2016 Beautification Award Luncheon

On Thursday, June 23, 2016, Seventy-six City of Madison commercial properties were presented with Beautification Awards at a luncheon which took place at the  Best Western

Amber Braman kicks off the 2016 Beautification Awards.
Mayor Troy Trulock and Councilman Gerald Clark stand in the background. 

Amber Braman, Vice President for Beautification of the Madison Beautification and Tree Board chaired the awards program and luncheon this year.  Mayor Troy Trulock opened the luncheon with a prayer,   Councilman Tim Holcombe, and Council Man Gerald Clark were also in attendance at this year's luncheon.  Clark serves as the MBTB Council Liaison to the all-volunteer board of City of Madison residents appointed to serve by Mayor Trulock.  MBTB board members present were were Beth Agee, Meredith Kilby,  Hollye Raines, Liz Smith and Franklin Wetzel.

MBTB Board Members L-R, Franklin Wetzel, Beth Agee, Amber Braman, Hollye Raines

Nineteen of the properties achieved an Excellence Award for scoring 99.5 or higher on the judging sheets.  Those properties received Excellence Award plaques in addition to the certificates that all awardees received.   A minimum score of 95 is required to receive an Award.  Implemented last year into the program was a Beautification Award - Honor Roll.  Honor roll properties are those that have maintained their Beautification Award status for five consecutive years in a row.

Commercial properties apply for the award annually in the spring.  Judging of the properties takes place mid to late May by teams of board members and Master Gardener volunteers from outside the City of Madison.  This year the board emphasized the need for properties to use bolder colors in their landscapes, be it through flowering shrubs, perennials or beds of annuals.

Following the awards presentation a drawing took place for three gift certificates which were donated by The Cat Bird Nursery & Garden Shop.    Braman closed the luncheon with words of thanks to all the property owners and managers who dedicate time and resources in making the City of Madison a beautiful place to live, work and play.  Also included were remarks about future developments of the beautification program, to include all new Beautification Award signs that better distinguish City of Madison properties from the neighboring Huntsville properties, She also encouraged anyone interested in serving on the board to contact MBTB President Karen Lawler at
keepmadisonbeautiful@gmail.com

A group photo was taken of the winning recipients at the close of the luncheon.

View powerpoint photos & photos from the luncheon.

2016 Beautification Award Luncheon

On Thursday, June 23, 2016, Seventy-six City of Madison commercial properties were presented with Beautification Awards at a luncheon which took place at the  Best Western

Amber Braman kicks off the 2016 Beautification Awards.
Mayor Troy Trulock and Councilman Gerald Clark stand in the background. 

Amber Braman, Vice President for Beautification of the Madison Beautification and Tree Board chaired the awards program and luncheon this year.  Mayor Troy Trulock opened the luncheon with a prayer,   Councilman Tim Holcombe, and Council Man Gerald Clark were also in attendance at this year's luncheon.  Clark serves as the MBTB Council Liaison to the all-volunteer board of City of Madison residents appointed to serve by Mayor Trulock.  MBTB board members present were were Beth Agee, Meredith Kilby,  Hollye Raines, Liz Smith and Franklin Wetzel.

MBTB Board Members L-R, Franklin Wetzel, Beth Agee, Amber Braman, Hollye Raines

Nineteen of the properties achieved an Excellence Award for scoring 99.5 or higher on the judging sheets.  Those properties received Excellence Award plaques in addition to the certificates that all awardees received.   A minimum score of 95 is required to receive an Award.  Implemented last year into the program was a Beautification Award - Honor Roll.  Honor roll properties are those that have maintained their Beautification Award status for five consecutive years in a row.

Commercial properties apply for the award annually in the spring.  Judging of the properties takes place mid to late May by teams of board members and Master Gardener volunteers from outside the City of Madison.  This year the board emphasized the need for properties to use bolder colors in their landscapes, be it through flowering shrubs, perennials or beds of annuals.

Following the awards presentation a drawing took place for three gift certificates which were donated by The Cat Bird Nursery & Garden Shop.    Braman closed the luncheon with words of thanks to all the property owners and managers who dedicate time and resources in making the City of Madison a beautiful place to live, work and play.  Also included were remarks about future developments of the beautification program, to include all new Beautification Award signs that better distinguish City of Madison properties from the neighboring Huntsville properties, She also encouraged anyone interested in serving on the board to contact MBTB President Karen Lawler at
keepmadisonbeautiful@gmail.com

A group photo was taken of the winning recipients at the close of the luncheon.

View powerpoint photos & photos from the luncheon.

2016 Beautification Award Winners Announced

Congratulations to the following properties who will be receiving City of Madison Beautification Awards for 2016 - 2017.   Properties that earned an Excellence Award designation averaged 99.5 or above on the judges score sheet.  They are indicated with an *asterisk.

An Award Luncheon is planned at the Best Western Plus of Madison on June 23.  Each winning property will receive two complimentary tickets to the lunch.  Details will be emailed to winning properties on June 8th. 

List of Winning Properties - 2016 City of Madison Beautification Awards

1. Abbington Downs Subdivision
2. Abby Glen-A Quiet Place
3. Arbor Crossings
4. Arlington Dentistry
5. *Belmont Place Subdivision
6. *Best Western Plus
7. Bob Jones High School
8. Bradford Farms Subdivision
9. Breckenridge Subdivision
10. Bridgefield Subdivision
11. Brownsferry Crossing
12. Burger King - Madison Blvd
13. Cambridge at Heritage Plantation
14. *Cedar Springs Station Subdivision
15. Chapel Hill Subdivision
16. *Chik Fil A 7885
17. Clift's Cove Subdivision
18. *Colonial Grand at Madison
19. Cook's Pest Control
20. Cornerstone Pediatrics
21. Cracker Barrel
22. Crown Pointe
23. *Discovery Middle School
24. Dublin Park
25. Edgewater Subdivision
26. *EDO Japanese Restaurant
27. Foxfield
28. *Gate House Manor
29. Greenbriar Woods Subdivision
30. Hampton Inn
31. Hawthorne at the Ridge
32. Heritage Plantation Subdivision
33. Heritage Provence  Subdivision
34. *Highland Lakes Subdivision
35. Hillchase Subdivision
36. Holiday Inn Express and Suites HSV-airport
37. Horizon Elementary School
38. Hunington Chase
39. Indian Creek Nursery
40. Liberty Middle School
41. *Lifesouth
42. Madison Church of Christ
43. Madison City Gateway
44. Madison Eye Care Center
45. Madison Fire Station #2
46. Madison Fire Station #3
47. Madison Hospital
48. Madison Hospital- The Healing Garden
49. *Meadow Green
50. *Millstone
51. *Oxford
52. Park Meadow Subdivision - Brownsferry
53. Park Meadow Subdivision - Wall Triana
54. Shamrock Subdivision
55. *Somerset Apartments
56. STI Electronics, Inc
57. Stratford Square Subdivision
58. *Sullins Eye Care
59. *The Catbird Seat Garden Center
60. The Reserve at Bridgefield Subdivision
61. The Town of Cambridge at Heritage Plantation
62. The Village Shops of Madison - Co. Line Road
63. *The Villas at Madison
64. Walden Subdivision - Conservancy
65. Walden Subdivision - Emerson
66. Walden Subdivision - Walden Glen
67. Waterford at Heritage Plantation
68. *Waverly Place Apartments at Madison
69. Wellington Subdivision
70. West Highlands Subdivision
71. West Highlands Subdivision
72. West Madison Elementary School
73. Windscape Apartment Homes
74. Windstone
75. *Woodland Hill
76. Woodland Homes

Don't see your property on the list? 

Properties that applied for an award but did not meet the judging criteria for an award will be provided the judge's feedback along with recommendations from the board on how to address the conditions that existed to cause the property to score lower.

This year the judging criteria was revised to place a greater emphasis on the use of bright, eye catching colors as focal points in the landscape.  It's not only pleasing to the eye, it also beneficial to pollinators and wildlife.  Since this was a change from prior year's standards, the board advised judges to give fair consideration to exceptionally attractive and well maintained landscapes that may have lacked bright colors in an annual display or found on flowering shrubs or perennials.

Moving forward, property managers and owners are urged to incorporate more colorful elements into their landscapes appropriate to the site and conditions.

2016 Beautification Award Judging Announced

The City of Madison Beautification and Tree Board has released revised Judging Guidelines along with the application deadline and judging date.

Board Vice President for Beautification,  Amber Braman leads this year's Beautification Award program. Braman and the MBTB  revised the judging criteria earlier this year to communicate more effectively what constitutes an "Award Winning" property in the City of Madison.

Because of the changes, existing property owners should review the revised judging criteria for 2016.

While much of the judging criteria is unchanged from previous years, the new judging standards place a greater emphasis on the use of seasonal color in the landscape.  Bold use of color creates a focal point in a landscape and boosts the visual interest of the space while also attracting beneficial pollinators and wildlife.

Explained further, a commercial property with pruned shrubs, mulched beds and an edged and healthy lawn are still essential criteria,  but what will qualify properties for Beautification Awards will be the how color, texture and visual elements create a landscape scene "as a whole" that is not only well maintained, but also eye catching and distinctive.

Applications for 2016 Beautification Awards will be due May 7th.  A new, online form has been developed.  The application fee remains the same as last year ($25.00 per property) and can be paid online or by check.  All applications and fees must be postmarked by May 7th to be eligible for judging.

If paying by check, please mail application payments to:
Madison Beautification & Tree Board
100 Hughes Road
Madison, AL 35758

The scheduled date for property judging is set for May 19th, rain or shine.

There will be a Beautification Award Luncheon this year held sometime in June.  A date and location has not been fixed, but each property receiving a Beautification award will be allowed two complimentary tickets to the event.

Posters and Proclamation - Arbor Week 2016

It's Alabama Arbor Week! 

Sign up for Wednesday's Arbor Week Tree Seminar at City Hall Hall - 5:15 p.m. 

View Pictures from City Council Meeting - Feb 22, 2016

City of Madison students with winning posters of the annual Alabama Arbor Week Poster Contest were recognized at the Monday, February 22nd  Madison City Council Meeting.   Mayor Troy Trulock read the Arbor Week proclamation and presented it to Madison Beautification and Tree Board President, Karen Lawler.

This year's contest was led by Beautification and Tree Board member Marsha Harris.  Harris and Mayor Trulock presented the certificates and prize awards to each of the winners from the four participating elementary schools located in the City of Madison.  The fifth grade teachers who led the in-class room Arbor Week learning materials were also on hand for the ceremony.

Following the presentations, Mayor Trulock and the students stepped outside the chamber to pose for photos with the posters, students and teachers.

The MBTB thanks all students and teachers who participated in this year's poster contest. The contest serves to raise awareness about the importance of trees in our communities.  The first place posters were sent to Anniston, Alabama to compete in the state wide contest.  No winner has been announced publicly.  The MBTB makes the poster contest materials available to all elementary schools in the City of Madison. Participation is voluntary. Parents interested in having their 5th graders participate next year should contact their school's principal.   Interested educators may contact the Madison Beautification and Tree Board next fall.  Email the board at keepmadisonbeautiful@gmail.com

Arbor Week Poster Winners Take City Hall

Local fifth-grade participants in the annual statewide Arbor Week Poster contest will be presented with certificates and prizes at Madison City Hall at the start of the Monday, February 22nd City Council meeting which begins at 6:00 p.m.  The event is part of Alabama's annual Arbor Week observances.

Madison Beautification and Tree Board member Marsha Harris coordinated the contest and will be presenting, along with Mayor Troy Trulock and other members of the Madison Beautification and Tree Board, the top four posters from each of the four City of Madison elementary schools participating this year.   Winning student entries have been notified.  First place posters from around the state are sent to Aniston, Alabama for consideration at the state level. This year's winners have not yet been announced.

"Can I get a drum roll, please?"  

Here are the top finishers in this year's City of Madison contest.  Congratulations to the students and their teachers for supporting this program.

Columbia Elementary - Poster by Jenna Velez

Columbia Elementary

First Place - Jenna Velez
Second Place  - Mikel Booth
Third Place - Courtney Lin
Honorable Mention  - Mollie Prang

Heritage Elementary -  Poster by Sachi Ranachandran

Heritage Elementary

First Place - Sachi M Ranachandran
Second Place  - Ava Penland
Third Place -  Ella Thomas
Honorable Mention -  Giavanni Fuller

Madison Elementary - Poster by Luke Mitchell

Madison Elementary

First Place -  Luke Mitchell
Second Place  - Emma Kate Lindsey
Third Place  - Madison Thornton
Honorable Mention  - Jayla Evans

St. John Catholic School-Poster by Audrey Groger

St John Catholic School

First Place Audrey Groger
Second Place Ella Stott

Third Place Claire Persaud
Honorable Mention Evelyn Detwiler

The Alabama Arbor Day Poster Contest originated in 1997 and is organized by David West,
County Extension Coordinator, Calhoun County through the Alabama Cooperative Extension System office in Anniston, Alabama.  Information about the Alabama Arbor Day Poster Contest is available online at www.aces.edu.  The contest includes guided classroom activities to foster appreciation and education on the importance of trees in our community and the environment. This year the poster's theme was "Trees are Terrific….Inside and Out!!”    View past winners of the state winners here.

Biographies of Arbor Week Seminar Presenters

Get to know our Feb 24th Arbor Week Seminar Presenters

Dr. Douglas Aitken

Dr. Douglas Airhart

Douglas teaches horticultural production and management courses in the School of Agriculture at Tennessee Tech University, in Cookeville. He is a Certified Arborist and Municipal Specialist with theISA, and developed the Coorts Memorial Arboretum at TTU. He is active with the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council, and previously coordinated the state arboretum certification program. He was a Charter Member of the Cookeville Tree Board, and is a Current Member. He has numerous articles on consumer horticulture and tree care technologies, and has coordinated many grant projects about
tree care and maintenance. He invites you to visit his website at www.tlcfortrees.info.

Marc Byers (no photo available)

Marc is a Huntsville native and the 5th generation in the nursery and tree business. He grew up in the wholesale part of a family business, Byers Nursery, where he spent 23 years growing and selling nursery stock. He closed the nursery and became the Supervisor of Forestry and Horticulture for the City of Huntsville in 2007. 

As Forestry/Hort Supervisor he is responsible for all trees, shrubs, and annuals on City property, as well as all trees on Rights-of-Way throughout Huntsville.

Marc has served on the board of the Land Trust of Huntsville and North Alabama and the American Red Cross. He is currently active in the Kiwanis Club of Huntsville.

Joe McPhail

1989 Graduate of The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. B.S. Resource Management, Minor in Environmental Law Enforcement. 

Joe is a certified arborist with ISA for 19 years with a Utility Specialist certification for the past 11 years, also have (traq, tree risk assessment qualification) thru the ISA. Works for City of Florence Electricity Dept. He is in  his 17th year as Title of Line Clearance Supervisor.

Arbor Week Observances and Activities Announced

ARBOR WEEK POSTER CONTEST WINNERS TAKE CITY HALL

On Tuesday, February 23, the winners of the annual Arbor Week 5th Grade Poster Contest will be presented at City Hall and receive their certificates and prizes.

PLANT A TREE WITH MAYOR TROY TRULOCK

February 24th
Madison City Hall Lawn at NOON
Members of the Madison Beautification and Tree Boad will plant additional trees until approximately 3:00.  Members of the public welcome to volunteer and assist.

FREE ARBOR WEEK TREE SEMINAR

Madison City Hall
100 Hughes Road, Madison, AL 35758

Wednesday, February 24th From  5:15 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Attend one or all of the sessions as your time permits.

Free Refreshments
Sign Up Online Greatly Appreciated!

SEMINAR AGENDA: THREE GREAT WORKSHOPS!

5:15 - 5:30   Welcome Remarks

Mind your P’s & Q’s of Tree Care

5:30 - 6:30   Dr. Airhart - Mind Your P's and Q's of Tree Care: Maintenance, Pruning & Disease Control
6:30 - 7:00   Snack break (refreshments provided)

Right Tree, Right Place

7:00 - 7:50   Marc Byers - Right Tree Right Place:
          Site and Species Selection for Home Landscapes
    7:50 - 8:00   Break

Tree Safety (updated 2/15) 

8:00 - 8:45  (Joe McPhail) Tree Work Safety

8:45 - 9:00  Closing Remarks

AN INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARBORICULTURE CEU ELIGIBLE EVENT

ISA is the International Society of Arboriculture  | www.isasouthern.org

First Session (Tree Planting at Madison City Hall)
Certified Arborist: 3 Utility Specialist: 0 Municipal Specialist: 3
BCMA - Science: 0 BCMA - Practice: 3 BCMA - Management: 0
TW Climber Specialist: 3 TW Aerial Lift Specialist: 0

Second Session (The Arbor Week Seminar)
Certified Arborist: 2.5 Utility Specialist: 0.75 Municipal Specialist: 2.5
BCMA - Science: 0 BCMA - Practice: 0.75 BCMA - Management: 1.75
TW Climber Specialist: 0.75 TW Aerial Lift Specialist: 0

Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by the new Madison Beautification and Tree Board website.

The Madison Beautification and Tree Board is an all-volunteer board operating within the oversight and direction of the City of Madison, Alabama.  Members of the MBTB are appointed for terms of service by the City of Madison Mayor.

Madison is a wonderful, growing community in North Alabama.