2025 Belmont Heights Volunteers of the Year

At our annual holiday party, we were proud to recognize six outstanding neighbors whose dedication and generosity have made a meaningful impact on the Belmont Heights community.

BHCA President Derrick Muska had the pleasure of introducing each honoree, sharing highlights of their contributions, and presenting them with a small token of appreciation as a heartfelt thank-you for all they do.

For many years, Craig Starnes and Joel Surfas have reliably delivered our quarterly newsletter along one of the neighborhood routes. In introducing Craig and Joel, Derrick praised their dependability, clear communication, and consistent follow-through. Heather Altman was also recognized for her long-standing service on the newsletter delivery team. Although she was unable to attend the event, Derrick proudly “introduced” Heather to the room, highlighting her years of commitment and her willingness to walk two delivery routes. A great way to get those steps in, Heather!

Bringing visual energy and polish to our newsletter, Ross Turner was honored for his role as our layout and design magician. A fun fact about Ross is that he lives in Belmont Shore. After attending a BHCA event and experiencing the strong sense of community firsthand, he learned we were looking for a new designer, and he generously stepped in. His design work beautifully honors our neighborhood’s character and heritage, and we’re grateful he chose to share his talents with Belmont Heights.

Through their collective efforts, Heather, Craig, Joel, and Ross have played a vital role in keeping our neighborhood informed, connected, and inspired through their ongoing commitment to the quarterly newsletter.

Al Holden turned a pesky problem in his own yard into a community-wide solution. Recognizing that rats were not just a personal issue but a neighborhood concern, Al took action. He developed a well-researched plan, brought it to BHCA, and simply asked for support. From there, he formed Club R.A.T., organized a group of neighbors, and even created a website to support the initiative. We thank Al for stepping up, leading with purpose, and acting for the greater good. (Interested in learning more about Club R.A.T.? Email Al at clubRAT@clubsecretary.org or visit  https://clubsecretary.org.)

Proving that age is no barrier to being an exceptional neighbor, Finn Cole truly stands out. Derrick joyfully recognized Finn’s enthusiastic involvement at multiple BHCA events, from the Roper Romp to the Zombie Crawl. Finn ran games with confidence, stepping up as a master of ceremonies to keep the fun rolling. Keep it up, Finn!

Each of these remarkable volunteers embodies the very best of Belmont Heights. They saw a need, recognized how they could help, and chose to give back. We extend our gratitude to Finn, Al, Ross, Heather, Craig, and Joel, whose contributions run deep, and our community is stronger because of them.