GOCA Awards
The character of a community is a reflection of the people that live and work there. Olney is such a special place because it is filled with so many people who care about Olney and are willing to "get involved" and give something back to the community, each in their own way.
The Greater Olney Civic Association (GOCA) wants recognize the individuals, businesses, and organizations the community has identified as having made a notable contribution to the greater Olney community. Those recognized make contributions through working with youngsters, assisting senior citizens, performing voluntary civic work, improving our schools and educational facilities, making resources available for community endeavors, etc. GOCA looks for nominees who have made a noteworthy effort as a volunteer(s) or who have gone beyond the requirements of their jobs to enhance the quality of life in our community.
2007 GOCA Awards
The 2007 ceremony was held at Longwood Recreation Center on Sunday, March 2, 2008 at 2:00 pm. This year's winners are:
Janet Terry (center) with GOCA President Barbara Falcigno (left) and Sen. Rona Kramer (right).
Citizen of the Year: Janet Terry
Janet Terry Local resident who sparked the idea of a farmers market in Olney and who then led a remarkably successful effort to make that idea a reality. After seeing how well farmers markets did in other areas, she proposed the idea of an Olney farmers market (to include arts and crafts booths) to GOCA and the local business community as well as farmers, local artists, and others. Her enthusiastic and articulate presentations about the economic and other benefits to Olney from such an event generated significant support and interest, and Janet quickly put together a committee of volunteers and other community members and created a website and a nonprofit corporation to bring the idea of a farmers market to fruition. Under her leadership and as a result of her energy and contagious “can-do” attitude, a farmer’s market location was established, farmers and artists agreed to participate, comprehensive publicity was arranged, and the Olney Farmers Market opened in record time, a mere three months after the concept was proposed. The market dates in the fall of 2007 were a great success and there are expanded commitments from farmers and vendors for the spring.
Contribution to the Community:
Our House, Bill Caldwell, Friends of Risa Pyles
Our House Director Benny Bienvenue (second from left) with County Council President Mike Knapp (left).
Our House Local residential job training center for at-risk adolescents which has provided vital community service to support Olney non-profit organizations and events. These youngsters have provided the manpower for a variety of activities, such as building, maintaining, storing, and setting up the stage used during Olney Days, patrolling the fall-out area for the Olney Days fireworks, helping with the set-up and breakdown for Montgomery General Hospital Women’s Board Annual Bazaar and Picnic, and helping with set-up and breakdown of both the Olney Chamber of Commerce’s National Night Out and Community Night events. They also set up (at 6:00 am) and took down the tents on Sundays for the Olney Farmers & Artists Market. Without the services provided by the Our House residents the local organizations that have benefited from those services would have had to find more volunteers or pay for the needed services, and the events might well have been less successful in terms of smooth operation and cost.
GOCA President Barbara Falcigno and County Council Member George Levanthal present award to William Caldwell (right).
William Caldwell: Architect/planner who made and arranged for a very significant pro bono contribution of time and materials to the Olney Town Center Advisory Committee (OTCAC) in connection with the creation of the Draft Illustrative Concept Plan for Olney Town Center. Under his leadership, his firm, RTKL Associates, donated hours of professional time and materials to research concept plan requirements, write and illustrate the document, facilitate several OTCAC meetings, and present the results at community meetings and through mailings and other outreach activities. This professional planning document has provided the OTCAC with an invaluable tool that OTCAC and the community can use for years to come to influence and evaluate redevelopment plans for the Olney Town Center are they are presented..
The Friends of Risa Pyles with County Council Member Marc Elrich (left).
Friends of Risa Pyles Ad hoc committee formed to assist Greenwood ES teacher Risa Pyles, a single parent of a teenage son, when an accident left her paralyzed from the chest down. This committee of friends, strangers, volunteers, and others has devoted more than a year to providing round-the-clock care to help her with basic needs, prepare meals, clean the house, handle bill-paying, etc. In addition, the group has actively engaged in fundraising efforts to provide badly needed financing for a handicapped-accessible van and a special bed needed to prevent medical complications. More than $11,000 has been raised so far toward a goal of $50,000, a 501(c)(3) organization has been established and a website has been set up.
Roy Peck (left) accepts award from Del. Roger Manno and GOCA President Barbara Falcigno.
GOCA Worker of the Year: Roy Peck
Long-time GOCA Treasurer who has closely monitored our budgeting and expenses to ensure that we remain a solvent organization. In addition to writing the checks and keeping the books, he goes to great lengths to ensure that the Officers are aware of spending and revenue trends and of areas where fiscal prudence would be warranted. In addition, Roy has taken a special interest in ICC developments, and has closely monitored the “facts” and positions as presented by the State Highway Administration (SHA) and provided GOCA with a great deal of information not readily forthcoming from other sources, including the possibility (denied by SHA) of extending the first phase of the ICC to a point east of Georgia Avenue.
Del. Karen Montgomery with Harry Fletcher
Olney Heritage Award: Harry Fletcher
Unassuming Olney businessman and resident whose business, Fletcher’s Amoco (now Fletcher’s BP), has been synonymous with the Olney community as it has grown from its rural crossroads roots to the busy modern satellite community it is today. Recognizing the importance of community and the importance of giving to the community, he devoted himself to ensuring that his business, now the longest continuously operating for-profit business in Olney, would be a good citizen and would provide both the quality service his customers expected and something extra to help the Olney community become the kind of first-rate community where people want to live and raise their families. Located virtually in the center of Olney, Harry ran a quality service operation, doing so well that he received recognition from the Olney/Rockville Chamber of Commerce. He also did much more than that—he supported local organizations, especially youth sports teams, and played a role in the founding of the Olney Boys and Girls Club. Over the years he operated the station—1959 to 1987—he contributed to a host of community causes and was a major factor in the development of Olney’s community identity and community spirit for which Olney is well known. Perhaps even more important was his influence on others—he gave many the opportunity to work and to develop a sound work ethic, and of great significance, he passed on his love and appreciation of community to his son and daughter-in-law, Bobby and Sandy Fletcher, who now run the business and continue to support the community in a variety of important ways. Without Harry Fletcher and his influence on others, Olney clearly would not be the community it is today.
Louis Willen (with microphone) with Del. Anne Kaiser, Del. Benjamin Kramer and GOCA President Barbara Falcigno.
GOCA President's Award: Louis Willen
The President’s award is chosen solely by the President of GOCA and goes to Louis Wilen. A few years ago, Louis noticed several homes in his neighborhood were being rented out. A few quick keystrokes on the computer found that these homes were listed as owner occupied. Now most of us would probably not be curious enough to look in the first place, if we were, we may have become discouraged in trying to find the information, and finally, if we did get the information I don’t think we would have taken the next step as he did. Curious by what he found out, he investigated further. He found over 2700 rental properties that were classified as owner occupied and thus incorrectly receiving tax credits. Just with the ones Louis discovered, the county reclaimed $1 million in loss tax revenue for the county which resulted in over $10 million statewide. That has an impact. This led to legislation that changed the process of how a property is awarded the tax credit so non-qualifying properties do not slip through the cracks.
This is not the only thing Louis has found and shared with the appropriate people. In addition to emails about the property tax credit, he found information regarding housing trends related to affordable housing needs. He noticed dumping on a property hidden from Georgia Ave so he looked up the owner and discovered the same person owned several unlicensed and over crowded rental properties throughout our county. He would not only raise the issue about those illegal signs placed in the right of ways along our roads, he would provide the information as to who owned the company that was advertising and the name and phone number of the contact at the County to have the signs removed. He provided details about the planned replacement of the water tower located behind Sandy Spring Bank and share his thoughts about it. He even shared some pictures of some ugly and attractive water towers located throughout our nation.
If there is information out on the internet, Louis knows how to find it. This award goes to Louis today because not only does he have the knowledge to find this information, he then shares it with the right people.
2006 GOCA Awards
The Awards Ceremony to present the 2006 GOCA Awards was held on Sunday, March 11 at the Longwood Recreation Center.
Howard J. Garber Memorial Citizen of the Year: Paula Kahla |
Paula Kahla with County Executive Isiah Leggett. |
Contribution to the Community Awards: Robyn Holstein-Glass, Susie Iaquinta, Hank Leiberman. |
 Robyn Holstein Glass. |
 Susie Iaquinta with County Council Vice President Mike Knapp and County Council President Marilyn Praisner. |
 Hank Lieberman with State Delegate Herman Taylor. |
GOCA Worker of the Year: Nora Blau |
 Nora Blau with Councilmember George Leventhal and State Delegate Roger Manno. |
Olney Heritage Award: Carolyn Snowden |
 Carolyn Snowden with State Delegates Anne Kaiser and Karen Montgomery. |
GOCA President's Award: Brenda Egeland |
 Brenda Egeland with outgoing GOCA President John Lyons. |
About the GOCA Awards
Olney is such a special place because it is filled with so many people who care about Olney and are willing to "get involved" and give something back to the community, each in their own way.
Each year Greater Olney Civic Association (GOCA) says thank you to the many individuals, businesses, and other organizations that the community has identified as having made a notable contribution to the greater Olney community. GOCA seeks nominations from its members and from the community. A ballot is compiled and voted on by GOCA delegates. The awards are presented each year at a ceremony held the first Sunday of March.
Over the years, the categories for which awards are presented have changed some. The current categories of awards are:
Howard J. Garber Memorial Citizen of the Year Award
This award is named for a previous GOCA Vice President who exemplified the kind of participation in the community that results in a significant contribution this award recognizes. Among his many accomplishments during the few years he was involved with GOCA before his untimely death in 1989 was leading the effort to eliminate a dangerous s-curve on Georgia Avenue near Greenwood Park, north of Rte. 108.
Contribution to Community Award
This award is presented to individuals, groups, and businesses that have made noteworthy contributions to the quality of life in Olney.
Olney Heritage Award
This award recognizes significant contributions made during the early years of Olney's growth from a small rural community or long-term contributions that have helped shape the development of Olney into the distinctive, satellite community and maintain the quality of life that makes Olney such a special place.
GOCA Worker of the Year Award
This award recognizes the outstanding work of a member of GOCA or a committee member on behalf of GOCA.
Special President's Award
Each year, GOCA's President selects an individual or group of his choice to acknowledge and express his personal thanks to.
2005 GOCA Awards
The 2005 GOCA Awards Ceremony was held on March 5 at the Longwood Recreation Center. Award winners were: (click on picture to see a larger version)
Howard J. Garber Memorial Citizen of the Year |
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 Barbara Falcigno |
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Contribution to the Community Award |
|
 John Kramer, Anthony Watkins |
 Kelsey Rood |
| not pictured: Terri Hogan |
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Olney Heritage Award |
|
 Bob Gill |
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GOCA Worker of the Year |
|
 Art Brodsky |
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GOCA President's Award |
|
 Khalid Afzal |
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Previous Winners
| 2004 | |
|---|---|
| Citizen of the Year Award | Betsy and Russ Sanford, Marilyn Simonds |
| Contribution to Community Award | Friends of the Olney
Skatepark (FOOS) Lil Litowsky Kulley Bancroft / Halsey Smith Fran Ware |
| GOCA Worker of the Year Award | Nancy Hull |
| Olney Heritage Award | Lisa McKillop, Tim Sterling |
| Special President's Award | Helene Rosenheim |
| 2003 | |
| Citizen of the Year Award | Joshua Freeman |
| Contribution to Community Award | Dennis Bogan Chuck Kahanov Nancy Wendt |
| GOCA Worker of the Year Award | John Lyons |
| Olney Heritage Award | Yale Wiesberg |
| Special President's Award | Judy Young |
| 2002 | |
| Citizen of the Year Award | Ellen Lent |
| Contribution to Community Award | Olney Boys & Girls Community Sports Association Susan Petrocci Jennifer Schauffler |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Joan Kramer |
| Olney Heritage Award | Thomas Abraham Helene Jennings |
| Special President's Award | Jimena Ryan |
| 2001 | |
| Citizen of the Year Award | 9/11 Fire and Rescue Personnel |
| Contribution to Community Award | Dr. Winston Anderson Debby & Bruce McIndoe Phil Wilk |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | David Eskenazi |
| Olney Heritage Award | Dean Sarff |
| Special President's Award | Joe Sanford |
| 2000 | |
| Citizen of the Year Award | Dan Dionisio |
| Contribution to Community Award | Carolyn
Snowden William Thomas, IV |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Richard Kopanda |
| Olney Heritage Award | Kathie (Little) Freese Ben Santaiti |
| Special President's Award | Jim Folk Cary Lamari |
| 1999 | |
| Citizen of the Year Award | Sandy & Bobby Fletcher |
| Contribution to Community Award | Kathy Hill PROJECT CHANGE Sharp Project/Sharp Street Church |
| GOCA Worker of Year | Eliot Rosenheim |
| Olney Heritage Award | Carol Henry Carolyn Neal |
| 1998 | |
| Citizen of the Year Award | Thomas Rhodes |
| Contribution To Community Award | Lynn Dernar Lori Knopf Paula Kahla Susan Singer-Bart |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Roni Septoff |
| Olney Heritage Award | Willard Derrick Charles & Delmas Wood |
| Special President's Award | Ed Weisel |
| 1997 | |
| Citizen of the Year Award | Jerry Gurewitz Barry Schwartz |
| Contribution To Community Award | Mary Gardner Lisa McKillop Joseph Reiff, Jr Anne Willson |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Nora Blau |
| Olney Heritage Award | Priscilla & John Donaldson Clyde Unglesbee |
| Special President's Award | Ron Berger |
| 1996 | |
| Citizen of the Year | John Chirtea |
| Contribution to Community | B.J. Mills & Gail West Robert Sturm |
| Olney Heritage Award | Charles Epperley William Fallon |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Rick Coburn |
| Special President's Award | Ray Ammon Helene Rosenheim |
| 1995 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Wendy Walker |
| Contribution to Community | Committee to Fight Productivity Housing Good Earth Produce & Garden Center Pam Howton Mary & John Vogel |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Rick Coburn |
| Special President's Award | Laura Weiss |
| 1994 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Cillie Gerstenzang |
| Contribution to Community | The Brookeville Bicentennial
Committee Warren Crutchfield Deane Evans Gordon "Gordie" Keys |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Al Zdilla |
| Special President's Award | Trudye Johnson |
| 1993 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Robert Gill |
| Contribution to Community | Julie Elseroad Diana Huggins Paul Jarosinski Lou Kaufman Carolyn Lamb |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | David Eskenazi |
| Special President's Award | Ray Ammon |
| 1992 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Helene Rosenheim |
| Contribution to Community | BJ Pumpernickels Cycle Across Maryland PTSA Committee (Sherwood High School) Tommy Tavenner Olney Boys & Girls Club |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Marcia Krivus |
| Special President's Award | Gordon Keys |
| 1991 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Helene Jennings |
| Contribution to Community | Tom Cioffi Friends of the Olney Theatre Lisa McKillop |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Sam Spiritos |
| Special President's Award | David Eskenazi Denise Fox |
| 1990 | |
| Citizen of the Year | The Olney Courier-Gazette Newspaper |
| Contribution to Community | Margaret Grzeszkiewicz Norman Miller Scott Robinson / Max A. Million XVI |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Nori Heuberger |
| Special President's Award | Connie Brown |
| 1989 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Sherwood HS Modernization Committee |
| Contribution to Community | Richard Allan Kathy Bishop George Brown, Jr. |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Helene Rosenheim |
| Special President's Award | The GOCA Officers Chief Lou Kaufman |
| 1988 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Howard Garber |
| Contribution to Community | Jo Betty Crum Magdalena DuBois William Grimes Teddy Marcot Eliot Rosenheim |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | David Gardner |
| Special President's Award | Sgt. James Arnold |
| 1987 | |
| Citizen of the Year | David Gardner |
| Contribution to Community | William Evans Father Canice Treacy Good Earth Produce |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Howard Garber |
| Special President's Award | Lloyd Eshenour Robert Gill |
| 1986 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Ann Yeamans |
| Contribution to Community | Marcia & Johnie Roth Caro Taylor Sandy Spring Museum |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Helene Jennings |
| Special President's Award | Ed Weisel |
| 1985 | |
| Citizen of the Year | John Donaldson |
| Contribution to the Community | Individual: Marge Babbitt Organization: Shannon & Luchs |
| Contribution to Youth | Beth Schrotz Priscilla Donaldson Boy Scout Troop 274 |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Robert Sahadi |
| Special President's Award | Kathie & Graham Little Michael Gudis |
| 1984 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Ron Berger |
| Contribution to the Community | Individual: Ann Yeamans Organization: Olney Library |
| Contribution to Youth | Michelle Craddock Ruth Graham |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Helene Rosenheim |
| Special President's Awards | Priscilla Donaldson Christine Henry |
| 1983 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Carol Henry |
| Business of the Year | Touch of Class Hairstylists |
| Contribution to the Community | Judy & Michael Clemenko |
| Contribution to Youth | Marguerite Bridge Norma Miller |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Helene Jennings |
| Special President's Award | Joe Cimmino |
| 1982 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Tim Sterling |
| Business of the Year | The Courier Newspapers |
| Contribution to the Community | Walter Ray Sandy Spring Volunteer Fire Department Chris Davies |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | John Donaldson |
| Special President's Award | Earl Wright |
| 1981 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Ben Santaiti |
| Business of the Year | Sandy Spring Nat'l Bank |
| Contribution to the Community | Helene Jennings |
| Youth Worker of the Year | Frank Ortega |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Ed Kunz |
| 1980 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Yale Wiesberg |
| Business of the Year | Giant Food |
| Contribution to the Community | Frank Blunda |
| Youth Worker of the Year | Larry Kilmer |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Jeff Aaronson |
| Special President's Award | Sheila Sarff |
| Outstanding Service Award | Carol Henry |
| Special Commendation Award | Tom Abraham |
| Special Award | Kathie Little Priscilla Benner Judy Whalen |
| 1979 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Dean Sarff |
| Business of the Year | Mayne Realty |
| Youth of the Year | Joanne Correira |
| Youth Worker of the Year | Lawrence Flax Jane Bittner |
| Civic Organization of the Year | Longwood Advisory Committee |
| GOCA Worker of the Year | Carol Henry Yale Wiesberg |
| Community Service Award | Joseph Cimmino Dudley Finneyfrock Roger Lamborne |
| Special Commendation for Community Involvement | Tom Nadolny |
| 1978 | |
| Citizen of the Year | Carolyn Neal |
| Contribution to Community | Dick Cole Carol Henry Ben Santaiti Dean Sarff Charles Wood Yale Wiesberg |
