, businesses and the municipality · Everyone working toward a common goal: a better place to live, work, play, and visit · Visible results · Valuable information and feedback from judges · Increased property values · Increased economic development and a positive impact on the retail industry · Increased tourism and a positive impact on hospitality industry · Decreased vandalism · Information and cultural exchanges with neighboring, national, and international communities How can I find out more about the America in Bloom contest? You may find further detailed information at the America in Bloom website at www.americainbloom.org or contact any of the Board Members or Committee Chairs listed to the right. How does your Garden Grow? Are you trying to find the right types of plants that are well adapted to our area, are colorful and conserve water? If so,here is a list of plants that are well adapted to our local Mediterranean Climate. Plant List THANK YOU's Sincere thanks go to the following businesses and individuals for their contributions to Arroyo Grande in Bloom. Cherry Lane Nursery - flowers Central Coast Greenhouse Growers Association - flowers West Covina Wholesale Nurseries - trees Native Sons Ball Floraplant Clearwater Color Mary Giambalvo - flowers and mulch for frontage SpanGo Ron Kindig - flowers and mulch for frontage SpanGo Premier Color Ben Joy Nursery - trees Bob Lund - gifts for volunteers Jim and Anya Bergman - flowers for frontage Gils' liquors Howard Mankins - gifts for volunteers Vivian Krug - AG in Bloom website and hosting Rob Strong - flowers for Paulding Wall Bob Christianson - Christianson Chevrolet - for use of van to accomodate our judges Peggy Hoobery and Tom Goss - Burdine's - for supplying AGIB T-Shirts at cost BJ Isbell JJ's Market - sandwiches for volunteers tree planting Traffic Way Eclair Bakery - dessert for volunteers tree planting Traffic Way Village Improvement Association & the City of AG for sponsoring the AGIB team Men's Club of AG/FiveCities Greenheart Farms Ball Tagawa Growers Arroyo Grande in Bloom competed against the following cities in 2007: Forest Park, Ohio, Frankfort, Indiana, and, RedWing, Minnesota SEPTEMBER 29th, 2007 Arroyo Grande came in 2nd to Redwing, Minnesota. We received a special recognition for our "Community Involvement" and we received 3 blooms out of 5! Congratulations to the community of Redwing and thank you to all those who participated and supported Arroyo Grande in Bloom.	Heritage	Announcements, Meetings, News & Contacts Today is: It's Time to Get Involved!! ENTRY FORMS NOW AVAILABLE!! Gardens of Distinction - Click here for last years Winners and details to enter in 2008!!! ONE HOUR MAKEOVER!!! Read more......Click Here View of the Master Tree Plan for Traffic Way "On behalf of the Arroyo Grande City Council, I would like to commend our "Arroyo Grande in Bloom" citizen volunteers and coordinators. We are so very grateful for your enthusiasm, community spirit and dedication. The "America In Bloom" program is an opportunity to blend the positive efforts of both municipal government and our existing community based organizations to ensure that the beauty and charm of our wonderful city is enhanced and maintained now and into the future." Tony Ferrara, Mayor City of Arroyo Grande "Arroyo Grande in Bloom means a great deal from the policing perspective. A fundamental element of this coordinated effort is that it will create a community-wide team consisting of individuals, organizations, government and business. That's fantastic. It has been shown, time and again, that community based relationships are a winning element in the control and reduction of crime. I believe that one of the outcomes for "Arroyo Grande in Bloom" will be enhanced public safety and increased quality of life." Tony Aeilts, Chief of Police City of Arroyo Grande More quotes below How can I help? We are in the process of forming committees for this year’s contest entry and to establish a permanent organization for future years. Contact Us Arroyo Grande In Bloom Board of Directors Bob Lund - Program Coordinator - Co-Chair bob@lundsgift.com Jim Bergman - Co-Chair jbergman@arroyogrande.org Vivian Krug - Publicity / Webmaster - vivian@emotionscards.com Linda Shephard - Preparation of Information Manuals for Judges - lindashep@charter.net Arroyo Grande In Bloom Committee Chairs Ron Kindig - Landscaped Areas - ronkindig@charter.net Click here for informaton on the Landscaped Areas Team Jim Bergman - Tidiness - jbergman@arroyogrande.org Click here for information on the Tidiness Team Karen Franck - Floral Displays karenk@greenheartfarms.com Jane Line - Heritage - jline1111@aol.com Kristen Barneich - Urban Forestry - barneich@sbcglobal.net Bob Lund - Community Involvement - bob@lundsgift.com Marlene Robinson - Ways and Means Chair Caroyln Kelley - Environmental Chair Mary Giambavo - Environmental Committee Member
	Floral
	Community Involvement
	Environmental
	Tidiness Click Photograph for more info
	Landscaped Areas Click Photograph for more info
	Urban Forestry

I am very pleased to see that such a diverse and multi-interested group of City staff, business people, and community volunteers have joined together to better and beautify our community! 2 years ago the City embarked upon its' own program of community betterment with the reorganization of the City's code enforcement efforts into a new Division of the Building and Fire Department now known as Neighborhood Services. This Division has successfully facilitated improvement, along with Community Development, Police Department, Public Works, and Park and Rec, many of the reported instances of blight, unkempt properties, solid waste, derelict vehicles, illegal construction, etc. I'm sure the Neighborhood Services Division of the Department of Building and Fire will continue to work in common toward many of the same goals that AIB espouses. Terry Fibich, Retired Fire Chief City of Arroyo Grande		The community's involvement, pride and partnership with City government are what have led Arroyo Grande to be such a special place. "Arroyo Grande in Bloom" is one of the best examples of these qualities in action. It is exciting because it represents all sectors of our community working together to beautify our business and residential neighborhoods, celebrate our heritage, and protect our environment. On behalf of the City's staff, we greatly support and appreciate the efforts involved in "Arroyo Grande in Bloom", are committed to doing our part, and believe Arroyo Grande is very deserving of recognition potentially provided by the program. Steve Adams, City Manager City of Arroyo Grande