Keeping Chesapeake clean, beautiful earns CEIC awards

The Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council bestowed awards March 12 on individuals, groups and businesses who spent 2007 helping clean and beautify the city or helped promote the ideas of conservation, recycling and maintaining a pristine environment.

Top awards at the CEIC's 26th annual event went to a tireless volunteer, an elementary school and a group that helped block the creation of a mega-landfill near Chesapeake's border with North Carolina.

The Outstanding Citizen Award was given to Calvin Faison for his 15 years of service as a CEIC volunteer. The honor cited Faison's reliability, responsibility and compassion toward the continued beautification of the city. He has served as chairperson and vice-chair of the CEIC, and has spent time working on such projects as the annual awards luncheon, the Family Entertainment Series at Fun Forest, Paddle for the Border, Adopt-A-Spot, Clean the Bay Day, Earth Day, Notable Yards and the "Chesapeake: Clean and Green" poster contest.

Camelot Elementary received the Mayor's Outstanding Service Award and CEIC's Education Award for its participation in the Students for Recycling project. During the one-month campaign the school collected 6,490 pounds of plastic bottles for recycling, making it the only school in the state to place in the top level nationally.

That showing earned the school a $1,000 cash award along with 100 backpacks made out of recycled plastic. The project also was used by the school's faculty as an object lesson to educate students on the benefits of recycling.

The Mayor's Environmental Stewardship Award, issued for only the third time, went to City Attorney Ronald S. Hallman, Deputy City Attorney Jan L. Proctor, Citizens Alliance to Prevent Imported Trash board member Phil Johnson, Fire Chief R. Stephen Best, the Grassfield Ruritan Club and the Chesapeake Arboretum for their collective efforts in helping block the creation of a mega-landfill near the city's southern border.

Hallman and Proctor were honored for developing the city's legal strategy in helping protect its drinking water and watershed, while Johnson, Best, the Ruritans and the Arboretum were cited for helping educate the public and protecting Chesapeake's environs.

OTHER WINNERS ARE:

Communication Award Northwest River Park won for its monthly e-mail publication "Northwest River News," created and edited by the park's Kevin Kaul. It was was cited for conserving paper, its growing readership, and its timely environmental news and activities, color photos and tips.

Adult Community Organization Award Great Bridge Ruritan Club won for its community beautification projects, cleaning its Adopt-A-Spot site and planting two Adopt-A-Garden spots, its annual participation in the Great American Cleanup and Arbor Day activities, and planting trees at Great Bridge High.

Youth Community Organization Award Cub Scout Pack 57 won for its work in helping keep the annual Great Bridge Jaycees Christmas Parade litter free by distributing 5,000 litterbags and carrying anti-litter signs.

Government Agency Award Chesapeake Neighborhood Services Department won for its publication of the report: "The State of Chesapeake's Urban Forest," put together by city arborist Miklos Lestyan and submitted to the city manager's office in December.

Business & Industry Award Chesapeake Service Systems won for employing 16 people with severe developmental disabilities to work Mondays through Fridays picking up litter. Besides helping clean the city, the program also "provides self-esteem, independence and a sense of purpose" in their lives.

Environmental Community Resource Award The Chesapeake Arboretum won for its trail systems, for promoting horticultural and environmental awareness through displays, education and research, and for providing educational opportunities through theme gardens, fragrance and rose gardens, demonstration gardens, Junior Gardener classes and Arbor Day activities.

Business Beautification Award Co-sponsored by the Women's Division of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce - Chesapeake, this honor was presented to the Bank of the Commonwealth.

Eric Feber, 222-5203, eric.feber@pilotonline.com