2011 Light Up the Holidays! Contest Winners

BLOSSBURG, Dec. 19 — Blossburg V.I.B.E. (Visions in Business & Entertainment) announced the winners of the Light Up the Holidays house decorating contest after judging displays in five categories Sunday night. The judges followed every street in the borough to find the best decorated homes. “The weather has really cooperated for decorating outside. It seemed that more houses were decorated than last year,” said judge Jill Nickerson, Blossburg V.I.B.E. vice president. “The competition has increased. We were glad to see several entries in our new category ‘Green Christmas’ that honors energy-efficient LED displays.”

  • Green Christmas: Leslie & Sherry Powers, 140 Davis St
  • Most Christmas Spirit: Jenn Barrett & Rich Williams, 213 Granger St. (includes music!)
  • Victorian: Ray & Pat Kaminski, 242 South Williamson Rd.
  • Whimsical: Frank & Phun Wasowitz, 158 St. Mary’s St.
  • Best business display: Decades of Beauty, 240 Main St.

Several of last year’s winners were all beautifully decorated again; however, they are not eligible to win until next year.

Pictures available here: Photo Gallery

 

2010 Light Up The Holidays! Contest Winners

BLOSSBURG, Dec. 19 — Blossburg V.I.B.E. (Visions in Business & Entertainment) announced the winners of the Light Up the Holidays house decorating contest after judging displays in five categories Sunday night. The judges followed every street in the borough to find the best decorated homes. “We had a hard time deciding this year,” said judge Jill Nickerson, Blossburg V.I.B.E. vice president. “We were very excited to see how many homes and businesses were beautifully decorated.”

  • Best overall/whimsical: Mike & Jill Choplosky & Brenda Overpeck, Davis Street
  • Most Christmas Spirit: Amy & Robb Bowens, Johnson Street
  • Victorian: Rita & Lawrence Larson, 154 Davis Street
  • Modern: Peggy & Tom Watkins, 104 McIntyre St.
  • Best business display: Momma’s Restaurant, 104 Gulick Street

Several of last year’s winners were all beautifully decorated again, particularly the Window Box Flower Shop on Main Street. The Victoria Theatre, although gorgeous, is not eligible because owner Tonya McNamara is president of V.I.B.E. Honorable mention goes to Taber Townhomes for a beautiful neighborhood display.

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Best overall/whimsical: Mike & Jill Choplosky & Brenda Overpeck, Davis Street


Most Christmas Spirit: Amy & Robb Bowens, Johnson Street

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Victorian: Rita & Lawrence Larson, 154 Davis Street


Modern: Peggy & Tom Watkins, 104 McIntyre St.


Best business display: Momma’s Restaurant, 104 Gulick Street

BLOSSBURG V.I.B.E. WELCOMES SKATEPARK DEMO TO ISLAND PARK

BLOSSBURG — Blossburg V.I.B.E. will host the American Ramp Company 2009 skate park demonstration team at the newly resurfaced basketball court at Island Park in Blossburg on Tuesday, Aug. 11, 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

American Ramp Company will bring ramps that represent the three most popular build options and allow local skaters to test ride the equipment for the new Vibe Park skateboarding area, which is on schedule for opening in October. Skateboarders, inline skaters, and BMX riders can participate in the demonstration.

In addition to the skating exhibition, there will be music, contests and giveaways. T-shirts with the Vibe Park logo will also be available for purchase.

Blossburg V.I.B.E. members Jill Nickerson and Heidi Jones have been working on building a skateboarding and in-line skating area at Island Park for several years. They helped the Borough of Blossburg successfully apply for a Small Communities grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources that will provide approximately two-thirds of the $60,000 estimated cost of the project.

“I’m very excited to see our local skaters test the equipment we’re evaluating for the park,” Nickerson said. “Heidi and I really appreciate the support we’ve received from borough council and the recreation board to implement this project. We think the skate park will really benefit the community by giving the skaters a safer place to practice their skills.”

Participants under 18 must have legal guardian sign a waiver. All participants must wear helmets to receive a wristband to ride. The demonstration is free of charge.

Blossburg V.I.B.E. (Visions in Business & Entertainment) is a nonprofit organization created in 2004 to envision, plan and implement projects that will enhance the quality of life for those who live, work, play or attend school in Blossburg. Tax-deductible donations to meet the community match portion of the state grant can be mailed to Blossburg V.I.B.E., PO Box 126, Blossburg, PA 16912.

Blossburg V.I.B.E. Holds 2009 Visioning Session

Blossburg Visions in Business and Entertainment held a visioning session in January 2009 to help plan 2009 goals and action teams. The three common areas where VIBE action teams will be focusing on in 2009 are: Community (Rec) Building, hiking/bikiking trails, and free/low-cost community activities (rec programs) for all ages. If you’re interested in finding out more or lending a hand, please attend the next VIBE meeting. VIBE meetings are held on the 4th Wednesday of the month at 6 PM at the Kiwanis Building on the Island Park, Blossburg.

Blossburg V.I.B.E. Members See Fruits – and Vegetables – of Labor

Blossburg V.I.B.E. Members See Fruits – and Vegetables – of Labor
Community garden now harvesting

 

BLOSSBURG, Aug. 7 — After months of hard work in her plot at the Blossburg community garden, Mary Higgins entered her snapdragons in the Tioga County Fair and won a blue ribbon. Higgins is a member of the Blossburg V.I.B.E. community garden team that turned an empty lot across from the Blossburg Fire Hall on Main Street into a thriving garden this growing season and the harvest is beginning.

V.I.B.E. President Tonya McNamara led the effort to create a garden with expert guidance from Anne Fisher-LoPinto of Liberty and Diane Stehman of Arnot and lots of help from many community members.The garden consists of 19 individual 4′ by 4′ and 4′ by 8′ plots and four large community plots with potatoes and squash to rejuvenate the soil.

“The idea of a community garden has been floating around for a couple of years,” McNamara said. “This year it all came together. The Borough of Blossburg allowed us to use the empty lot located in a flood zone and the Blossburg Municipal Authority provided access to water.”

The goal of the garden is to provide access to land for planting for those who might not have it, as well as a supportive environment to learn about gardening, McNamara said. It has the additional benefit of using an unproductive lot of land near the borough business district.

“There’s an innate need in people to see things grow,” said Anne Fisher-LoPinto, who has run a “Community Supported Agriculture” garden in the Liberty area. “Somehow, touching soil opens up another dimension for people when they put a seed in the ground, tend and water it, watch it grow and come to fruit. The garden helps fill that need for people to see things grow by their own hand, providing a sense of accomplishment. It seems miraculous. It connects me to the cycles of life. If I’m not doing these things, I feel like a wheel with a flat spot.”

In June, the garden hosted a composting class taught by Ardith Boostrom from the Penn State Cooperative Extension master gardener program. The 15 people who attended received a free composter. In May, Fisher-LoPinto gave a class on starting plants from seeds and transplanting.

“The garden has been very successful. We have about 15 different individuals and families with plots, plus Toddler University,” McNamara said. “The age range of the gardeners is three to over 70.”

Toddler University Daycare & Preschool offered a gardening summer camp for three-to-five year old children. Sixteen children worked on two four-by-eight boxes. They grew peppers, squash, flowers and cucumbers, learned about composting, made a worm farm and watering cans. “The garden is blooming!” said Toddler University owner and director Jill Nickerson. “This helped the children connect with the community and with the natural environment.”

In May, V.I.B.E. received a $2,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to promote the existing farmers’ market held every Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Riverside Plaza parking lot. V.I.B.E. used the funds to purchase advertising, benche, and a shed to store signs for the farmers’ market. The shed also holds tools used by the community garden members.

The garden has been supported by donations of cash and goods from Jack and Mary Eckman, Carol and Larry Tama, Anne Fisher-LoPinto, Bill Nickerson and Blossburg Borough in addition to the box rent fees.

Photos of the garden are available at www.blossburg.org/vibe.

Blossburg V.I.B.E. (Visions in Business and Entertainment) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for those who live, work, play or attend school in Blossburg. Tax-deductible contributions for the garden or other projects may be mailed to PO Box 126, Blossburg, PA 16912.

V.I.B.E. Members Elect New Officers for 2008 – 2009

At the regular monthly V.I.B.E. meeting in July, members elected new officers. Tonya McNamara was elected president, Jill Nickerson was re-elected vice president, Jackie Smith was elected secretary and Kelly Rossell was elected treasurer.

V.I.B.E. erects new Blossburg Welcome Sign

In December 2007 V.I.B.E. had a new welcome sign erected by the green bridge to replace the one that had been there for many years and was ready for a face lift. Plans are in the works to have the area landscaped under and around the sign and spot lights to illuminate the top of the sign at night. The sign has the added advantage in being much safer for the people who change the messages on the event sign.welcome_sign

V.I.B.E. Members Elect New Officers for 2007 – 2008

At the regular monthly V.I.B.E. meeting in July, members elected new officers. Tonya McNamara was elected president, Jill Nickerson was re-elected vice president, Jackie Smith was elected secretary and Heidi Jones was elected treasurer.

V.I.B.E. Members Complete Pennsylvania Downtown Center Trainings

To fullfill part of the requirements of the Department of Community and Economic Development grant, several V.I.B.E. members attended trainings offered by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center on the four aspects of Main Street revitalization. Carol Tama attended the session on organizational development, Heidi Jones and Jill Nickerson attended the session on design, Tonya McNamara and Bev Jones attended the economic restructuring session, and Bev also attended the session on promoting the downtown area.