By Marney Simon | Bugle Staff
Eleven area homeowners have received honors for their efforts to beautify Joliet.
In September, the City Council honored the local homeowners for the extra pride and care they put into their properties.
Project Acclaim/Neighborhood Hero Program president John Zalanka told the council that the local recognition organization was first founded in Joliet in 1985 and began issuing awards to local homeowners since 1987.
“This goes to homeowners who, through efforts in their yards, have done outstanding visual appeal work, so it’s a curb appeal award for showing pride in their home, their neighborhood, and their community,” Zalanka said. “Their homes look good; all the homes look good.”
Zalanka added that there are multiple benefits to property landscape improvements, in addition to curb appeal.
“Research shows that people who spend extended lengths of time around plants have better relationships with others. Research shows that children who spend time around plants event learn better,” Zalanka said, adding that beautiful yards and greenery can promote better mental health, happiness and a high quality of life.
“Neighborhoods with beautiful parks tend to have less crime,” Zalanka said “Studies show that people who spend time cultivating plants have less stress in their lives…For concentration and memory, being around plants helps people concentrate better in the home and the workplace. Flowers generate happiness. Having flowers around the home and office greatly improves peoples’ moods and reduces the likelihood of stress-related depression.”
Zalanka added that the effort to beautify properties can have a domino effect, encouraging other areas to be competitive by driving the desire to improve adjacent properties.
Each year, the organization locates and proclaims citizens who take pride in their property, neighborhood, and community.
The Neighborhood Hero Program honorees have shown outstanding pride in their curb appeal via horticulture, landscaping, and visual beauty on their property.
Neighborhood Heroes have labored intensely to produce the aesthetic beauty of their yards and gardens and deserve appreciation of their neighbors and all citizens passing their property for visual beauty.
By showing great pride in their property, neighborhood, and community, others will take up the spade to replicate their efforts and expand the beauty of Joliet.
The honorees were lauded by way of proclamation by the mayor and council.
Honored homeowners are:
John and Mary Lou Baskerville, 1114 Oregon Ave.
Judy Bernoteit, 1104 May St.
Areli Hernandez, 1300 Briargate Ave.
Carol Corona, 517 Irene St.
Betty Cran, 911 Sudbury Dr.
Maricela Del Toro, 1505 Burry St.
Steve and Barbara Eberhard, 715 Williams St.
Ken and Linda Grisham, 1309 William St.
Brian and Kathy McHugh, 1103 Black Rd.
John and Toni Muren, 1106 W. Clara St.
Jesus Quintana, 1009 Edgerton
The organization also hands out community recognition awards for community service.
City leaders said beautified neighborhoods are the best reflection of the community, as homeowners go above and beyond by making improvements to homes and landscapes.