Note: America in Bloom judges will visit Bluffton July 19-20. To help viewers understand the Bloom judging process, each week on the Icon the Bluffton in Bloom committee will describe one of the "Bloom" categories. Questions can be emailed to BlufftonInBloom@gmail.com.

Two judges from America in Bloom will visit Bluffton on July 19-20 to evaluate our town. They will judge Bluffton on several categories.

Last week Urban Forestry was highlighted.  Another judging category is Celebrating Heritage, which is defined as:  “Recognition, designation, protection, commemoration, and celebration of historical, cultural, natural, agricultural, and industrial resources.”

How would you rank Bluffton on these Celebrating Heritage items?
• Historical society is active
• Archives, artifacts, cemetery records, and oral histories in place and properly stored
• Cemeteries, monuments, and/or plaques in place and well maintained
• Community heritage promoted through tours (guided or self), brochures, Smartphone apps, etc
• Parades, festivals, and other events commemorating a community’s heritage are held
• Volunteer participation in maintaining historical sites and structures

Last year was the first year that Bluffton participated in the America in Bloom program, earning three out of five possible blooms.

This year, Bluffton in Bloom has been created to make Bluffton a more welcoming village for our residents and neighbors through charitable contributions that benefit our heritage, gardens, parks, trees, clean environment, health and fitness, schools and businesses, ensuring future community vitality and prosperity.

Bluffton in Bloom Committee
Bloom committee members are Tom Schmidt, chair, Nancy Benroth, Denise Fett, Becky Ramey and Mark Simmons. Jesse Blackburn, village administrator, is the village liaison to the committee.

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