Annual Cooperstown Beautification Contest Winners Announced

COOPERSTOWN—Jane Forbes Clark, president of The Clark Foundation, has announced the winners of the 2025 Clark Foundation Cooperstown Beautification Contest.

Held annually since 1954, village residential and business properties are judged on their horticultural beautification efforts in three categories:

• Most Attractive Floral Display in a Business Setting
• Most Effective Overall Planting Which Enhances a Residential Property, As Seen from the Street
• Most Appropriate Residential or Business Window Box or Boxes and/or Hanging Basket or Baskets

There is a $1,000.00 award for first place, $750.00 for second place, $500.00 for third place, and $400.00 for Honorable Mention for each category.

“Over 65 years ago, my grandmother, Susan Vanderpoel Clark, founded the Cooperstown Beautification Contest to recognize the tremendous time and effort so many of our residents take to make our village look welcoming and beautiful,” Clark said. “She would be so happy that this wonderful tradition continues to make our village even more special.”

This year’s Beautification Contest judges were Matt Munnich and Joshua Shearer.

Munnich earned an associate of applied science degree in ornamental horticulture and a bachelor of technology degree in plant science from SUNY Cobleskill. He has been in the Green Industry for approximately 29 years, with his experience focusing largely on landscape design and maintenance. He has worked as manager for Northern Nurseries in Cicero since 2013.

Shearer has worked in the nursery landscape industry since 1999, with experience in landscape maintenance, installation and design. He earned his certification as a certified nursery and landscape professional in 2014. He is also with Northern Nurseries in Cicero, providing quality plant material for professional landscaping installations.

This year’s award winners are:

Category 1: Most Attractive Floral Display in a Business Setting

First: Norbu, Nawang Tsering Gurung and Kunsang Tsering Gurung, 149 Main Street

Judge’s comments: Great use of different varieties, sizes and textures. Wraps entire building, very inviting.

Second: Pioneer Sports Cards, Mark Wolpert, 106 Main Street

Judges’ comments: Great use of vertical space, multiple varieties and color, with resting bench.

Third: Cooperstown Classics, Mr. and Mrs. Todd Howard, 81 Main Street

Judges’ comments: Boxes very full, cool colors, very appropriate to store front.

Category 1: Honorable Mention (in alphabetical order): Rigby Handcraft Inc., 43 Pioneer Street; Slices Pizzeria, 46 Pioneer Street, and Templeton Hall LLC, 63 Pioneer Street

Category II: Most Effective Overall Planting Which Enhances a Residential Property, as Seen from the Street

First: Carol Taylor, 1 Westridge Road

Judges’ comments: Landscaping is tidy, well-kept, and plants are appropriately sized, with a very nice variety in color with perennials, and a few well used annual flowers.

Second: Mr. and Mrs. Peter Henrici (Judi), 92½ Pioneer Street

Judges’ Comments: Very nice, inviting, natural-looking landscape, with plenty of color; and variety with a few nicely placed, small specimen trees, to balance height.

Third: Dr. and Mrs. William Streck (Karen), 4 Lakeview Drive North

Judges’ comments: A nice, more modern landscape, with good layers of shrubs, and some nice hydrangea for contrast against the green of the juniper, and a good pop of color from inviting annual pots near driveway/walkway.

Category II: Honorable Mention (in alphabetical order): Catherine Huber, 81 Lake Street; Nelson Mondaca and John Webb, 97 Pioneer Street; Matthew J. Sohns and Mary-Margaret Robbins, 20 Pioneer Street

Category III: Most Appropriate Residential or Business Window Box or Boxes and/or Hanging Basket or Baskets

First: Pioneer Patio, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Busse (Kathryn), 46 Pioneer Street

Judges’ comments: Lovely full hanging baskets and colorful window boxes bring life to the alleyway, well decorated from top to bottom in classic colors and style.

Second: Hardball Café, American Baseball Experience Inc., Megan Alison, 99 Main Street

Judges’ comments: The beautiful window boxes along the fence were full of consistent color, with nice trailing details, as well as some vertical interest from the gaura. Very inviting.

Third: Hotel Pratt/Sherman’s Tavern, Charles J. Dimick, 50 Pioneer Street

Judges’ comments: A good number of hanging baskets and window boxes line multiple levels of the front of the building. Good inclusion of some classic spikes, as well as trailing elements to compliment the color.

Category III: Honorable Mention (in alphabetical order): Mr. James Dean, 15 Delaware Street; Hubbell’s Real Estate, Glenn Hubbell, 157 Main Street; Metro Cleaners, Helmut Michelitsch, 115 Main Street