Quakertown Alive! - Properties of Merit

August 28, 2008

Committees

Design

Economic Restructuring

Events

Organization

POM •

Properties of Merit

Co-chair persons: Cathy Gillahan and Betsy Meredith

The Properties of Merit (POM) meets as needed from June through November. The program acknowledges residential and commercial properties displaying exceptional care and maintenance. It has been endorsed by Governor Ed Rendell because of its ability to enhance the quality of life for neighborhood communities.

The program was first introduced by Siobhan Bennett in northern New York. She later brought it to the Lehigh Valley where it has been a popular program among local residents for over 10 years. In 2007, Quakertown Alive was presented with the idea of introducing it in Quakertown and our community became the first to offer it in Bucks County.

By encouraging owners to take pride in their homes and businesses and notice the little touches that can make a big difference, the program contributes to revitalization without adding municipal regulations. People who live near or walk by these properties can't help but feel better about their neighborhood.

Having painted gutters and window trim with a neat, clutter-free yard is more important than the size of the property. General curb appeal will get you noticed the most and extra points are awarded for those that appear more motivated than their neighbors.

Jim Wilson (Lincoln Financial Advisors; QA! President) and Alexandria Johnson (local resident) took over for QA's former Main Street Manager Holly Edinger as the program's first co-directors. QA! POM hosted the winners' reception at the Quakertown Train Station on October 18th. The annual reception, which offered hors' d'oeuvres, desserts, coffee and wine contributed by local businesses in 2007, is the final celebration of everyone's hard work.

The nomination process begins in June, the properties are evaluated during the summer, the ballots appear in the Intelligencer in September, and the winners are announced at the reception in October.

If you would like to join the committee or contribute to the reception, simply let us know.

Properties of Merit 2007

Last year's program was a big success. This year, the Intelligencer will again insert the ballots in its publication in September and QNB will be a major sponsor. As you may recall, Quakertown was the first community in Bucks County to offer this program, through Quakertown Alive.

The Program

The POM program focuses on the physical assets of the town by recognizing well-maintained residences and businesses. Collectively, these properties have a dramatic impact on the quality of life for the community. Last year's POM Awards Reception was held in the Quakertown Train Station on October 18th. Over 80 guests were there and the place was packed. Therefore, a new location will be needed for this year.

Residential and commercial nominees were selected from those sent in by area residents during the summer. A team of evaluators then went out and completed a survey for each property, to create a numerical score for comparison. The top scores became the finalists and they appeard on ballots in the Intelligencer.

The properties receiving the most votes from the public were awarded the People's Choice Awards. In addition, specialty awards were given to properties and neighbors we thought were most deserving.

2007 Finalists and Award Winners

(Businesses/Property Owners):

Commercial: Sheffield Apartments, Beautiful Smiles Dentistry/Fourth St. Partnership, Quakertown National Bank, Antiques at 200 East, H.C.Kulp Jewelers, CDF Industries, McCoole’s Tavern at the Red Lion Inn, Quakertown AutoWash, and C.R. Strunk Funeral Home. People’s Choice Award: C.R. Strunk Funeral Home.

Meetinghouse District: Thomas Paulovitz, Sharon Gilley, Dan Creghan, Nicholas Trocine, Gordon & Michelle Roeder, and Margaret Stauffer. People’s Choice Award: Georgeanna & Thomas Paulovitz

Park District: Michael Zinn, Lisa Lowrey, Victoria Cohen, James Smith, John Mathias, and Eric Hellman. People’s Choice Award: Victoria Cohen

Trolley District: Michele & Michael Guttman, Theodore Nordmark, Matt & Tina Eichlin, and Craig Gillahan II. People’s Choice Award: Cathy & Craig Gillahan

Grand Prize Award (most votes overall): Georganna and Thomas Paulovitz (1014 Park Avenue)

Specialty Awards:

Mirror Images Awards: James Adams, Oskar Maueroeder Jr.

Best Neighbor Awards: James A. Michener Branch of the Bucks County Free Library, Michael & Judy Schmauder (C.R. Strunk Funeral Home)

Quakertown Alive! Award: Bucks County Preservationists (Michael Cygan, Daniel Soliday and Kenton Bauder

Founder’s Choice Award: Quakertown Train Station Historical Society

The guest speaker was founder Siobhan "Sam" Bennett. The MC was Quakertown POM Co-Director and QA! President Jim Wilson. Alexandria Johnson was the other Co-Director and Jennifer Nagy was the Administrative and Booklet Chair. The Reception Chair was Jack Lopez.

Nominating Committee Members were Michael Cygan, Holly Edinger, Heather Gossler, Alexandria Johnson, Jackie Mohr, Jennifer Nagy, Donald Rosenberger, Elfreide Werner, Jim Wilson and Lisa Wilson.

We could not have done this without the help of our volunteers and local business sponsors. Thank you!

Donations to support this annual event may be made directly to Quakertown Alive or by logging on to the national site at quakertown.mypom.org.

Next Meeting

Next meeting: July 29th, 7 PM

Quakertown Train Station


August 28, 2008

Committees Design Economic Restructuring Events Organization POM •	Properties of Merit Properties of Merit Co-chair persons: Cathy Gillahan and Betsy Meredith The Properties of Merit (POM) meets as needed from June through November. The program acknowledges residential and commercial properties displaying exceptional care and maintenance. It has been endorsed by Governor Ed Rendell because of its ability to enhance the quality of life for neighborhood communities. The program was first introduced by Siobhan Bennett in northern New York. She later brought it to the Lehigh Valley where it has been a popular program among local residents for over 10 years. In 2007, Quakertown Alive was presented with the idea of introducing it in Quakertown and our community became the first to offer it in Bucks County. By encouraging owners to take pride in their homes and businesses and notice the little touches that can make a big difference, the program contributes to revitalization without adding municipal regulations. People who live near or walk by these properties can't help but feel better about their neighborhood. Having painted gutters and window trim with a neat, clutter-free yard is more important than the size of the property. General curb appeal will get you noticed the most and extra points are awarded for those that appear more motivated than their neighbors. Jim Wilson (Lincoln Financial Advisors; QA! President) and Alexandria Johnson (local resident) took over for QA's former Main Street Manager Holly Edinger as the program's first co-directors. QA! POM hosted the winners' reception at the Quakertown Train Station on October 18th. The annual reception, which offered hors' d'oeuvres, desserts, coffee and wine contributed by local businesses in 2007, is the final celebration of everyone's hard work. The nomination process begins in June, the properties are evaluated during the summer, the ballots appear in the Intelligencer in September, and the winners are announced at the reception in October. If you would like to join the committee or contribute to the reception, simply let us know. Properties of Merit 2007 Last year's program was a big success. This year, the Intelligencer will again insert the ballots in its publication in September and QNB will be a major sponsor. As you may recall, Quakertown was the first community in Bucks County to offer this program, through Quakertown Alive. The Program The POM program focuses on the physical assets of the town by recognizing well-maintained residences and businesses. Collectively, these properties have a dramatic impact on the quality of life for the community. Last year's POM Awards Reception was held in the Quakertown Train Station on October 18th. Over 80 guests were there and the place was packed. Therefore, a new location will be needed for this year. Residential and commercial nominees were selected from those sent in by area residents during the summer. A team of evaluators then went out and completed a survey for each property, to create a numerical score for comparison. The top scores became the finalists and they appeard on ballots in the Intelligencer. The properties receiving the most votes from the public were awarded the People's Choice Awards. In addition, specialty awards were given to properties and neighbors we thought were most deserving. 2007 Finalists and Award Winners (Businesses/Property Owners): Commercial: Sheffield Apartments, Beautiful Smiles Dentistry/Fourth St. Partnership, Quakertown National Bank, Antiques at 200 East, H.C.Kulp Jewelers, CDF Industries, McCoole’s Tavern at the Red Lion Inn, Quakertown AutoWash, and C.R. Strunk Funeral Home. People’s Choice Award: C.R. Strunk Funeral Home. Meetinghouse District: Thomas Paulovitz, Sharon Gilley, Dan Creghan, Nicholas Trocine, Gordon & Michelle Roeder, and Margaret Stauffer. People’s Choice Award: Georgeanna & Thomas Paulovitz Park District: Michael Zinn, Lisa Lowrey, Victoria Cohen, James Smith, John Mathias, and Eric Hellman. People’s Choice Award: Victoria Cohen Trolley District: Michele & Michael Guttman, Theodore Nordmark, Matt & Tina Eichlin, and Craig Gillahan II. People’s Choice Award: Cathy & Craig Gillahan Grand Prize Award (most votes overall): Georganna and Thomas Paulovitz (1014 Park Avenue) Specialty Awards: Mirror Images Awards: James Adams, Oskar Maueroeder Jr. Best Neighbor Awards: James A. Michener Branch of the Bucks County Free Library, Michael & Judy Schmauder (C.R. Strunk Funeral Home) Quakertown Alive! Award: Bucks County Preservationists (Michael Cygan, Daniel Soliday and Kenton Bauder Founder’s Choice Award: Quakertown Train Station Historical Society The guest speaker was founder Siobhan "Sam" Bennett. The MC was Quakertown POM Co-Director and QA! President Jim Wilson. Alexandria Johnson was the other Co-Director and Jennifer Nagy was the Administrative and Booklet Chair. The Reception Chair was Jack Lopez. Nominating Committee Members were Michael Cygan, Holly Edinger, Heather Gossler, Alexandria Johnson, Jackie Mohr, Jennifer Nagy, Donald Rosenberger, Elfreide Werner, Jim Wilson and Lisa Wilson. We could not have done this without the help of our volunteers and local business sponsors. Thank you! Donations to support this annual event may be made directly to Quakertown Alive or by logging on to the national site at quakertown.mypom.org. Next Meeting Next meeting: July 29th, 7 PM Quakertown Train Station