Three Bel Air homeowners, along with the owners of the Klein's ShopRite supermarket on North Main Street, were recognized as the winners of the 2024 Appearance & Beautification Awards this week for making significant improvements to their properties.
Kristy Sudbrink, a member of the Town's all-volunteer Appearance and Beautification Committee, presented the awards during a meeting of the Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on Monday, November 18.
The first award, the Residence Award, went to Robin Hudler and David Street for the work they have put into keeping their "charming brick cottage" on Williams Street a neighborhood fixture, known for the "beautiful bright flowers" Hudler grows on the property, according to Sudbrink.
"I think our Town is a more beautiful place due to your charming home, your lovely flowers each year, and then due to your kindness," she told Hudler as she accepted the award.
The Phoenix Award goes to homeowners " who have significantly transformed their home and gardens -- their vision and hard work is truly remarkable," Sudbrink said. In 2024, two homeowners received Phoenix Awards.
The first went to Angela and Costa Maistros, "world travelers" who moved to Bel Air in 2020 and purchased their home on North Atwood Road. The couple made major renovations to the exterior and interior with help from their respective parents. Sudbrink described the improvements to the interior, back porch and back yard as "stunning."
"I think we can all agree that we’re fortunate that these world travelers picked our town of Bel Air as a home base," she said.
Dan and Leigh Moran received the second Phoenix Award for the improvements they made to their Linwood Avenue home, which just happens to be the house where Leigh grew up and later purchased from her parents when her family moved back to Bel Air. Sudbrink said that "the transformation is amazing," with a new front porch, improvements to the ceilings, tongue-and-groove woodwork, adding that "trust me, you would die for the kitchen."
"One of the unique things about the Town of Bel Air is that so many of us who grew up here come back to live here, and this story is even more beautiful because it’s the story of a beloved family home that carries forward to the next generation," Sudbrink said.
The Business Award went to the Klein family for the improvements made to their ShopRite supermarket on North Main Street, which were completed earlier this year. The improvements include renovating the building facade, repaving the parking lot, changing the store layout and putting in new ceilings and lighting. Sudbrink called the store "a tremendous asset to the people of the Town of Bel Air." Klein's Family Markets owns multiple ShopRite grocery stores in Harford County, as well as in Baltimore City and County.
"Since 1925, the Klein family has been an integral part of Harford County though their grocery stores and through their commitment to families and the communities that they serve," Sudbrink said. "ShopRite of Main Street is that community grocery store, right in the center of the Town."
Media and Public Relations Specialist David Anderson can be reached at 410-838-7181 or danderson@belairmd.org.