Businesses' pride grows
Steve Foushee didn't know that Columbia County had a landscaping award, so it was a surprise to him when he received a call that Metro Augusta Clean and Beautiful wanted to present his business with a Point of Pride award.
"We feel like the appearance of our landscaping is important for our store," said Foushee, owner of Bruster's Old Fashion Ice Cream & Yogurt at 516 N. Belair Road in Martinez. "We felt like we had to have a nice place for customers to enjoy our product."
Foushee credited Four Seasons Landscaping, who did the initial design and landscaping for the business, and its maintenance group, Preferred Lawn Services, who maintains the grounds.
"They have just done a really great job for us," said Foushee of the landscaping company owned by George Fuller. "They take great pride in what they do. We certainly couldn't have won this award without their design and their maintenance."
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The Point of Pride award was begun about two years ago, according to Lillian-Katharine Blanos, executive director of Metro Augusta Clean and Beautiful, which works in association with the Columbia County Clean and Beautiful Advisory Committee.
"The Columbia County Advisory Committee made a decision to pay special recognition to local Columbia County businesses that make a special effort to beautify their place of business," said Blanos. "Each month we have sought out that special person and awarded them with a special designed sign to place in front of their business."
Brewster's Ice Cream has been given Columbia County's Point of Pride Award.
06/19/03 Jim Blaylock NEWS-TIMES
Photo by Jim Blaylock
Recipients also are given a plaque during a presentation at Columbia County Board of Commissioners meetings, according to Paula Dukes, current chair of the Point of Pride program.
"Everyone who has received this award is so excited," Dukes said.
According to Blanos, the award was presented monthly until recently, when the advisory committee decided to make it a quarterly award. "This way we can leave the signs out longer," said Blanos, adding that nominations for the award can be made by calling 261-4390.
Mot's Pit Cooked Barbeque at 3693 Columbia Road in Martinez is a recent recipient of the award. Trisha Laughery, co-owner of the business, said she had noticed the award at a nearby business before learning that Mot's had been chosen as a recipient.
"I didn't know the criteria," said Laughery, who opened the restaurant with Lee Motlow in May 1996. "We have someone who comes and mows the grass for us, but we do everything else."
Laughery said she, Motlow and employees tend to the flower beds and other landscaping needs at the restaurant.
"We have employees who have a good sense of pride about where they work and they help pull weeds and dead-head flowers," she said. "Every once in a while we have someone who mentions (the grounds) and we know people do notice our efforts. That makes it all worthwhile."