All the flower planting, weed pulling, vigilant maintenance, meticulous attention to detail and old-fashioned hard work finally paid off for a select group of property owners.
For the 11th consecutive year, the Oxford Village Beautification Commission Tuesday night held its “Beautification Awards Program.”
Six residential and three commercial properties were honored for their individual aesthetic contributions toward improving the village’s overall appearance.
Commission Chairman Joe Bullen said the purpose of the awards program is not only to honor those recognized, but to motivate others to maintain, enhance and beautify their properties.
“We (the Beautification Commission) do not have any real power to tell anyone to do anything,” Bullen said. “We like to say that we are encouragers. That’s really what we do through the awards program and other things we do in the village.”
“We have seen – over the 11 years that we’ve been doing this – a tremendous improvement in the village,” he said. “If you haven’t done it, I invite you to drive the streets of the village. I think you will be surprised at some of the places you see. There are people that are really doing a great job to enhance our village and improve life here.”
Bullen was also pleased to inform the audience that over the last three years, the Beautification Commission, in conjunction with the village Department of Public Works, has planted 160 trees on village property.
“And much of that has been done with private funds that were donated to our program,” Bullen noted.
Serving on the Beautification Commission with Bullen are village residents Marilyn Bossardet and Barbara Fox and township residents Jan Burns and Joanne Hitch.
Aiding the commission in selecting the award winners is a dedicated nominating committee consisting of village residents Marie Emrick, Teresa Frank and Connie Miller.