Members of the Bethlehem Garden Club have announced the 2014 winners of the Golden Trowel Awards.
“The goal is to encourage businesses to maintain their properties and keep them looking fantastic,” said award coordinator Mandy Fallon.
This year’s awards were presented on Wednesday, Oct. 8, during a ceremony at the Bethlehem Public Library. The winners were The Hamlet in Slingerlands, the Community Cares building on Delaware Avenue and Bethlehem Town Center plaza in Glenmont.
President David Sussman collected the award on behalf of The Windsor Companies for The Hamlet. The new apartment complex was nominated for its welcoming entrance and plantings.
Garden Club members also said the landscape was “meticulously maintained,” and Fallon said she loved the hardscaping.
“It really adds something to what is essentially one of the gateways into town from Albany,” Fallon said. “We really appreciate the efforts put forth in creating such a lovely spot.”
The second recipient was Carrow Real Estate from the Community Cares Building at the corner of Elsmere and Delaware. The members said they liked how the building was pedestrian friendly and admired the new benches. They also liked how the landscape was seasonally appropriate, calling it “charming.”
The last award was presented to Jamie Margelot, project manager for Bethlehem Town Center on behalf of The Nigro Companies. The shopping center is seen as another gateway business into the town from Route 9W. Members liked the large land banks that help obstruct the big box stores. They also liked the use of colors and amount of time spent on maintenance.
Garden Club members look at a property’s landscaping and nominate businesses. Winners are selected based on how plants, landscape and decorative details are used to improve the look of the site and the community as a whole. Each winner is given a certificate and a golden trowel to be displayed at the place of business.
“We really appreciate all of your hard word and express our thanks for making our community look so good,” said Fallon to the award winners.
The Golden Trowel Awards began last year as a new initiative by the organization to encourage merchants to spruce up their properties and improve the town’s appearance. The idea stemmed from a walk the club members took with town officials up Delaware Avenue to the Albany city line.
“Bethlehem is known for having charming neighborhoods and tree-lined streets, and this award recognizes those merchants who have gone above and beyond in enhancing our natural environment,” said former club president Louise Kavanaugh last year.
In its first year, six awards were presented, going to: Thomas H. Pratt, Jr. & Associates, Applebee Funeral Home, TwisT Ice Cream, Day Dreams of Delmar Day Spa, Hoffman Car Wash and Glenmont Plaza.
“The beautiful enhancements made by the recognized establishments not only benefit their commercial endeavors, but also contribute to the quality of life in our community at large,” noted the committee.
Fallon said the club is determining whether to open nomination up to the general public in future years. The hope is for more community involvement, and possibly another award for residents.
