I look forward to presenting the 2014 Sidewalks Are Safe For Everyone (SAFE)/Golden Shovel awards at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22, to honor residents who helped out neighbors at various times during the long and snowy winter of 2013-14.
I initiated the Golden Shovel awards to honor residents who helped neighbors shovel out after a snowfall. The awards were not presented in the past three years due to mild winters, but I brought back the awards following this season’s long winter of arctic temperatures and multiple snow storms. This winter, with the seemingly never-ending snow storms, I decided to award all nominees, issuing 82 Golden Shovel awards to 111 individuals.
As I read through the nominations, I recognized how grateful people are for the kindness of their neighbors. To duly recognize these unsung heroes for all the gratitude people expressed, I decided I have to honor everyone who was nominated. They all deserve a Golden Shovel.
The Council’s regular weekly session will be held in the Third Floor Hearing Room of the Council Office Building at 100 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. The ceremonies will be televised live by County Cable Montgomery (CCM—Cable Channel 6 on Comcast and RCN, Channel 30 on Verizon). The broadcast also will be streamed at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/ondemand/index.html. The Council meeting will be rebroadcast on Friday, April 25, at 9 p.m. and will be available before that time on demand.
The 2014 Golden Shovel awardees are:
Wabi Aboudou (Takoma Park) repeatedly shoveled the long driveway and cleared the car of a neighborhood senior citizen couple.
Fadjil Asikin (Bethesda) almost single-handedly cleared the busy sidewalks near his house that connect his neighborhood with the Grosvenor Metro and Wildwood Shopping Center.
James “Dusty” Baber (Rockville), at age 73, shoveled his neighbor’s property several times along with the sidewalks on his own corner house lot.
Lisa Bente (Rockville) shoveled the sidewalks of three neighbors after this season’s snow storm of more than 15 inches.
Scott Berman (Rockville) helped his elderly neighbors shovel their sidewalks and driveways.
Lise and Bill Bernhard (Bethesda) assisted neighbor Sara Robinson in providing detailed work of snow removal by clearing snow off cars and removing snow and ice from steps.
Michael Bernstein (Takoma Park) after each snow storm this winter, routinely cleared the entire side of his street and sidewalks of snow and assisted others with snow removal.
Renrique “Ricky” Bertley (Kensington), with the help of his family, continuously plowed the streets of his community during the snow storms at all hours of the night and day.
Jeff Brink (Gaithersburg) after every storm, cleared the sidewalks and walkways of his neighbors and assisted to dig out cars—despite a recent leg injury.
Joe, Anna, Sophia and Peter Capizzi (Chevy Chase) gathered with others to help shovel snow from sidewalks to provide pedestrian safety on a stretch of Wisconsin Avenue.
J. Matt Clouse (Takoma Park) cleared his senior citizen neighbors’ sidewalk, long walkway and steps to their front door.
Michael Codori (Rockville) made sure each of his elderly neighbors’ sidewalks, driveways and walkways were safe and clear of snow.
Kees deKievit (Broookeville), after every snow storm, came equipped with shovel, snow blower and broom to clear his neighbor’s 90-foot-long driveway and car.
Chris Ecker (Gaithersburg) shoveled the walks and driveways of several neighbors, including a family that had just moved into the neighborhood.
Rolf Eppinger (Silver Spring) consistently removed snow and ice from his blind neighbors’ sidewalk, driveway and walkways.
Melanie Folstad (Chevy Chase) organized and worked with a group of volunteer shovelers to clear a portion of Wisconsin Avenue, making it safe for bus riders and pedestrians.
Jim Ford and Beth Rockwell (Glen Echo) shoveled sidewalks and cleared cars of snow as far as two blocks from their house.
John Hallen (Brookeville), during the 18-inch snow storm, cleared his neighbors’ driveways with his tractor.
Russell Hartung (Darnestown), after long work days, regularly shoveled the driveways of his neighbors.
Natalia Henriquez and Christopher Panek (Rockville) shoveled their neighbor’s sidewalk and provided a clear path for elementary school children on their way to school.
Annie and Bob Hinkley with their children (Chevy Chase) joined their forces with others and shoveled a portion of Wisconsin Avenue’s sidewalk of snow.
David Hobsen (Silver Spring) shoveled a neighbor’s driveway while the family was out of town.
Richard Hoye (Bethesda) was nominated by several neighbors praising his work of shoveling and plowing the sidewalks in an area of Old Georgetown Road.
Andrew Huck (Silver Spring), along with his neighbor Chuck Niglio, used their snow blowers to clear sidewalks and driveways throughout their neighborhood as well as the path to the local middle school.
George and Margo Hunt (Rockville) shoveled and de-iced their elderly neighbor’s walkway and steps.
Greg Iser (Silver Spring) shoveled a neighbor’s driveway while the family was out of town.
John and Evelyn Jemionek (Silver Spring) shoveled the sidewalks of three neighbors during every storm.
Rick Jones (Silver Spring) used his snow blower after every storm to clear sidewalks in two blocks of his neighborhood and also cleared pathways leading to the nearby elementary school.
Mylene and Eric Jouane (Bethesda), who are new to their neighborhood, checked on their elderly neighbors after each snow storm and also shoveled their sidewalks and paths.
Mr. and Mrs. Kamachaitis (Boyds) cleared snow for several houses in their neighborhood and helped in other ways during the snow storms.
Joe and Kay Kanney (Rockville) repeatedly shoveled their neighbor’s sidewalk and driveway and cleared their car of snow—just as they have done in past winters.
Pat and Todd King (Gaithersburg) cleared three driveways and sidewalks of senior neighbors.
Stephen Klopfer (Germantown) cleared the sidewalks and driveways for 19 senior neighbors.
Joe Klosky (Rockville), together with neighbor Bob Jenkins, cleared as many as 10 driveways during each snow storm using snow blowers and shovels.
Alex Koudry (Silver Spring), during each snow storm, cleared the driveways of his next door neighbor and other elderly neighbors nearby.
Julio Kuchilla (Germantown) for more than 13 years has cleared snow from the walkway and sidewalk of his neighbor.
Loretta Lawrence and her son, Jason (Kensington), cleared the sidewalks and driveways of their neighbor, who is a physician, while the doctor worked at the hospital during the storm.
Ben LeBlanc (Bethesda), age 13, shoveled his neighbor’s walkway and cleared her car of snow.
John Meekin and Andrew Leite (Rockville) shoveled their neighbor’s sidewalks and patio.
Steve Leon (Brookeville), who was nominated by several neighbors, cleared the driveways and walkways of neighbors with his snow blower after every storm.
Michael Linder (Silver Spring) shoveled the sidewalks and driveways of several neighbors after each snowfall.
Deven and Kyle Lizzi (Burtonsville) shoveled the sidewalks of at least six neighbors after storms—before shoveling their own house.
Rick McUmber (Chevy Chase) shoveled sidewalks on Wisconsin Avenue between Hunt Avenue and Bradley Boulevard. He was always the first one out during storms helping to shovel.
Patrick Malloy and his children (Potomac) assisted their senior citizen neighbors by shoveling their driveways and walkways.
Joe Mamana (Burtonsville) tirelessly cleared snow from several neighbors’ driveways during snow storms.
Pedro Marroquin (Silver Spring) shoveled a neighbor’s sidewalk during her husband’s illness and subsequent death.
Tim and Debbie Marsh (Montgomery Village), who were nominated by several neighbors, shoveled sidewalks and steps of nine townhomes occupied by widows and others with medical issues.
Rob Mixell (Gaithersburg) and his son cleared their neighbors’ driveways during storms.
Mitchell Morris and his son, Brian (Rockville), consistently cleared their neighbor’s long and wide driveway.
Jake Nichols (Rockville) shoveled the driveway and dug out the car of his senior neighbor during the winter. In summer, he often helps with gardening and other tasks in the yard.
Chuck Niglio and Andrew Huck (Silver Spring) used their snow blowers to clear sidewalks and driveways throughout their neighborhood, as well as the path to the local middle school.
John Nigro (Silver Spring) cleared his neighbor’s sidewalk, driveway and walkways.
Nick Novak (Rockville) purchased a snow blower to lighten the community burden when he learned the winter was going to be snowy, and he cleared much of neighborhood each snowfall.
The Nusraty and Price children (Potomac), after each snowfall, shoveled the driveway of a neighbor recovering from open heart surgery.
Sue Ousterhout and her daughter, Gina Balodemas,(Chevy Chase) shoveled the sidewalks of snow, creating a safe pathway for pedestrians to Bradley Boulevard.
Michael Peyton (Silver Spring) shoveled the sidewalks and driveways of four of his neighbors all winter, including those of a senior with arthritis and COPD.
Andrew Pollock (Takoma Park) shoveled the sidewalk and long walkway to the home of a senior couple who are unable to do their own shoveling.
Joseph Porcelli (Bethesda) created snowcrew.org, a web site that matches volunteers who are willing to help by shoveling for residents who are unable to shovel themselves.
Conrad Potemra (Poolesville) shoveled many of his neighbors’ driveways and sidewalks, and also went beyond the homes to provide access to the nearby intersection.
Jeffrey Powell (Gaithersburg) has a long record of helping his neighbors during snow storms. He was one of the first shovelers out to help after storms this year—just like he was after blizzards of 1996 and 2009, Snowmageddon and the 2011 storms. He also used his truck to pull out the vehicles of drivers who got stuck in the snow.
Vincent Queen, Jr. (Silver Spring) tirelessly helped his neighbors during the 2014 storms.
Phil Reding (Montgomery Village) shoveled the driveways and sidewalks of several elderly neighbors whom he did not know, but heard were in need of help.
The Reichard Family (Rockville) shoveled the sidewalk for the entire block after the snow storms this year—just as they do every year.
Sara Robinson (Bethesda) used a snow blower to clear the driveway of her medically vulnerable neighbor while Lise and Bill Bernhard worked to clear off cars and remove snow and ice from the steps.
Joseph and Christine Rosamont (Silver Spring) this year, like every year, cleared a pathway from the house to the curb to enable their wheelchair-bound neighbor to board Metro Access and attend his day program.
Pete Salinger (Bethesda) shoveled the snow on the sidewalks he worked hard to have installed, thereby helping all of his neighbors—and especially one who suffered a concussion after slipping and falling on an icy sidewalk.
The Shein Family (Potomac), as they do every year, shoveled the driveway and sidewalks of neighbors whose physical limitations prevent them from doing their own shoveling.
Robert Sherf (Silver Spring) cleared the sidewalks on his block and the entire neighborhood road with his small plow.
Kenneth Singleton (Olney), who is known to his entire community for his generosity over the years, shoveled driveways of many of his neighbors.
Gariel Spiro (Gaithersburg) cleared snow at the home of a senior with physical limitations.
Bob Stern (Potomac), age 73, used his snow blower to clear sidewalks and driveways throughout his neighborhood.
Jim and Sue Suit (Olney) shoveled the driveway and front door area of their neighbors with medical limitations—as they have done after every snow storm for the past 13 years.
Emmanuel Suppey (Gaithersburg) cleared snow from the sidewalk and front steps—as well as from the car and parking spaces—of a senior neighbor who is recovering from hip replacement surgery. They also help the neighbor by providing rides to doctor appointments and assist with errands.
Frank Taylor (Silver Spring) cleared walkways and driveways of several neighbors who face challenges due to health or age—in spite of his own back issues.
Timothy Thew (Poolesville) attached his plow to his ATV at the first sign of winter and cleared snow for the entire neighborhood all season long.
Dan Thomas (Silver Spring) cleared the nearby church parking lot and also plowed the long driveway of a senior couple, allowing the man to get to the hospital for his scheduled surgery.
Casey Thompson (Rockville) shoveled sidewalks and driveways throughout his neighborhood—helping his neighbors as he does in other ways year-round.
Leroy Wells (Gaithersburg) helped anyone he saw in need and looked after his neighbors in other ways—in some cases ensuring that they had heat, food and water.
Christopher Williams (Gaithersburg) regularly helped neighbors with disabilities by removing snow from their sidewalks, driveways and from the front of their homes.
Hannah Williams (Gaithersburg), who is only four years old, is already learning the Golden Rule by shoveling—or at least trying to shovel—her neighbor’s driveway.
Jim Williams (Takoma Park) used his snow blower to clear the sidewalks of several of neighbors, including one who uses crutches to get around.
Michael Wilson (Gaithersburg) plowed sidewalks throughout the neighborhood and created a clear access to all the bus stops.
Mark Wood (Silver Spring), the longest residing member of his community, cleared streets and sidewalks to ensure all of his neighbors were able to carry on their daily routines.
Dave Worcester and Therese Worcester-Aubin (Gaithersburg), were out in full force after the snow storms shoveling sidewalks and clearing many cars of snow through their entire condominium community.
William Wyncoop (Poolesville) cleared his neighbor’s sidewalks for years—although he remained anonymous until recently.
