Workers and Winners Celebrate National Public Works Week

South Windsor has joined cities across the country in celebrating National Public Works Week.

"National Public Works Week is a celebration of the tens of thousands of men and women in North America who provide and maintain the infrastructure and services collectively known as public works," according to the American Public Works Association. 

These men and women are often first responders such as firefighters and police officers, as well as sanitation workers and other workers in public service.

To celebrate these workers and their achievements, the South Windsor Town Council distributed awards for exceptional dedication to community service, business partnership with public works, and dedication and innovation. 

The 2014 Public Works Community Service Award to Friends in Service Here (FISH) for their participation in the Adopt-a-Road Program. The Business Partnership Award went to Jimmy and Howard Slater of J & H slater Construction, who restored pipe service in several places throughout the town during the Blizzard of 2013. 

The Richard Boudreault Public Works Award is named for the late public works employee who exemplified dedication, innovation, cost consciousness and enthusiasm for his work. This year's Boudreault Award goes to Gary Schacht, Maintainer II of the Street Services Division of Public Works.  

In addition to these awards, the South Windsor Public Works Department celebrated National Public Works Week with a presentation at Wapping Elementary School this Thursday. The 18th Annual Equipment and Job Demonstration showed students in Grades K through 8 the careers and services available in Public Works. 

2014 marks Windsor's 54th year of participating in National Public Works Week, as well as the 60th anniversary of the New England Chapter of the American Public Works Association.