Hospital receives award
MONONGAHELA – The Monongahela Valley Hospital’s philosophy that patients and visitors to the hospital should be as comfortable as if they were in their own home landed the facility first-place honors in this year’s Washington County Beautification Awards. The hospital’s central plaza with its fountain and gardens caught the eye of Washington County Commissioner J. Bracken Burns, who nominated the facility for the award in the Business and Industry category. First-, second- and third-place awards were handed out in seven categories.
Ron Paglia, the hospital’s public relations director, said the fountain and gardens have been an integral part of the hospital for years.
“The campus here is a nice setting, even though it’s a community hospital. Our thought is to make this place as nice as possible to make people feel at home,” Paglia said. “I don’t think anyone wants to go to a hospital.”
Paglia said the fountain is often a meeting place for families with loved ones in the hospital. It’s also a favorite spot for staff for brown bag lunches, or just a place to relax during the day. Paglia said the hospital’s auxiliary uses the fountain area for its annual strawberry social as well.
“It’s become kind of a focal point for the hospital outside the clinical setting,” Paglia said.
Joseph Nursery in Monessen works with the hospital, recommending flowers and other plants for the various seasons.
Other Business and Industry beautification award winners included the Black Box Network Services in Lawrenceville in second place and the Washington County Tourist Promotion Agency for third place. Donora Borough received a first-place award in the Municipal category. Gospel Alliance Church in Charleroi took second place for the Renovations and Restorations category.
Other categories include Groups and Non-Profit, Agriculture, Individuals and Residential.
There were 55 individuals, organizations and businesses nominated for the awards.
The first-, second- and third-place winners in each category received a commemorative plate produced at Westerwald Pottery in Scenery Hill.
The final selections were made by a panel of judges, including representatives of the sponsoring agencies and experts in the beautification field.
This was the fourth year for the awards presentation.