The 34th Annual Northville Beautification Awards were presented during the luncheon meeting of the Northville Rotary Club Sept. 26.
Northville Mayor Brian Turnbull presented the awards to the city honorees and Township Supervisor Mark Abbo introduced the township winners. Thirty-two awards were given to city recipients and 24 were given to township businesses and civic organizations. The Lifetime Award from Northville Township was presented to Meadowbrook Country Club., Deadwood Bar & Grill received the Best in Township Award and Home 2 Suites by Hilton garnered the Corporate Pride Award.
Beautification Commission Chair Diane Pittaway reminded the audience that group members are active in the city and complete and maintain many of the garden areas in the community, including the small garden in front of Northville City Hall.
Pittaway told the assembled crowd that the Northville commission recently received a certificate of recognition for 60 years of membership in the Beautification Council of Southeastern Michigan. The Northville commission was among the 24 communities that met to establish the nonprofit organization, she said.Pittaway also called attention to the new garden that commission members planted at Cabbagetown Park, with the help of the Parks & Recreation staff. She said the commission will be working on new plantings around the new welcome signs installed at main entrances to the city. The group uses native plants whenever possible, she said, to ensure the plantings and gardens are not only beautiful but also beneficial for the environment.
Township Beautification Commission Chair Lynne Mosteller spoke about the work volunteers did at the Bennett Arboretum Pathway where the living wall had become overgrown and untamed. A group of volunteers replanted the pockets in the wall with various plant varieties to maintain a neater passageway, she said, and displayed before-and-after photos of the revitalized living wall. The walking/biking path begins opposite the Downs at Seven Mile near Sheldon and extends well beyond Six Mile Road into the woods where it loops back. She also said the Arbor Day seedling give-away last spring went very well and the next one is planned for April 2025.
In addition to the city-awarded lawn signs and window decals, winners received a certificate presented during the luncheon.
Volunteer Beautification Commission members are always welcome, officials said. The next city project is the cleaning of the VFW flag site Post 4012 at 438 S. Main.
