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City of Vancouver

Vancouver Sparkles Awards 2010

Vancouver Sparkles with community pride!

The Vancouver Sparkles Award has been an annual program sponsored by the City of Vancouver that recognized neighbors who go the extra mile to make their neighborhood special. Since 2001, over 200 award winners have been recognized for making Vancouver Sparkle, and acknowledged for making their neighborhoods clean, green and a good place to live and work. 

Beginning in 2010, the Vancouver Sparkles program will have a slightly different look. While the City does not have the resources to continue to host the program, the neighbors in our community are worthy of recognition and the City wants to assist the neighborhood associations to continue to recognize and show appreciation for their outstanding neighbors. 

Even though there will not be an organized program through the City, we are encouraging all recognized neighborhood associations to name a Vancouver Sparkles award winner within their own neighborhood and honor them in a special way. Maybe it will be recognition at the neighborhood picnic or cleanup day or winter holiday gathering, along with an article in your neighborhood newsletter. And, the City wants to support your recognition effort by providing a special certificate signed by Mayor Tim Leavitt and City Manager Pat McDonnell, a special window decoration and your choice of: a Vancouver Sparkles T-shirt, a reusable bag or a garden flag (while supplies last). We will also post the names and nominations of the award winners on the City website, and provide a special recognition in the Office of Neighborhoods Weekly Update.

So, whether it’s picking up litter during a daily walk, organizing a cleanup, helping neighbors with yard work or being a friendly neighbor with a “can do” attitude, your neighborhood association is encouraged to name a Vancouver Sparkles Award Winner and let us know about it. Please send your nomination (including name and a brief description of why they were chosen) to Judi Bailey at judi.bailey@ci.vancouver.wa.us or call 360-487-8608.

Nominations received that do not come from recognized neighborhood associations will be forwarded to the appropriate neighborhood association for their consideration.

Following are the winning nominations for 2010 as selected by Vancouver neighborhood associations. If your neighborhood association has not yet selected a Vancouver Sparkles award winner contact your neighborhood association president or chair person with your nomination.

Airport Green

The Airport Green Neighborhood's Sparkles Award winner this year is Fred Swanson. 

Fred sparkles in the way he pitches in when the neighborhood needs help with activities.  He frequently assists with the Kids Parade, the Neighborhood Picnic, and the Cleanup.  He is a past member of the AGNA Executive Board.  He is also a ham radio operator for the AGNA Citizens Emergency Response Team (CERT).  In addition, Fred and his wife, Marlene, make their attractive home and yard on NE 144th Avenue a pleasure to walk by.  It is also well lit and sets a great example for the Neighborhood Watch program.  The Airport Green Neighborhood sparkles with the help of Fred Swanson.

North Garrison Heights

The North Garrison Heights Neighborhood Association honors Laurie Roberge.

Everyone who knows Laurie knows that she keeps a full and active schedule involving work, family and friends. Nevertheless, for the past many years Laurie has generously offered her time and energy to coordinate our neighborhood association's annual clean-up.

Laurie doesn't just rely on what has been done in the past: each year Laurie tries to make the clean-up even better. This year she lined up a tremendous amount of recycling and reuse options which meant that she had more phone calls to make in preparation for the clean-up and more schedules to coordinate. Lauries's dedication to the neighborhood associatoin is a true gift. It's because of people like Laurie that Vancouver Sparkles!

Laurie was recognized at the North Garrison Heights Neighborhood Picnic on June 10 at Coop Park.