Wednesday, April 25, 2007 · Page 11 Spring has sprung for Communities in Bloom BY DANIEL SCHWAB The advent of spring in Essex can guarantee three things: the weather will soon be warmer, the flowers will start to grow and the local Communities In Bloom group will begin to prepare for this year's competition. All four wards in the municipality will be teaming up this season to promote the most fetching natural and cultural environments the area has to offer. CIB chairperson Cindy Barnett said the partnership will only increase the group's chances of scoring big when judges arrive to tour the municipality when the national competition kicks off in August. Barnett said the area can now be recognized for its ich heritage sites, such as olchester's John R. Park omestead and McGregor's as and Steam Engine Museum. "It's very exciting," Barnett said. "Essex is good, but when you put the four wards together it's a fantastic opportunity." Last year, Ward 1 scored four out of a possible five "blooms" judged against "It's the idea that we're cleaning up and becoming proud of our community," Hudak said of preparations for the CIB event. Hudak said gardening activities will soon be underway in all parts of the municipality. Volunteers are always welcomed to pitch in, she said. PRINTING CALL... · BUSINESS CARDS · LETTERHEAD · ENVELOPES · RULED FORMS · CONTRACTS · STATEMENTS · INVITATIONS · FLYERS · MENUS · BROCHURES · BOOKS · LAMINATING · TICKETS · PHOTOCOPYING · COMPUTER PAPER · COPY PAPER · FAX SERVICES · BRISTOL BOARD COMMERCIAL The Clean-up Kids The Heritage Gardens are neat and tidy after a group of high school students put some effort into beautifying the area in preparation for this year's Communities In Bloom competition. From left: Josh Brackell, Kaitlyn Weller, Jordan Ferguson, Joe Shepley and Zach Mutter. towns of a comparable size and population. Now, the municipality will compete with larger areas, but Barnett said the fact that all of the wards are working together is the most important aspect of the TIRE SALE ASSURANCE TRIPLETRED $ 00 Spring rebate event. "Even if we get one bloom, that's OK, because everybody is working together," she said. The 15 volunteers will meet once a month leading up to the competition, and ALIGNMENT INSPECTION FREE will make plans to clean up litter and plant flower beds in an effort to beautify the municipality. Last week, Essex and District Horticultural Society member Kathy Hudak led a small group of high school students in cleaning up outside the Essex Railway Station. Western Secondary School and Essex District High School students tidied up flower gardens, pruned trees and raked up litter. 16 CENTRE ST., ESSEX, ON. PH. 519-776-4268 FAX: 519-776-4014 60 per set of 4 tires DUNLOP ALL SEASON RADIALS GREAT FOR $ GOODYEAR WRANGLER SRA NEONS $ P175-70R-14 REPUBLIC ENSIGN RADIALS BY $ GOODYEAR 129 P235-75R-15 AFTER INSTANT REBATE 95 INTEGRITY $ CALL TOLL FREE Cottingham Tire & Auto Service 4995 FROM 69 5995 95 Priced from O SER VIC E COT TIN GHA M TIR E & AUT Southwestern Ontario's big volume Goodyear dealer 1-800-265-3216 www.cottinghamtire.com Register online at cancer.ca/relay #2 Highway west in Tilbury (2 minutes from the 401) Ask about Cottingham's ride package including forced variation balancing & nitrogen inflation, for even better performance from your new Goodyear tires!