<span style="line-height: 1.5em;"><a href="https://mountainmedianews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2014/10/Lewisburg-in-Bloom-3254.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-7317" alt="Lewisburg in Bloom-3254" src="https://mountainmedianews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2014/10/Lewisburg-in-Bloom-3254-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a>Top honors for the prestigious 2015 America in Bloom national awards program were announced at the annual awards held in Holland, MI, on Sept. 26, and Lewisburg won for the 3,500-6,000 population category.</span> All participants were evaluated on six criteria: overall impression, environmental awareness, heritage preservation, urban forestry, landscape, and floral displays. Additionally, they were judged on their community involvement across municipal, residential, and commercial sectors. America in Bloom is the only national awards program that sends specially trained judges to personally visit participants. In addition, each participant receives a detailed written evaluation that can be used as a guide to future improvements. Lewisburg won the 3,500-6,000 population category with a four bloom rating out of a possible five. In addition, they received a special mention for heritage preservation. Linda Cromer and Melanie Riggs, AIB judges, visited communities of similar populations and spent two days touring each town, meeting municipal officials, residents, and volunteers. Other competitors in the 3,500 - 6,000 population category were Brewton, Al; Catskill, NY; and West Columbia, TX. Judges said, “Your extraordinary efforts in creating an exceptional community and showcasing its many amenities give meaning to the local saying that “only two kinds of people ever leave Lewisburg - those who will return and those who wish they could.” America in Bloom executive director, Laura Kunkle, said, “America in Bloom is helping towns and cities of all sizes achieve their potential. Every year our participants raise the bar, and the accomplishments and progress shown by this year’s group is again remarkable. These are, without a doubt, some of the best places to live in America.”
