Photos: Huntington Woods Community Service Awards

Huntington Woods' annual community service award winners were honored Wednesday during a ceremony in following the city's .

Despite oppressive heat, residents streamed into the park to hear who won the recognitions, fuel up at the hot dog roast and participate in games and races. Many used fans distributed by manager Claire Galed and sought out shade to keep cool.

Mayor Ron Gillham kicked off the awards ceremony by taking a moment to reflect on the meaning of the Fourth of July holiday.

"While our own brand of democracy may not be perfect, it is still the best in the world by far," he told the crowd before each of the community service award winners, who sat on stage with city officials, was honored for their contributions to Huntington Woods.

"(The award) was very much a surprise and much appreciated from this fine community," Citizen of the Year Ed Kozloff said Wednesday.

Community service award winners

Each winner got to ride in the Fourth of July parade Wednesday and will have their name inscribed on a permanent plaque at . Below are highlights of their accomplishments, according to information released by the city.

• Citizen of the Year, Ed Kozloff: Kozloff has been a resident of Huntington Woods since 1971 and raised three children in the city with his wife Susan. He also has served as president of Motor City Striders since 1975 and in that capacity has brought more than 100 races in or through Huntington Woods. He has hosted more than 200 walking and running events in the city since 1980 and played a vital role in executing the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Detroit. Ed also has donated his time and resources to the city, even stepping in to supervise the and work at the front desk before becoming the cross-country coach at Schoolcraft College in Livonia. This year, Kozloff served a race director for the inaugural fireworks fundraiser, which attracted hundreds of racers to Huntington Woods.
• Senior Citizen of the Year, Nancy Cianciolo: Cianciolo has lived in Huntington Woods for more than 50 years and, with her late husband Frank, raised two children in the city. She assists Huntington Woods Senior Citizen Outreach Coordinator Jennifer Furlong with the "Monday Lunch Bunch" by helping to serve meals, clean up and make the other seniors feel welcome. She also volunteers at city events including the Fourth of July senior potluck lunch, annual pancake breakfast, monthly blood pressure clinic, senior health fair and senior holiday party.
• Virginia Jones Spirit Award, Wendy Wismer: The Huntington Woods Teen Council coordinator has organized a number of fundraisers and conferences since she joined the group in ninth grade. She also has been involved with the Students against Destructive Decisions (SADD) group, of which she will serve as president during the coming school year; she also will serve as vice president of the BHS National Honor Society. The busy teen recently participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Detroit. During her sophomore year, she was selected to attend the Michigan Youth Leadership Conference as the sole BHS representative. Wendy also has served as pillo polo coach at the rec center, babysat for many Huntington Woods families and danced at in Berkley. She traveled to New Orleans last summer and helped rebuild elementary schools and homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. She also has mentored children on the autism spectrum. This summer, Wendy is working as a Camp Apples counselor.

Stay tuned to Berkley Patch for more Fourth of July news and photos or browse our coverage from last year's festivities in Berkley and Huntington Woods.