BARBARA DAVIS VOLUNTEER AWARD

We know that attentive, caring neighbors not only make a community more livable, they make it much less appealing for criminals.

Our next award winner sets a high standard for being a good neighbor – not only in his own community, but in the Hampton Roads region at large.

Some examples:

Rescuing and feeding dogs, cats and birds and providing them a safe haven until other arrangements can be made.

Being on-call when a neighbor has an emergency – This includes showing up with a chainsaw when a neighbor’s trees topple in the aftermath of Hurricane Isabel, taking neighbors to dental or medical appointments, or helping with electrical or mechanical repairs.

Cleaning up the wetlands adjacent to and beyond his property line, and willingly mowing and trimming the lawns of neighbors who can’t do it themselves.

For four years, he has showed up once a week at the Barrett Transitional Home with mower, trimmers, brooms, shovels and bags to clean the grounds and a large adjacent lot. Each week he brings his own equipment and totes most of the trash back home or to the city dump. But, our winner does more than keep the grounds beautiful – he has formed beautiful relationships with residents, staff and volunteers.

And for 40 years – that’s right, 40 years, our winner has cleaned, mowed and maintained a vacant lot adjacent to his property. The Ballentine Dog Park will soon occupy this lot and our winner is at the forefront of seeking business donations to help fund amenities at the park.

According to one of the nominators, our winner “is an extraordinary individual who goes all-out to make Ballentine and Norfolk a safer and cleaner place.

It gives me great pleasure to announce the 2008 Barbara Davis Award Winner, Dewey Phelps of Ballentine Place.