Published: November 13, 2009 05:18 pm      

Make it Shine: An extraordinary effort to beautify Bluefield

Congratulations to all of the volunteers and city employees who helped Bluefield capture one of six statewide “West Virginia Make It Shine Clean Community” awards.

The West Virginia Make it Shine Community Awards program was established in April 1993. Clean Community Awards are based on 10 specific criteria including: community cleanup, a recycling program, youth participation, Adopt-A-Highway, illegal dump cleanup, public land improvement and beautification, community environmental education program, river or stream cleanup program, Earth Day and miscellaneous other projects.

The 2009 awards were announced last week by Gov. Joe Manchin.

City officials in Bluefield, including Agnie Foley, the administrative assistant to Bluefield City Manger Andy Merriman, prepared the application for Nature’s Air-Conditioned City. It included a detailed three page synopsis of the many projects undertaken by the Bluefield Beautification Commission, the Bluefield Tree Board, scores of neighborhood and community groups, Bluefield State College students, illegal dump cleanup projects by the Mercer County Day Report Center, the new entrance signs to Bluefield as well as the city’s on-going demolition of dilapidated structures program among much more.

In addition to the three-page narrative, Foley also included an additional 20 pages of photographs and newspaper clippings concerning the various programs that were mentioned in the official application.

Bluefield was the largest city to be honored this year. Other communities included in the 2009 “Make it Shine” awards were the city of Dunbar, the city of Ranson, the town of Fayetteville, the village of Beech Bottom and the town of West Union.

We commend all of the volunteers who are working diligently to make Bluefield a better place to live, grow and raise a family. The city has underwent a tremendous transformation in recent years — thanks to the tireless work of many, many volunteers, including the had working members of the Bluefield Beautification Commission.

We are glad to see all of their hard work is finally being recognized by state officials with the award of the prestigious “Make it Shine” honor. Last weekend, we had more than 700 visitors in downtown Bluefield, who were afforded a chance to see the extraordinary efforts that are underway to help beautify and clean up Nature’s Air-Conditioned City.

First impressions can be lasting impressions. We believe and hope the rail excursion visitors from Roanoke left with a positive first impression of Bluefield.

We believe Bluefield is on the verge of turning the economic corner. However,, if we are to succeed we must have a community that is attractive, clean and vibrant. We are achieving that goal thanks in part to the hard and priceless work of these dedicated volunteers.