Yes, once again I’m using a sensational headline to get attention. I just got back to town last night after Spring Break in Florida (I got to go to a Twins’ Spring Training Game…more on that later) and so I’m behind schedule on a few things. Most importantly…the April Downtown Forum.

This Tuesday, April 1st at 8:00 a.m, in the Riverview Conference Room at the Archer House (212 Division Street), the Northfield “America in Bloom” Committee, a subcommittee of the Northfield Garden Club, will discuss the community’s participation in the 2008 American in Bloom (AIB) program. The Garden Club has entered Northfield in this annual competition and is working to get the entire community involved in this exciting opportunity for national recognition.

America in Bloom is an independent non-profit organization whose mission is to inspire community-wide beautification projects, thus improving the quality of life in towns and cities across the nation. Judges visit each participating community and rate the town on eight criteria, including the quality of floral and landscaped areas, turf and ground covers, overall tidiness and urban forestry. The group also makes note of heritage preservation, community involvement, and environmental awareness, as well as a favorite topic of the NDDC: on-going maintenance.

In addition to highlighting the existing efforts of local residents and business owners, as well as those of the city’s dedicated Garden Club, Northfield’s America In Bloom committee hopes to share information with the whole community and instill pride and energy in ongoing city-wide beautification efforts. New public and private projects are in the works to make Northfield more beautiful than ever in 2008!

The public is invited to attend the forum, which will include a presentation followed by a question and answer session. Topics will range from issues regarding civic engagement to the best types of flower boxes for historic buildings. And, as always, coffee and cookies will be served.