
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 28, 1994                   TAG: 9406300028
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: By JOANNE ANDERSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

TOWN SEEKS CIVIC BEAUTIFICATION AWARDS NOMINEES

That the town of Blacksburg takes pride in its residents is evident in the motto "Citizens First." The town also takes pride in its beauty and gives Civic Beautification Awards each year "to recognize landscape and architecture that enhance the appearance" of the town.

The program is seeking nominations in these 11 categories:

Front walk and entrance

Single-family residence

Multi-family housing

Professional office

Historic preservation

Institution

Commercial or industrial

Well-designed parking area

Public area

Adaptive re-use

Unique area.

All properties nominated must be located in the town's corporate limits, be visible from the street (with a few possible exceptions in the "unique" classification), and be outstanding, whether recent or well-established.

Nomination forms can be picked up at the municipal building and the public library. The deadline is July 15.

Each nomination will be reviewed by a panel of judges whose expertise in architecture and landscaping qualifies it to determine the most distinguished project among the nominations.

The winner in each category will be photographed and presented in a slide show during the awards ceremony Sept. 8. Property owners will receive public appreciation and a hand-lettered certificate for framing.

Photographs of winning projects will also be on display in the lobby of the municipal building. John Kline of Gentry Studio is donating his services and materials for the photography.

In its 12th year, the Civic Beautification Award program was suggested by local resident Virginia Currie who had been involved in a similar program in Chicago. A Townscape Committee was formed to oversee the awards.

The volunteer committee of around two dozen local residents holds monthly meetings and acts as an advisory council to the town on matters involving landscaping, architecture, gardens and horticulture. Mac Favrao and Elizabeth Fontaine are co-chairwomen of the committee this year.

A great deal of time and energy goes into creating and maintaining beautiful surroundings, so if you're driving around town and see some particularly lovely landscaping or an attractive building, consider nominating it for a Civic Beautification Award before July 15.

by CNB