Felix Arroyo applauds as Mayor Menino awards the Golden Broom to Jack Fitzerald, who with his wife Mary won the award for their longtime efforts to keep Irving Street clean.
Jack and Mary Fitzgerald of Irving Street and Anna’s Taqueria of Cambridge Street were presented with the first Golden Broom Awards by the Beacon Hill Civic Association at a ceremony held last week on Charles Street.
“We are all here because we care about our neighborhood,” said Mayor Thomas Menino, who presented the awards. “Let’s keep working together to make this a cleaner city.”
The awards are part of the Clean.Sweep.Repeat. Once a week. campaign launched earlier this year to encourage residents and businesses to assume the responsibility of cleaning up the area in front of their locations. The Fitzgeralds and Anna’s Taqueria were chosen from the many nominees to receive the award because of their continuing efforts to keep the area around their properties clean and litter-free.
The BHCA worked with Charles Street Supply owners, Jack and Cassie Gurnon, to promote the campaign. The ceremony was held in front of their store window, which has showcased the campaign for the last few months.
“This neighborhood is all about unsung heroes,” said City Councilor Mike Ross, who also attended the ceremony, along with City Councilor Felix Arroyo, State Representative Marty Walz and Commissioner of Public Works Joanne Massaro. “The BHCA continues to step up to new standards.”
Walz urged the BHCA to “export” the Clean.Sweep.Repeat. campaign to every other Boston neighborhood. “Just think what it would be like if all other neighborhood launched the campaign,” she said. “Take it on the road!”