Six homes and three commercial properties were selected as the 2003 Oxford Village Beautification Commission Award winners Tuesday.
A total of 78 village residential and commercial properties were nominated for the 11th annual awards program, according to Commission Chairman Joe Bullen.
The nine winners were selected by the commission for their aesthetic contributions toward improving the village’s overall appearance.
Bullen said the purpose of the awards program is for neighbors to “encourage” neighbors when it comes to maintaining, enhancing and beautifying their properties.
In the residences 40 years and older category, the winners were Alice Bates (60 Pontiac St.), Dennis and Delores Ludwig (110 Pontiac St.) and Larry Staley (88 Dayton St.).
“It’s like a pat on the back for keeping your house looking nice,” said Staley, who’s lived on Dayton St. for 35 years.
Jose Rivera (496 Sunset Blvd.), Brian and Mary Cribb (830 Leighton Lane) and Richard Padlo (37 Spring Lake) won in the residences under 40 years old category.
“It feels great,” Cribb said of winning the award. “It made my day.”
Cribb said her husband, Brian, “deserves credit for the way (the frontyard) looks today.”
“He has worked so hard,” she said. “We started with two boulders out front. That was it.”
Cribb said her husband was “thrilled” when he heard about the award.
In the commercial property category, the winners were Royal Oak Boring (700 Glaspie), Roots Hair Salon (11 Mechanic St.) and the chain of renovated houses at 117, 119 and 121 S. Washington St. now now used for businesses.
The chain of houses is owned by local developer Charles W. Schneider, who won beautification awards in 2002 for the restored Crawford House (107 S. Washington) and in 2001 for his new office buildings at 109 and 113 N. Washington St.
“I’m really excited,” said Claudia Rocosky, owner of Roots Hair Salon. “My husband (Brian) has put a lot of time and energy into the building. He’ll be thrilled.”
Rocosky said maintaining the outward appearance of her business shows “pride in ownership and in what we do.”
“It feels like home here and we like to relay it to our clients,” she said.
Dale Zarzycki, management director for Royal Oak Boring, said “it feels good” to win a beautification award and he’s “glad” the company “can contribute to the community” by maintaining the outward appearance of its Oxford plant.
“It’s important to fit right in with the community,” he said. “Being a manufacturing company, we believe in being organized and clean.”
Zarzycki said a big part of the company’s “business philosophy” is to create a “clean, safe environment for employees and the community.”
All the winners will be presented professional photographs of their properties mounted on plaques at a special awards presentation Tuesday, Oct. 7 at the village offices.
The presentation will be followed by refreshments and the opportunity for winners to chat, exchange ideas and encourage one another.
“It’s a good time,” Bullen said.