Bloomington committee seeks nominees for beautification awards

Bloomington City Hall
Bloomington is accepting nominations for its annual beautification awards until June 23. (WJBC file photo)

By WJBC Staff

BLOOMINGTON – The City of Bloomington Citizens’ Beautification Committee has opened nominations for the city’s annual Beautification Awards.

Nominations will be taken for residential and non-residential properties within Bloomington city limits through June 23.

“For nearly 30 years the City of Bloomington has recognized individuals, businesses and organizations that go above and beyond the call to enhance and beautify the appearance of the city,” says Robin VanDermay, Citizens’ Beautification Committee Chairperson. “Each year we are surprised by the number of excellent nominees, and I expect 2017 to be no different.”

In an average year, the Citizens’ Beautification Committee collects about 70 nominations and from those gives 10-12 awards from all geographical areas of the City. Winners will be announced and given awards at a late summer Bloomington City Council meeting.

“From a small home with simple, but tasteful, landscaping to a large home with a professionally manicured lawn, we always have wonderful diversity in nominations and winners,” said VanDermay. “The Beautification Awards showcase the very best of our great city.”

Nominations are being accepted at www.cityblm.org.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…