Continuing your education while working a steady job is a practice being employed by more and more individuals in this day and age. Whether in an attempt to learn a new trade or to just gain additional accumen in a certain field of expertise, employees realize that knowledge is power.

With this in mind, the Landscaping Division's employees earlier this year attended a nine-week accredited Landscape Design course at the Special Improvement District office (right).

Kevin Fenning, coordinator for Agriculture/Horticulture at Cumberland County College, taught the course, which was aimed at educating the landscapers on identifying, growing and maintaining plant material for landscaping purposes.

As the cold chill of winter gripped Atlantic City during the month of January, the Landscaping Division found a more traditional method of keeping warm in the harsh conditions. They decided to break out the old fashioned elbow grease and complete sidewalk improvements along Arctic Avenue between New York and Tennessee avenues (left).

Located in front of St. James AME Church and 1413 Arctic Avenue (Brewster's Global Cafe, Mail Boxes Etc.), new tree pits complete with brick pavers and trees were installed along the sidewalk. To accentuate the fresh look, new light poles also were installed and were adorned with decorative banners highlighting the "Atlantic Heights District" of the city (right).

Prior to the dawning of the New Year a new pocket park was completed for Our Lady Star of the Sea Church on the corner of California and Arctic avenues (left). This erstwhile vacant lot was transformed into a lush green park complete with new turf, landscaping, trees, wooden bollards, plants and irrigation.

An Atlantic City lifeguard boat, filled with soil and topped off with perennial flowers, complements the park to give it a nautical feel.