Hero of the Year
The MVSNA Executive Committee is seeking nominations for heroes of the year.
Who has gone beyond and helped improve our neighborhood in 2010?
You can nominate fellow residents, police officers, government officials and elected officials, etc in fact anyone!
Nominate them to be one of MVSNAs Heroes of the Year to be awarded at a special event next year.
Nomination
All nominations need to be by the end of the year. The MVSNA Executive Committee will make the final decision.
2009 Winners
Rob Amos is not only MVSNA's Treasurer and an active board member, he has also taken on an increasingly active leadership role in our community and beyond over the past year. In 2008, he took the helm as Chairperson of Advisory Neighborhood Commission 6B's Planning and Zoning Committee. In addition closely watching out for the interests of "chimney" area residents, such as helping push through long-awaited speed humps on the 200 Block of N Street NW, Rob has advocated for pedestrian safety measures for the entire community. In fact, last summer he took to hounding the director of the District Department of Transportation (DDOT), with MVSNA's pedestrian safety report and recommendations in hand, going as far as a community meeting in Georgetown. Rob has also worked closely with neighborhood businesses, such as B & M Market, and worked with the owner, MVSNA, and the ANC to update a Voluntary Agreement with the store.
Mark Bjorge served as the Mayor Fenty's Ward 2 Service Coordinator. Even before he was officially in this position, Mark appeared at an MVSNA meeting in November 2006 as a representative of the then Mayor-elect. Over the past two years, Mark has shown a level of responsiveness and concern to which all government officials should aspire. He is know for returning calls and e-mails within minutes and getting results. Mark was instrumental in working with Mount Vernon Square residents to close down an illegal club operating on a residential block (Sanctuary 84). He has helped residents address issues ranging from illegal construction to piles of trash left on our streets to pedestrian safety. MVSNA looks forward to continuing to work with Mark in his latest role at DDOT.
2008 Winners
Assistant Chief Diane Groomes, and Officers Chanel Nasser, Mike Jewell, Sherri Forrester, Mike Hoban and Mike McConnell for their hard work and the numerous arrests made to stop drug dealing and prostitution on the 900 Block of 5th Street and for their support in shutting down the illegal Fun Fair Video operation.
Rev. Adomio Boddie of the Third Street Church of God for forging a positive relationship with the community, planning Shaw Community Day and a Harvest Festival, addressing vacant property, and for his work with many community organizations.
2007 Winners
Tommy E. Barnes, Jr., master patrol officer with the Metropolitan Police Department, and Carlson Klapthor, former neighborhood service coordinator for Ward 2, were presented with the Mount Vernon Square Neighborhood Association's (MVSNA) first annual "Hero of the Year" award.
The "Hero of the Year" award was created to acknowledge city workers, elected officials, residents, or others who have gone above and beyond to improve the quality of life in the Mount Vernon Square neighborhood. Officer Barnes and Mr. Klapthor were nominated by community residents and chosen by the MVNSA Executive Committee to receive the award.
Officer Barnes, who serves Patrol Service Area 308, worked tirelessly to rid the neighborhood of two nuisance properties that were havens for drug activity. Officer Barnes is recognized for being unfailingly accessible. He routinely attends community meetings, listens and responds to residents' concerns, and is readily available to the community by cell phone and e-mail. Officer Barnes has also hosted two "Partnership for Problem Solving" sessions, which are designed to train community volunteers in the tools and methods for solving neighborhood crime and disorder problems in coordination with city government agencies. He recently showed his characteristic leadership by preparing an action plan to address deep-rooted crime and by adopting blocks within the MVSNA area as part of the new program instituted by Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier.
"Officer Barnes is a valuable asset to our community and is unquestionably responsible for making our streets safer for residents and visitors," said MVSNA President Cary Silverman. "When city officials talk about what constitutes good community policing, they need to look no further than Officer Barnes as a model."
Mr. Klapthor served as neighborhood service coordinator and core team leader from December 2004 to December 2006 and during his tenure contributed to a better quality of life for those who live in Mount Vernon Square. Mr. Klapthor routinely coordinated the activities of various city agencies to resolve difficult problems that often posed safety and health concerns. Mr. Klapthor was a reliable presence at community meetings and took the time to walk through the neighborhood with residents to identify and address problem spots related to vacant and abandoned properties. Residents applauded Mr. Klapthor this summer for ridding the neighborhood of a construction dumpster that had been overflowing with garbage for months and constituted a serious health hazard.
"Mr. Klapthor is known as someone who can cut through the red tape to get urgent matters resolved in a timely manner," said Silverman. "His departure as the neighborhood service coordinator for Ward 2 will unquestionably be felt by the residents who have come to rely upon his professionalism and responsiveness."
Many thanks to the Warehouse for hosting our event. Check out their theatre, art & film and music offerings or get something to eat and drink in their bar & cafe.
The 2006 Award winners will be given their awards at our 2007 Awards Night at the Warehouse Cafe