America in Bloom judges visit Coshocton
The America in Bloom judges visited Coshocton on Thursday, July 11, and Friday, July 12 to tour the city and assess improvements made over previous years. Here, Anne Cornell of the Pomerene Center discusses the improvements made to the PARK Hotel Lot, the many activities now available there for kids and youth adults, and the new root ball trees.
COSHOCTON – America in Bloom judges, Ed Hooker and Alex Pearl, were in Coshocton yesterday and today to assess the progress the city has made in regards to suggestions judges made last year.
The judges met with Jan Myers, Coshocton Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director; Amy Stockdale, Coshocton Chamber of Commerce executive director; and Dorothy Skowrunski, Coshocton Port Authority executive director at the Coshocton Convention and Visitors Bureau at 10 a.m. yesterday for an update of activities and events happening in Coshocton.
Myers began the meeting by talking to the judges about all Coshocton has to offer with our many festivals, which not only bring our community together, but bring tourists to our community. She touched briefly on the Apple Butter Festival, Hot Air Balloon Festival, Christmas Candlelighting, Canal Days, Dulcimer Days, Crow Homecoming, and a new festival that will premier in 2014 which will focus on our Native American Heritage. She also mentioned community organizations that have been in this area for many years including the Coshocton Community Band and the Coshocton Community Choir, our many attractions, Historic Roscoe Village, The Johnson Humrickhouse Museum, the Canal Boat, and the Wine Trail, as well as Ohio Chautauqua, which will be returning to Coshocton next week.
Stockdale updated the judges on the business growth in Coshocton, including Commonwealth Americana, located at Kiefer’s Florist.
“We’re really proud of Commonwealth Americana,” Stockdale said. “It’s been a really unique venue for our local artists.”
She also discussed the new Coshocton Cash Mob, which is a monthly event that encourages shoppers to spend at least $10 in a previously-chosen local business. Stockdale mentioned the many awards and recognitions that are awarded to prominent members of the community, such as the Coshoctonian award, Small Business of the Year award, and Employee of the Year award.
Skowrunski updated the America in Bloom judges on the economics and jobs in Coshocton, and drew special attention to the challenges and opportunities of the ATEX Pipeline.
“The oil and gas industry is on our doorstep, so it’s very important that we do this right,” she said.
The judges then traveled to the PARK Hotel Lot where they met Anne Cornell of the Pomerene Center for the Arts, who talked about the many activities happening at the PARK and also about the new root ball trees.
“We spent a lot of time physically working on this space, now we are working on energizing this space,” she said. “Without people, there is no energy in a community.”
Across the street at the Court House, the judges met Tim France and Deb Gaumer to discuss the court square layout and flowers. France updated them on the monuments in the court square and maintenance of the trees and flowers. France also talked about the community service program, which has been a success in the community for a lot of minor offenders.
Gaumer discussed the plant selection, growing, and maintaining the flowers in the court square. She also said the hanging baskets on Main Street have encouraged people to plant in hanging baskets in their own front yard.
“It stimulates community involvement in their private homes,” she said about the hanging baskets on Main Street. “It’s fun working with people. Planting no matter what is exciting to me. We’re proud of our city. We’re proud of our court house. It’s beautiful.”
The group then had lunch at Oscar Rose where Debra Wallace discussed the community tree program, removing dead trees and stumps, and pruning trees. Her goal is to start a tree commission.
“We are determined and we are making progress,” she said.
The judges toured Coshocton Thursday, July 11, and Friday, July 12 in order to rate our community with other similar communities in the nation. Keep reading The Beacon for further information on the America in Bloom judges’ decisions.
Category: Clubs & Organizations
