The Mid-County Citizen’s Advisory Board will award Crossing Georgia – a subcommittee of the Forest Estates Community Association (FECA) – the “Civic Association of the Year” for its efforts to get a pedestrian tunnel or overpass installed at the intersection of Georgia Avenue (Maryland Rt. 97) and Forest Glen Road in Silver Spring to reduce the risks to pedestrians. The Board will also award neighborhood resident Adam Pagnucco as “Citizen of the Year” for his tireless leadership of the committee. In addition to the Mid-County awards, Crossing Georgia and Pagnucco will receive citations from the State of Maryland’s District 18 delegation (Senator Rich Madaleno and delegates Ana Sol Gutiérrez, Jane Lawton and Jeff Waldstreicher), to be presented by Delegate Lawton.

Numerous accidents have occurred at the Georgia/Forest Glen intersection. According to a May 2006 report by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the intersection is the most congested intersection in Montgomery County. Several pedestrians, including small children, have been hit and seriously injured.

This is the second time in three years that FECA (approximately 700 homes on the northeast quadrant of Georgia/ Forest Glen) and a neighborhood leader have received the awards. In 2004, the Board gave FECA the “Community Association of the Year” award in recognition of its efforts to beautify Georgia Avenue and gave former FECA President Richard (“Rick”) Lutz the “Citizen of the Year” award. FECA is a very active association hosting community barbecues, a Halloween Parade, a Community Yard Sale, and six community meetings with prominent speakers per year. Information and photos are chronicled in the bi-monthly FECA newsletter and on the www.ForestEstates.org website created by FECA Board Member Oscar Sodani. In 2006, Sodani also developed the www.CrossingGeorgia.com web site, posting accident data and position statements by politicians running for office, which quickly made the site a pivotal repository for activists and politicians alike in last year’s elections.