4.1.2022 Innovative, Sustainable Green Practices Recognized with Gaithersburg Environmental Awards

Gaithersburg, MD (April 1, 2022)  As part of Green Month, the City of Gaithersburg recognizes individuals and organizations demonstrating outstanding environmental stewardship in the Gaithersburg community with Environmental Awards. Winners will be highlighted throughout the month on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @GburgMD.

This year's Green Month includes a variety of activities that celebrate and improve the environment. Offerings include park clean-ups, a screening of the film "Inhabitants," an Arbor Day celebration, a community shredding event, story time programs, a Fix It Fair, and much more. Explore all Green Month activities here.

For this year's Environmental Awards, the City's Environmental Affairs Committee (EAC) selected four achievement winners, three appreciation award winners and one Green Friend of Gaithersburg winner, including individuals, businesses and nonprofit and faith-based organizations. Collectively, the winners are growing our local green economy, improving their business models with sustainable initiatives, working within their neighborhoods, and inspiring a new green generation. 

Individual Achievement Award Winner

Josie Belkin

Josie Belkin, a junior at Quince Orchard High School, has adopted a location along the Muddy Branch Stream where she monitors chloride and pH levels on a weekly basis. Josie takes her commitment to environmental stewardship seriously, integrating it into all aspects of her life. Her social media accounts share information about the effects of climate change. She is also studying environmental sustainability and is planning to major in Environmental Engineering.

Organization Achievement Award Winners

G-PARC   

The Gaithersburg Park, Arts, and Recreation Corporation (G-PARC) is receiving an Achievement award for its tremendous work in outreach and education related to stormwater pollution prevention. G-PARC is recognized for its new and innovative ways to message about simple, important environmentally-friendly actions that everyone can take ownership of. The Paint the Plow Project educates about smart salting practices, and the Storm Drain Art Contest educates about the effects of litter on the Chesapeake Bay. G-PARC is spotlighted in the spring edition of inGaithersburg Magazine, the City's twice yearly features publication. It is mailed to all households in Gaithersburg, and will be available online by mid-April.

Asbury Methodist Village

Asbury Methodist Village (AMV) continues its commitment to environmental stewardship. This past year, AMV made a significant investment by completing a stream restoration project. The project was done in conjunction with a special Arbor Day celebration and an extensive education and outreach program. AMV's achievements year after year continue to show emphasis on its commitment to the environment. This is the sixth Achievement Award for AMV.

Gateway Commons HOA

The Gateway Commons HOA is receiving an Achievement Award for its exceptional work with the community to address climate resiliency via flood mitigation. The community identified that a playground was flooding due to water coming from a nearby industrial property. The HOA worked with the property to minimize the water run-off and added mulch to its playground area.

Organization Appreciation Award Winners

Starbucks

Employees of Starbucks store 1441673 on Muddy Branch Road in Gaithersburg are recognized for their hard work volunteering at City events, including Paint the Plow, Jingle Jubilee, and the Storm Drain Art Contest. Not only did they support event logistics, they took the time to become experts in the "know how" and ended up being advocates for the cause.

Fairhaven United Methodist Church

Fairhaven Methodist Church is recognized for establishing its very own Green Team. Now that the groundwork environmental initiatives have been laid, the Church is planning to host its own Earth Day Festival on April 24, complete with activities for the whole family.

Fitzgerald Auto Mall

Fitzgerald Auto Mall is recognized for its continued environmental programing. For several years, Fitzgerald has been seeing the benefits of its solar canopy and enhanced storm water infrastructure. It also continues to manage hard-to-recycle items via a partnership with TerraCycle.

Green Friend of Gaithersburg Award Winner

Joseph Ferguson

As a resident of Silver Spring, high school student Joseph Ferguson understands that environmental issues and associated actions don't abide by jurisdictional boundaries. Joseph has been working with the City's Salt Watch program for 18 months. Once a week, he visited a specific location of Muddy Branch Stream to record chloride levels. This consistent information has been vital to the understanding of fluctuations of chloride levels in our streams.

For more information on the City of Gaithersburg's environmental programs please contact the Environmental Services Division at 301-258-6370 or e-mail environment@gaithersburgmd.gov.