Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association has sent its nomination for Neighborhood USA's 2007 Neighborhood of the Year Award.

Roland Smallwood, Community Liaison for the City of Columbia, suggested we apply for the national award based on the Sherwood Forest Neighborhood Association/University of South Carolina partnership with Belser Arboretum/CANDO gardens project. We applied in the Physical Revitalization/Beautification category.

The application was a six page narrative, budget for the overall project and support materials (a disk of photos, plans for the garden and arboretum, map of where our neighborhood is located, photo album of inkind goods and service providers and some other support materials).

A panel of judges will review the nominations and will select the best nominations in three categories as finalists for further consideration at the 2007 Neighborhoods, USA Conference in Baton Rouge. Organizations selected as finalists will be notified no later than April 1 and will be invited to make a presentation at the 2007 NUSA Conference. Award winners in each category and a grand prizewinner will be announced at the conference.

Mark your calendars for the March 31 dedication ceremony of the gardens and walkthrough of the Arboretum. The brief ceremony will be held at 1:30 and the walkthrough from 1-4. It should be a great occasion.