Press Releases
Ceremony Honors Award Winners of the Keep Montgomery County Beautiful Annual Beautification and Amateur Photography Competitions & Other Special Awards
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, October 28, 2014
The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) announces seventy once winners of its 28th annual Keep Montgomery County Beautiful (KMCB) community beautification awards. Fifty five amateur photographers were also honored in addition to two Clean Sweep Awards for the Adopt A Road.
The beautification competition is open to community groups, businesses, public institutions and other organizations undertaking landscaping projects that enhance the appearance of commonly owned sections of commercial or residential properties. Landscaping can also take place along County roadsides, medians, or other public locations. More than twenty years ago, concerned volunteers formed the Keep Montgomery County Beautiful Task Force to work with the County to develop beautification projects and anti-litter and recycling programs. The group also conducts public education to change resident attitudes about littering and graffiti. Business and organization sponsors that assist MCDOT in staging this annual ceremony included the Bethesda Urban Partnership and Bethesda Florist.
Winners of the 27th annual KMCB community beautification awards
KMCB awards that are labeled “New” are recently established projects initiated between Fall 2013 through Spring 2014, and awards that are labeled “Environmental” are projects that contribute to environmental sustainability, such as planned wildlife habitats, conservation plantings, or rainscapes.
CITYSCAPE for municipal street plantings in median strips, near traffic ramps, and next to sidewalks: Received 6 entries
Award of Excellence: James Monroe Park, Rockville
Award of Excellence: Mattie J. T. Stepanek Park Peace Garden, City of Rockville, Rockville
Award of Excellence: East Rockville Greenway, City of Rockville, Rockville
Award of Excellence: Pump House at Croyden Park, City of Rockville, Rockville
Award of Excellence: The Ponds at Fallsgrove, City of Rockville, Rockville
Award of Excellence: Veterans Park, City of Rockville, Rockville
COMMUNITY NON-PROFESSIONAL for community plantings maintained by community residents through homeowner associations, garden clubs, or civic associations: Received 6 entries
Award of Distinction: The Betty West English Garden, Garden Club of Chevy Chase, Chevy Chase
Award of Distinction: Wire Avenue Pollinator & Butterfly Garden, Neighbors of Wire Avenue, Chevy Chase
Award of Distinction: Woodland Hills HOA Hillside, Community Volunteers Gaithersburg Environmental
Award of Distinction: Woodmoor Community Garden, The Point, Woodmoor Garden Club, Silver Spring
Award of Excellence: Westmoreland Hills Corner Garden, Westmoreland Hills Garden Club, Rockville
Award of Excellence: Jamestown Creek Wild Plant Sanctuary, Westmoreland Hills Garden Club, Bethesda
COMMUNITY PROFESSIONAL for community landscaping projects designed and maintained by professional landscape architects or contractors: received 17 entries
Award of Merit: Avenel Community Association, Mcfall & Berry Landscape Management, Potomac
Award of Distinction: Bethesda Overlook Townhouse Condominium, Potts Consulting and Greenlink, Inc, Bethesda
Award of Distinction: Potomac Crossing, AW Landscapes, Inc., North Potomac
Award of Distinction: Willows of Potomac, AW Landscapes, Inc., Rockville
Award of Excellence: Georgian Court, Green Scene Landscaping, Bethesda
Award of Excellence: The Oaks at Four Corners, My Bloom and Green Scene Landscaping, Silver Spring
Award of Excellence: The Forum, Rosetta Investments, LLC, Rockville
Award of Excellence: Key West Condominiums, AW Landscapes, Inc., Rockville
Award of Excellence: Lakelands Community, McFall & Berry Landscape Management, Gaithersburg
Award of Excellence: Leisure World Cascade, McFall & Berry Landscape Management, Silver Spring
Award of Excellence: Londonderry Towers, Green Scene Landscaping, Gaithersburg
Award of Excellence: Metro 710 Apartments, Complete Landscape Service, Silver Spring
Award of Excellence: Shady Grove Apartments, Green Scene Landscaping, Gaithersburg
Award of Excellence: Stewartown Homes, Green Scene Landscaping, Gaithersburg
Award of Excellence: Strathmore Place Rain Gardens, AW Landscapes, Inc., North Bethesda
Award of Excellence: Tuckerman Station HOA, AW Landscapes, Inc., Rockville
Award of Excellence: The Willows Apartments, Green Scene Landscaping, Rockville
COMMERCIAL/RETAIL for outdoor projects at facilities such as shopping malls, restaurants, retail businesses, gas stations, etc.: received 13 entries
Award of Merit: Lobsang Executive Shell, Rockville
Award of Merit: The Maryland Soccerplex, Fine Earth Landscape, Inc., Boyds
Award of Merit: Fox Chapel Sunoco, Employees & Mid-Atlantic Lawnscapes, Germantown
Award of Distinction: Mario’s Lake Liberty Gas Station, Rolling Acres Landscaping, Chevy Chase
Award of Excellence: Democracy Center, The Brickman Group, Bethesda
Award of Excellence: Gaithersburg Exxon, Gaithersburg
Award of Excellence: Kensington Service Center, Rolling Acres Landscaping, Kensington
Award of Excellence: Landscape Design Center, American Plant Beltway, American Plant Landscape Division, Rockville
Award of Excellence: Marriott Corporate Headquarters, The Brickman Group, Bethesda
Award of Excellence: Marshall Farm, Ruppert Companies Headquarters, Laytonsville Environmental
Award of Excellence: National Auto Body, Rockville
Award of Excellence: United Therapeutics, Ruppert Landscape, Inc., Silver Spring
Award of Excellence: W. Express @ Town Center, Employees and Mid-Atlantic Lawnscapes, Germantown
PUBLIC INSTITUTIONAL for outdoor projects at schools, government buildings, hospitals, churches or libraries: received 8 entries
Award of Distinction: The Jewish Community Center, Ruppert Landscape, Inc. Rockville
Award of Distinction: Montgomery General Hospital Emergency Entrance, Seedling Garden Club, Olney
Award of Excellence: Aspen Hill Library Gardens and Rain Garden, Aspen Hill Garden Club, Rockville Environmental
Award of Excellence: Montgomery General Thrift Store Butterfly Garden, Seedling Garden Club, Olney
Award of Excellence: Master Gardeners Farmers Triangle Demonstration Garden, Montgomery County Master Gardeners, Gaithersburg
Award of Excellence: Master Gardeners 4-H Garden, Montgomery County Master Gardeners, Gaithersburg
Award of Excellence: Out Lady of Good Counsel High School, Grounds Management Personnel, Olney
Award of Excellence: Washington Episcopal School, Ruppert Landscape, Inc., Bethesda
YOUTH for outdoors projects implemented by one or a group of persons who are 18 years old or younger. Adult supervision is permitted, but youth must do the majority of a project:
Award of Distinction: Rockville High School Conservation Landscape, RHS Horticulture Students, Rockville, Environmental
SUSTAINED MAINTENANCE (THREE-TIME WINNERS TRANSITION TO THIS CATEGORY) for awards to previous triple winners of the Award of Excellence: (14)
First Year/ Commercial/Retail: Bethesda Row, Ruppert Landscape, Inc., Bethesda
First Year/ Community Professional: Leisure World Globe, McFall and Berry Landscape, Silver Spring
First Year/ Public/Institutional: Master Gardeners Heritage Garden, Montgomery County Master Gardeners, Gaithersburg
First Year/ Community Professional: Grosvenor Park MTA Monument, Lancaster Landscapes, North Bethesda
Second Year/ Community Non-Professional: HTCA Triangle Garden, Huntington Terrace Homeowners Association, Bethesda
Second Year/ Public-Institutional: Master Gardeners Demonstration Gardens, Derwood Agricultural Farm Park, Rockville
Second Year/ Commercial/Retail: The Tower Building, The Brickman Group, Rockville
Second Year/ Cityscape: Veirs Mill Road Landscape Enhancements, City of Rockville, Rockville
Third Year/ Commercial Retail: Hughes Network, The Brickman Group, Germantown
Third Year/ Cityscape: Rockville Town Square, Ruppert Landscape, Inc., Rockville
Third Year/ Commercial/Retail: Silver Spring Metro Plaza, Ruppert Landscape, Inc., Silver Spring
Fourth Year/ Community Non-Professional: Cambridge Walk II Homeowners Association, Rockville
Fourth Year/ Commercial/Retail: Capital Gateway, Ruppert Landscape, Inc., Bethesda
Fourth Year/ Community Professional: Maplewood Park Place, ValleyCrest Landscape, Bethesda
Fourth Year/ Community Professional: Potomac Crest Homeowners Association, The Brickman Group, Potomac
Fourth Year/ Community Non-Professional: Rockshire Entranceway, Rockshire Garden Club, Rockville
Fourth Year/ Commercial/Retail: Washingtonian Center, The Brickman Group, Gaithersburg
THE GOLDEN TROWEL AWARD – Final Year/Fifth Year:
Fifth Year/ Commercial/Retail: Human Genome Sciences, Ruppert Landscape, Inc., Bethesda
Fifth Year/ Community Non-Professional: Kenwood Pocket Park, Kenwood Garden Club, Chevy Chase
Fifth Year/ Public-Institutional: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Labyrinth, Bethesda
To see photos of the awards ceremony and photographs of these winning landscape projects, visit MCDOT’s website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdotcommunityoutreach.
Winners of the 23rd annual KMCB amateur photography awards
For the Annual Amateur Photography Contest, photos were judged on effective composition, originality, technique, interest and relevance of the subject matter. This year there were 55 entries.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BY DAY – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County that depicts something fun, beautiful or exciting during daytime hours.
First Place: “Sunflower Sunset” Stan Collyer - Potomac
Second Place: “Brookside Water Lily” Jim Turner – Silver Spring
Third Place: “Tivoli Swan” Michael Rutledge – Silver Spring
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, BY NIGHT – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County that depicts something fun, beautiful or exciting during nighttime.
First Place: “Diagonal Curves” Elizabeth Koller – Silver Spring
Second Place: “Vivid” Emanuel Canjura – Silver Spring
MONTGOMERY COUNTY LANDMARKS – Any photo taken outdoors in Montgomery County of a natural or manmade commonly recognized landmark or scene.
First Place: “Red Wiggler Barn” Larry Dean - Damascus
Second Place: “Bethesda Metro” Loretta Greenleaf - Bethesda
Third Place: “Frolicking at Brookside Gardens” Don Bandler - Bethesda
MONTGOMERY COUNTY HER PEOPLE – Any photo taken of one or more persons involved in County activities, close-up or distant, showing leisure activity, productivity, or community service.
First Place: “Ready to Hunt” Linda Eisenstadt – Silver Spring
Second Place: “Rocking in Town Center” Erica Robertson – North Bethesda
Third Place: “Neighbors Getting the Job Done” Alan Kolnik - Damascus
MONTGOMERY COUNTY AT WORK – Any photo taken of one or more persons at work, contributing to the livability and splendor of our County.
First Place: “Fireman to the Rescue” Mark Ratner – Silver Spring
Second Place: “Fire and Police to the Rescue” Sanford Shudnow – Silver Spring
Third Place: “Keys Beautiful” De Hou Yang – Wheaton
MONTGOMERY COUNTY YOUTH – This optional category allows only those who are 18 years old or younger to choose to participate and compete against each other.
First Place: “A Spring Day” Casey Taira – Olney
Second Place: “Flutter on a Flower” Rita Rosenbloom – Gaithersburg
Third Place: “Shady Flowers” Brittany Sickner - Olney
To see photos of the awards ceremony and these winning photographs, visit MCDOT’s website at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/mcdotcommunityoutreach
ADOPT A ROAD CLEAN SWEEP AWARDS – for fiscal year FY14 (July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014). The first award was created to recognize the highest number of reported cleanings by an individual or group in the past fiscal year. The second award was created to recognize the highest number of bags of trash reported being picked up by an individual or group in the past fiscal year. Reporting the number of bags collected is a data gathering initiative MCDOT uses to measure results of the program.
Award of Excellence for Most Cleanings Reported – Gold, Leins, and Adoff, CPA’s, represented by Bob Leins. This group reported cleaning their adopted road, Glen Road in Potomac, 95 times (averaging twice a week) in FY14. They have been with program since 2003.
Award of Excellence for Most Trash Collected: Park Hills Civic Association, represented by Alan Bowser. This group adopts a segment of Sligo Creek Parkway in Silver Spring. In FY14 they collected 98 30-gallon bags of trash, totaling 2,940 gallons of litter and debris. They have been with the program since 2008.
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Media contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6513
Program Contact: tom Pogue, 240-777-7171
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