Nominations for the Best of Braddock awards are submitted this month to recognize those citizens, organizations and businesses of the Braddock District who have gone above and beyond to be the very best.
"This is a great way for us to say thank-you to those people, organizations and businesses that make the Braddock District such a great community and such a great place to live and work, " said Supervisor Sharon Bulova (D-Braddock).
Categories include neighborhood enhancement or beautification, commercial beautification, the most can-do public employee, most outstanding business person, and a club or organization that is making a difference. This year's nominees include the Canterbury Woods Civic Association Community Emergency Response Team, the Fairfax County Park Authority, Cornelius and Michael Doherty of the Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home, and Tawny Hammond, manager at Lake Accotink Park.
The nominations are not contested, so no vote will be taken. The circumstances behind each individual or organization will be verified by Bulova's office before the awards are handed out on Tuesday, June 8. A vote would take place only if two parties were nominated for the same category.
"Each nominee will be recognized at the Braddock District council picnic, here at my office," Bulova said.
The Braddock Citizen of the Year will be recognized at the picnic as well. This year, it is a tie between Vernon Soanes, past president of the Chapel Square West Civic Association, and Ray Steele, past president of the Villa Civic Association.
* Canterbury Woods Civic Association Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). In March 2004, the Canterbury Woods Civic Association completed Community Emergency Response Team training, becoming the first team from Fairfax County to be certified as part of the citizen arm of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department. The nomination for the club or organization that is really making a difference was submitted by Robert Mizer, the CERT coordinator of the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.
Fairfax County Park Authority. Despite the record rainfall in 2003, work was performed on the trail running through Canterbury Woods to redesign it with minimal effect on the homeowners in that area. For efforts in the design, supervision and managing the construction from Woodland Way to Olley Lane, the Fairfax County Park Authority was nominated in the neighborhood enhancement or beautification category for their efforts by Tom Reinkober, president of the Canterbury Woods Civic Association.
The Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home. The Fairfax Memorial Funeral Home on the corner of Braddock Road and Burke Station Road was constructed in the summer of 2003 with an eye to minimize visual impact. It is now looked on as an enhancement to the Braddock District. The nomination in the commercial beautification category was submitted by Bob Cosgroff, a resident in the area.
Tawny Hammond. Manning the helm at Lake Accotink Park in Springfield, Tawny Hammond was nominated as the most outstanding business person in Braddock District this year.
Steve Corfanta of Seville Homes. In their efforts to restore the Oak Hill mansion off Wakefield Chapel Road, Steve Corfanta and Seville Homes was nominated for the business person of the year in the Braddock District.