On December 3rd, at its 32nd Annual Holiday Party, the Fremont Chamber of Commerce honored people, projects and businesses chosen by its Board of Directors for notice of their outstanding achievements in 2014. Take a look at their choices, then make your own by voting for the Best of Fremont 2014 at vote@box2219.temp.domains
Every year the Fremont Chamber presents six standing awards (with revolving statuettes, some of them made by local artist Candace Reiter.) They gave:
- The ‘Fremont Patches Pal Award,’ for bringing fun to Fremont, went to Brooks Sports for making running, and runners, happy.
- The ‘Chamber Pot of Commerce,’ for brilliant business practices, went to Tamara Rose, General Manager of The Ballroom, for bringing bar owners in the community together for multi-establishment events and cross-promotion.
- The ‘Local Hero Award,’ for helping Fremont remain fabulous, went to Tableau Software for creating a foundation that will benefit the non-profit organizations in this area.
- The ‘Hammering Man Award,’ for perseverance, went to the Bastyr Clinic for Natural Health for 36 years of service, and for a recent expansion that makes it possible for the Clinic to stay in the community and continue serving our growing population.
- The ‘Bertha K. Landes (The Big Bertha) Award,’ for taking charge and taking action, went to Ralph & Sarah Weathers who organized the 2013 & 2014 MLK Day of Service in Fremont. In her acceptance, Sarah Weathers observed about their event, “there is a lot of partying going on here, but there is also a lot of giving.”
- The ‘Jim Daly, Press On Regardless Award’, named after legendary Fremont business leader and first Board President of the Chamber, went to Asko Processing for doing business in Fremont for over 40 years, and staying at work even after the devastating fire of September 30th. Asko President Mike Kelly accepted the award saying, “This is quite an honor!”
Kelly went on to thank the Chamber for another award they gave – a special achievement certificate called ‘The Put ‘er Out Award’ to the Seattle Fire Department and the Seattle Police Department for amazing containment of the two-alarm fire. As Kelly noted, the warehouse was completely engulfed, yet no other buildings were damaged and no injuries sustained to Asko’s 140 employees.
The Fremont Chamber issued five other Certificates of Achievement for:
- The ‘Fremont Communications Check’ Award to Art Brochet of the Seattle Department of Transportation for keeping the Fremont Bridge Painting Project as low impact as possible, and keeping us moving
- The ‘Solstice To Sustainable’ Award to Jon Hegeman and Linda Hanlon for their work to create a sustainable funding plan for the Fremont Arts Council Solstice Parade
- The ‘Pllllaaayyy Ballll’ Award to Hallows Church for bringing volunteers, particularly younger people, out to help in the community and specifically to the fundraising Fremont Chamber Wiffle Ball Tournament.
- The ‘Rockin’ to Sustainable’ Award for the Solstice Concert Series created and produced by Bold Hat Productions, which gave a higher energy and more sustainable model to the Fremont Fair
- The ‘Fremont History’ Award to Fremocentrist.com and HomeStreet Bank for sharing the story of Fremont through the Fremont Fireside Chat series
These awards, distributed by the Fremont Chamber, were joined with a half-dozen awards given by Phil Megenhardt for those companies and people that made the Fremont Fair and Fremont Oktoberfest easier to produce in 2014.
The Rotary Club of Fremont also presented its Vocational Service Award, for community involvement, to James Schmidt of Pecado Bueno. Schmidt has opened his restaurants to non-profits and service organizations (like Fremont Rotary) for fundraisers – read about it in the Fremocentrist column from October. After the presentation, Fremont Rotary President Beth Tesh teased about a coming project for the organization in 2015 – a naming contest for the Dino Topiaries!
The awards presentation actually began, though, with an award for the Fremont community, accepted by Mayor of Seattle Ed Murray, and presented by Karen Wolf, of the American Planning Association. Fremont has been chosen as one of the 10 great neighborhoods in the U.S. The Mayor graciously accepted the award, congratulating the members of the Fremont Chamber and the general community for its great work and what it has achieved. “What a great neighborhood Fremont is,” Murray said, and leading a round of applause, “Give yourself a hand, man!”
Give more awards to Fremont by voting for Fremont’s Best now! Vote for the Best Business, Best Project/Organization and the Best Person, as well as the Best Holiday Decorations at one of Fremont’s fine businesses – all just by sending an e-mail to vote@box2219.temp.domains Voting closes at midnight on December 31st, so do it now!