GBA Salutes Dumbarton House; MPD’s Reese and Corchado; Chip Dent; Serendipity 3

The Georgetown Business Association held its annual meeting and awards presentations Dec. 14 at Dumbarton House on Q Street. Mayor Vincent Gray and council members Jack Evans and Vincent Orange addressed GBA members and friends. Noting that he had been in Georgetown a lot lately, Gray seemed in high spirits as he teased ANC Commissioner Ed Solomon—“Ed, I am here because of you”—and Ward 2’s long-serving councilman Jack Evans—“How do you get to that stage without an opponent?”

Gray also said he and the council were working to get the Washington Redskins back in D.C. and complimented the Citizens Association of Georgetown on its recent gala and the Right On Band.

New GBA President Rokas Beresniovas proclaimed the state of the association strong and said that lobbying for local interests would be a top goal, and GBA secretary Janine Schoonover introduced the presenters and awardees. The Art Schultz Communitarian Award was presented to Karen Daly on behalf of Dumbarton House by last year’s awardee John Dreyfuss of Halcyon House. The Joe Pozell Public Safety Award was given to the Metropolitan Police Department’s Second District Commander Michael Reese and officer Roberto Corchado as well as to Chip Dent for his work on high-tech videocams. The Business of the Year Award went to Serendipity 3 — presented to co-owner/restaurateur Britt Swan by last year’s awardee Judith Beermann of the Georgetown Dish. Lawyer Joel Bennett certified the election of new board members.