Catskill, New York
Latest News from America in Bloom
What's In This Issue?
Spotlight on Our Volunteers - AIB Judge Alex Pearl
Changing Weather & Climate Patterns - A Symposium Preview
Enter the YouTube Video Award Contest
More Vegetation = More Years on Your Life
Another Reason to Love Urban Greenspace: It Fights Crime
Spotlight on Our Volunteers - AIB Judge Alex Pearl

Periodically we will feature the volunteers that are the lifeblood of America in Bloom. It's only fitting that our first featured volunteer is Alex Pearl, since he's been around since Day 1. 

He's been on the board on the board of directors, served on various committees, and has been a long-time judge. 

Thank you, Alex, for your support and passion for AIB.

Changing Weather & Climate Patterns - A Symposium Preview

John Lindsey is a popular weatherman who has been forecasting weather for coastal California cities for over 25 years, writes a weekly column for a number of central California newspapers, and helps to make the complexities of weather forecasting understandable. 

At this year's AIB Symposium & Awards Program, October 6-8 in Arroyo Grande, California, John will share how weather is created, why it is important to understand current concerns about weather and climate, and, most importantly, what impacts weather will have on the environment and on communities. Learn more about John's presentation and other programming offered at this year's symposium.
Enter the YouTube Video Award Contest - Win $1,500

Record your community's involvement with America in Bloom. Any past or present AIB participant is eligible for the $1,500 cash award for the Best YouTube video. The deadline for entries is August 26. 

The top three finalists will be featured and the winner announced at the 2016 America in Bloom Symposium & Awards. You do not have to be present at the symposium to win. Good luck!
 
Last year's award winner was Castle Rock, Washington. To see their award-winning video - and previous year's winners - visit the AIB YouTube page. Learn more about the award.

Thank you to Neal Mast Greenhouses for sponsoring this award.
More Vegetation = More Years on Your Life
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Results from a new study confirms that living in areas with more vegetation is good for your health, especially for women. The study authors concluded that there was no threshold at which greater greenness was not associated with lower mortality rates. The main benefits were improved mental health, social connections, exercise, and lower air pollution. So get outside, play in the dirt, hug a tree.
Another Reason to Love Urban Greenspace: It Fights Crime
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There are plenty of reasons to like green spaces in cities: they're pretty, they catch stormwater runoff, they improve health. And now a new body of evidence is coming into focus on how urban nature affects crime. 

It appears that the way we take care of our trees, shrubs, and lawns makes a difference for the safety of the surrounding area. The field of research is still pretty young, but recent studies have found significant associations between green space maintenance and certain types of crime. Taken together, this research gives cities reasons to reassess policies about cleaning and greening vacant lots, developing parks, or catching stormwater in green installations.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
 
          
 
                     
                      
 
                
 
           
 
               
 
       
 
           
 
           
 
              
 
           
 
 
 
       
 
          
            
Thank You to Our Contributors
 
Katy Moss Warner
Jack Clasen
Evelyn Alemanni
Drew Becher
Charlie Hall
Marvin Miller
Edith Makra
John Manchester
Mark Broxon
Thank You to Our Raffle Ticket Contributors
Ball Calkins & Mason Day, Ball
Jason Adams
Ken Altman, Altman Plants
Lisa Ambrosio, Wenke Greenhouses
Dale Bachman, Bachman's
Bob Barnitz, Bob's Market & Greenhouses, Inc.
Terri Bates Cantwell, Bates Sons & Daughters
Kurt Becker, Dramm Corp
Steve Bennett, Riverbend Nurseries
Chris Bernacchi, Ball Seed Co
Fred N. Blackmore, Jr., Blackmore Company
Stephen Blacksmith, Ball Seed Company
Donald Bleeck, Suncoast Nursery
Cees Boonman, Ball Horticultural Company
Albert Bordine, Bordine Nursery
Rick Bradt, AMA Plastics
Fiona Brinks, Bordine's
Karen Brohl, Brohl's Flower Garden
Andrew Brown, Ball Seed Co
Ron Brum, Ball Seed
Elizabeth Bucari, Ball Horticultural Company
Marcelyn Buist Byl, Micandy Gardens
Lisa Campbell, Danville Gardens,
Nathan Campbell, Danville Gardens
Tom Clesen, Clesen Wholesale
Deborah Conterato, Ball Horticultural Company
Chad Corso, Corso Perennials
Chris Corwin, Ball Seed
Eileen Creque, Creque's Greenhouse
Mark De Jong, De Jong
Mike DeRee, Ball Seed Company
John Dole, North Carolina State University
Tim Duffin, Ball Horticultural
Max Epp Jr, Ball Seed
Vaughn Fletcher, Fletcher Consulting
Dave Foltz, Ivy Acres Inc
Todd Frauendorfer, Ball Horticultural Company
George Freas, Ball Seed Co.
Matt Freeman
Douglas Gortsema, Ball
Ray Greenstreet, Greenstreet Growers, Inc.
Lee Griesbach, Ball Horticultrual Company
Brett Guthrie, Bell Nursery USA LLC
Mona Haberer, Hortica
Charles Hall, Texas A&M University
Debbie Hamrick
Mike Heins, Illumitex
Shirley Herzlich, Ball Horticultural Company
Jason Hough, Ball Horticultural Company
Stephen Huber, McHutchison
David Jewell, Illumetex
Clayton Johnson, Ball Seed
Cathy Johnston, Tri State Foliage
Lela Kelly, Dosatron International,
James Kennedy, Ball Horticulture
Red Kennicott, Kennicott Brothers
Nathan King, Ball Seed
Janet Kister, Sunlet
Michael Klopmeyer, Darwin
Laura Kunkle and Michelle Gaston
Anne Leventry, PanAmerican Seed
Jerry Mahoney
John Manchester
Scott McAdam, McAdam's Landscaping
Thomas McElroy, Newton Greenhouses
Marvin Miller, Ball Horticultural Company
Lisa Minter-Bustin, Minter Country Gardens
Jim Mitchell, Mitchell's Nursery
Rick Ouding, Kalamazoo Specialty Plants
Claudio Pasian, Ohio State University
Cheryl Peters, JR Peters
Peter Scherzer, Ball Seed
Derek Schrof, Ball Seed
Thomas Smith, Four Star Greenhouse
Denise Snyder
David Steiner, Blackmore Company
Eugene Stickley, Ball Seed
Susie Stratton, Stratton
Abe VanWingerden, Metrolina Greenhouses, Inc
Mary Beth Wagner
Jim Wallitsch, Wallitsch Garden Center
Oliver Washington, Shore Acres Plant Farm
Jack Weatherford, Weatherford Farms
Wanda Weder, Highland Supply Corporation
Norm White, Whites
Bob Williams
David Williams, Williams Nursery
John Williams, Tagawa Greenhouse Enterprises, LLC
Joe Wojoiechowski, Wojo's Greenhouse
Ka Yeon Jeong
Craig Yoshida, Ball Seed Company

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Have a story to share? We would love to hear from you! Tell us about AIB activities in your community, or let us know about a community you have visited that should get involved with AIB. E-mail your story to Laura Kunkle, [email protected]