Pool business wins Point of Pride award
Just as Toni Alewine knows that a well-manicured lawn invites friends and family to a home, she knows that a nicely landscaped entrance can attract customers to her business.
Pete Alewine stands in front of his business, Pete Alewine Pool & Spa, on Washington Road in Evans. The business has been given the county's Point of Pride award.
Photo by Jim Blaylock
As co-owner of Pete Alewine Pool & Spa. on Washington Road in Martinez, Mrs. Alewine takes pride in the landscaping around her business. The efforts have earned the business the recognition of Keep Columbia County Beautiful. The business was chosen for the Point of Pride Award for the third quarter of the year.
"We wanted our building to be something in Columbia County that people would look at and say, 'That looks different; that looks good,' " said Mrs. Alewine, who owns the business with her husband, Pete. "The quality of your swimming pool has got to be high, so you start out with a quality swimming pool and you enhance that with plants and flowers. We create that backyard escape and we worked very hard on the landscaping of our business to put the finishing touches on it, just like you would your back yard."
The lawn at the business is maintained by Preferred Lawn Services, owned by George Fuller, Mrs. Alewine said.
Paula Dukes, the chairwoman of the Point of Pride program, said the eight-year-old Martinez business was picked because of how aesthetically pleasing it is.
"We just thought it was landscaped so beautifully," said Ms. Dukes, adding that the group selects a different business every three months from various areas of the county. The award is given to owners who go the extra mile to beautify the outside of the business. Winners are awarded a sign that is placed in front of the business and a plaque that designates it a Point of Pride recipient.
"We wanted our business to be inviting," said Mrs. Alewine, noting that the company just celebrated its first anniversary at the current location. "We wanted people to see the outside and want to come in and see what was inside."