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  • Ed Roberson shows to Judge Jack Clausen the plan for the extensive restoration of the Old Town Cemetery and green space at Howard Memorial Presbyterian Church. Judge Billy Butterfield and guide Richard Andrews are looking on. (Courtesy photo)

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June 20, 2012

Tarboro in full bloom for visit from AIB judges

FOR THE DAILY SOUTHERNER John H. Walker

TARBORO — “Last night, the Mayor said Tarboro’s biggest asset was its people … and we’ve seen that the entire time we’ve been here,” explained America in Bloom (AIB) judge Billy Butterfield.

Butterfield, of Orlando, and fellow judge Jack Clasen, of Raleigh, took a brief lunch break Tuesday, joining members of the local AIB committee and community leaders on the back porch of the Blount-Bridgers House.

Earlier in the day the judges, who were scoring the community in six critera, went on a walking tour of the Historic district.

“The trees are excellent … the historic area is a real gem. There’s a lot of potential,” Clasen pointed out.

The community won’t learn if it has been selected until the AIB Symposium and Annual Awards, scheduled for Sept. 20-22 in Fayetteville, Ark.

“That’s what really makes it special,” Clasen said. “You have long time participants and you will have this year’s applicants and we will recognize those communities earning the designation.”

Clasen said judging is done based on the assets of a community and what it has done.

Tarboro was in bloom in every way early this week as the welcome mat was rolled out for the visiting judges from the national America In Bloom organization.  Following a carefully planned itinerary that was part on foot and part by chariot, guides Richard Andrews and Buddy Hooks led the judges through all parts of the town. The two-day visit brought to a close the competition and application process that included development of a community profile that addressed several criteria and finally the task of impressing the visiting judges enough for them to recommend Tarboro as an America In Bloom Community.

The competition is designed to help communities identify their assets and develop projects that will enhance them.

Both are Butterfield and Clasen are Master Gardeners and have backgrounds in urban planning, historic preservation and landscaping.  Communities are awarded points for meeting the America In Bloom criteria and receive national recognition from the efforts of the past several weeks.

“America In Bloom has provided a format for us to focus on ourselves, to identify things that make Tarboro special, and then to develop programs and projects to maintain and enhance them,” explained local committee member and architect, Richard Andrews. “Being recognized as an America In Bloom community will be yet another way we can boast our uniqueness, which is itself, a significant economic development tool.  This program absolutely shows a link between economic development and the appearance of Tarboro.“

This week, Tarboro was put up against towns of similar size on six criteria that opened up the entire community, the good and the bad, for the judges to find a common thread of community pride in how we care for our home town.  “As we drove the judges around on Monday and Tuesday, I tried to see through their eyes, because, frankly, sometimes, I take our town’s beauty for granted, forgetting the real value of a visitor’s first impression,” said committee member Buddy Hooks.  “Some of the questions they asked gave me clues to their impressions, particularly when one of the judges asked how we kept our streets so clean and how they went on and on about the new traffic circle on Main Street.”

According to Hooks, there were, however, some not-so-positive comments when they noticed an overgrown lawn in the historic district and trees and shrubs that had been chopped or over-trimmed in other parts of their tour.  

The judges looked for examples of community involvement as they toured the town. Also included in the criteria was evidence of environmental efforts, heritage preservation, urban forestry, landscaped areas and floral displays that aided in the judges’ overall impression. The itinerary included as many examples to showcase these as time permitted.

“The judges were very impressed when they were taken through the Blount-Bridgers Gardens,” said Jeni Filbrun, who leads the garden committee.  Filbrun explained how the community has taken a great deal of pride in this particular community focal point and that many new projects have evolved from the emphasis on this garden.  The Spring Garden Symposium is one very specific example.

Members of the steering committee included Shari Redhage, Sandra Redhage, Richard Andrews, Buddy Hooks, Candis Owens, Anne Boone Urquhart, Cheryl Gay, Carol Banks, Bob Filbrun, Sara Peveler, Barbara Campbell-Davis, Connie Sherrill, John Wooten, Pauline Nicolosi, Bobbi Martin and Betty Temple.



(Portions of this article were contributed by Buddy Hooks)

 

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Sports
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Lifestyles
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Events
  • Edgecombe Events May 24

    Edgecombe Events should be submitted by noon the day before publication. Items eligible include notices of local meetings and activities of non-profit organizations, clubs, schools and civic groups in the community. Information should be brief and typewritten, neatly printed or via e-mail. Questions? 823-3106 or e-mail: events@dailysoutherner.com. Leave  a daytime contact phone number.

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Our Community
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