Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber president Saundra Mull (center) congratulates Image Award winner Paula Boase while Joe Turinsky displays a plaque honoring him as Community Service Award winner at the chamber’s ninth annual Member Tribute. The event, which recognized three individuals and three businesses, took place Jan. 12 at the Downriver Italian American Hall in Wyandotte.
By Evelyn Cairns
Members of the Southern Wayne County Regional Chamber gathered Jan. 12 to honor the organization’s outstanding businesses and individuals at the ninth annual SWCRC Member Tribute.
A highlight of the gathering, held at the Downriver Italian American Hall, in Wyandotte, was the passing of the gavel of office from outgoing Chairman of the Board Yvette Pugh of AT&T to Jerry Griffith of Monroe Bank & Trust Downriver.
Chamber president Saundra Mull presided at the tribute, which honored three member individuals and three member businesses.
Paula Boase, Director of Economic Development for the Downriver Community Conference, was presented with the Image Award for promoting a positive image of Southern Wayne County.
In addition, she manages the Brownfield Redevelopment Program and other programs that provide tools for small businesses to market their goods and services.
She also is executive director of the Metropolitan Growth and Development Corp., a member of the National Contract Management Association and the National Brownfield Association and president of the Downriver Council for the Arts.
Joe Turinsky of Lincoln Park received the Community Service Award for serving as an inspiration to the community and as a credit to his business.
The honoree, owner of the Three Jays Building Co. in Allen Park, is a former past president of the Allen Park Rotary Club. An avid tennis player, he formerly coached the sport at Cabrini High School.
Turinsky has chaired the SWCRC’s annual steak roast for 25 years. A member of the chamber’s Ambassador Committee, he was the organization’s first Ambassador of the Year.
James Beri, Melvindale city administrator, was named the 2011 Ambassador of the Year in a contest in which 38 members of the chamber’s Ambassadors Committee competed for the title. Ambassadors recruit new members, volunteer for events and bring non-members to chamber events.
A Ford Land Development retiree, Beri served for 17 years on the Melvindale-Northern Allen Park Public Schools Board of Education and achieved a certified Michigan Association of School Boards Award of Distinction. He previously was a member of the Children with Hair Loss Board of Directors.
Businesses that received awards included Co-Op Services Credit Union, which received the Corporate Citizen Award for its commitment to and success in the areas of industry and commerce and for impacting the quality of life in Southern Wayne County.
The Greening Downriver Award went to Praxair, Large Business, and Michigan Memorial Park, Small business.
DCA planning euchre tourney
The Downriver Council for the Arts is completing plans for a euchre tournament to raise funds for the installation of lighting in its art galleries.
The tournament, scheduled for 1 to 5 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Wyandotte Arts Center, 81 Chestnut, will offer prizes of $100, first place; $50, second; and $25, third. An entry fee of $25 includes light refreshments.
The event coincides with the current art exhibit of Judy Enright, which features large-scale oil paintings inspired by playing cards with a game or sport as part of the work.
Enright, who earned a bachelors’ degree of fine arts in painting at the University of Michigan, enjoys listening to music as she paints and incorporates music into her paintings. The exhibit at the DCA, titled “What a Card!” will continue through March 2.
For additional information about the tournament or exhibit, or to register for the euchre contest, call 734-720-0671 or go to www.downriverarts.org (click on the Fund-raisers and Events tab).
Save the date . . .
Feb. 18 — Trenton Rotary Club fund-raiser, “Winter Beach Blast”; food stations, auctions, games, drawings, raffles, live entertainment, music, dancing and prizes for the best beach attire; for tickets, $40 ($45 at the door), call Valerie Dzasgulones, 734-671-2531.