Hampton Clean City Commission Recognized Environmental
Excellence at its Volunteer Recognition Event

October 29, 2009

The Hampton Clean City Commission honored 36 residents and organizations who have contributed significantly to improving the physical environment of Hampton at its Volunteer Recognition Dinner at Phoebus High School October 29th. Christiana Betts, Chair of the Commission, presided over the event.

Two special awards were presented in honor of HCCC board members who passed away in 2009.

The Harriet Storm Award was established in honor of Harriet N. Storm, former Chair and long-time board member of the Clean City Commission. The award was presented posthumously to Ms. Storm’s family members in recognition of her tremendous contributions to the organizational effectiveness of the Commission throughout the decade. Lisa Hogge, Laura Wyatt, and Erwin Nachman accepted the award. The audience gave a standing ovation. The award will be presented annually to those volunteers who impact most significantly on the organizational and educational effectiveness of the Commission.

The Bert Carr Award, presented in honor of Bert Carr, another former Chair and long-time board member of the Clean City Commission, was presented to Rolland Schattschneider. Mr. Schattschneider has exhibited the same passion for keeping Hampton clean that was a hallmark of Bert Carr’s association with the group. He has participated in the Adopt-A-Spot program since 2000, and has participated in numerous cigarette litter prevention efforts since then. The Bert Carr Award will be presented annually to an Adopt-A-Spot participant who has participated in the program five years or more and has gone beyond the Adopt-A-Spot Program to impact in other ways on litter prevention efforts.

Six Clean City Awards were presented. Clean City Awards are based on extraordinary, ongoing, and far-reaching efforts to improve the physical environment of Hampton. The Clean City Award winners were:

• Bluebird Gap Farm, based on its support of environmental education efforts that include the Bluebird Gap Farm Arboretum, Master Gardener Demonstration Garden, and Rain Barrel Workshops. Among other endeavors
• Charles H. Taylor Art Center, based on its ongoing grounds and neighborhood cleanup efforts
• The Hampton-Newport News Criminal Justice Agency, which has devoted more than 30,000 hours to cleaning up public areas of the city
• Christine LaPointe, who integrates environmental education into day-to-day classroom routines at Bryan Elementary School and has worked to establish an outdoor classroom and recycling at the school
• Corlease Sills, who keeps Machen Elementary School clean through regular cleanups as well as creative messaging to students and community through the use of morning announcements and the school’s marquee
• United Christian Brotherhood, who participates in the Adopt-A-Spot program, but also works to assist elderly and disabled people with landscape maintenance on an ongoing and emergency basis

The Yard of the Year Award winners were Virgil and Ruth Winslow of Watkins Drive. Their "Distinguished Showplace" yard is filled with beauty and color, and maintains good environmental quality, including wildlife habitat.

The Clean Business of the Year Award went to Bass Pro, for their outstanding grounds maintenance, support of environmental education efforts, and beautiful grounds.

The Golden Litterstick Awards were presented to Adopt-A-Spot participants who cleaned up 20 or more times per year. The award winners were: Jim & Margaret Bartlett, Marilyn Burney, Elizabeth Lake Estates Morning Walkers, Hampton Citizens Police Academy Alumni Volunteers, Hampton Sheriff’s Department, Rolland Schattschneider, and Wesley United Methodist Church.

The Extra Mile Awards were presented to Adopt-A-Spot participants who cleaned up 6 to 19 times per year. The award winners were: Anthony C. Olds - Family Matters, Buckroe Civic Association, Coliseum Central BID, Inc., Corlease Sills, Donna Langille, East Hampton Neighborhood Association, Elizabeth Lake Estates Garden Club, Emmanuel Episcopal Church, The Fladger Family, Hampton Shores Neighbors, Jack Rezabek, Neighbors Working Together, Phoebus United Methodist Men, The Smith Family of Baker Farms, and Tammy Trietch.

Green School Awards were presented to schools for environmental excellence. Key components of the award were cleanups conducted by students on their own campus, a recycling program in the school, environmental education activities that took place in the classroom and after school, beautification activities undertaken by the students and the school family, the education and practice of energy conservation measures, and the presence of environmental clubs or clubs that include environmental activity in their mission.

The Green School Award winners were: Asbury Elementary School, Burbank Elementary School, Davis Middle School, Kecoughtan High School, and Tucker-Capps Elementary School.

Special thanks go to Cynthia Harris and Cris Ausink, who did a tremendous job in organizing the event.

Also, a very special thank you goes to our sponsors, The American Theater, Hampton Parks & Recreation Department, Hampton Neighborhood Office, Hampton Coalition for Youth, Phoebus High School, the Phoebus High School NJRTOC, and Camera City for their support of our Volunteer Recognition Dinner.

Thanks also to Councilwoman Angela Leary, Hampton Parks & Recreation Director Jim Wilson, and Hampton Public Works Director John Veneziano for helping to recognize the many outstanding award winners.

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Volunteer Recognition Event Photos

* Click on an Image to Enlarge