Holliston's Landscape to be Judged in National Contest

Three judges from America in Bloom will come to Holliston this July to rate the aesthetics of the town as part of a national contest.

Holliston will be scored on criteria including urban forestry, environmental efforts and heritage. Judging will take place on July 19 and 20. 

The America in Bloom website cites a wide range of benefits to communities that actively improve the looks of their town including grassroots involvement and a decrease in vandalism. 

Holliston will compete in the 15,000 to 25,000 resident category as the town reached a population of 15,065 this year. 

Below are bios of the three judges coming to Holliston. The information was provided by America in Bloom. 

Evelyn Alemanni is a self-employed writer, web site designer, award winning gardener and artist from Elfin Forest, California. She has judged for the America in Bloom program since 2003 and also serves as an international judge for the Canadian Communities in Bloom program and for the international LivCom Awards; experiences which Evelyn says has given her the opportunity to share wonderful ideas and inspirations with communities in many countries, and to build networks of people committed to improving their hometowns. She has judged more than 60 towns in five countries.

In 2001, Good Morning America named Evelyn’s garden one of the five best in the U.S. San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles has twice named it one of its gardens of the year. Garden Ideas and Outdoor Living featured it on its cover. It has also been in Garden Shed, Better Homes and Gardens, Gardens, Decks and Landscapes and many other garden-related magazines.

Barbara Vincentsen is owner of Vincentsen Associates, a medium-sized award-winning  architectural firm in Westfield, New Jersey. She grew up in a gardening family and has continued her family tradition in her own gardens, which have plantings shared from three generations of close family and friends. Her Westfield garden was featured in the 2010 America in Bloom program in Westfield.

Barbara is a licensed architect in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York, and is a licensed professional planner and certified interior designer in New Jersey. She is actively involved in her community, serving on the boards of the Friends of Mindowaskin Park Committee and Fairview Cemetery Committee. She is a member of the Westfield Service League and Downtown Westfield Corporation Design Committee, and a past president of Central Section of New Jersey Chapter of the AIA.