The Lewes Chamber of Commerce has selected Gavin Braithwaite as the recipient of its fourth annual Dennis Forney Community Service Award.

Braithwaite moved to Lewes in 1992. He established and operated, with his wife Lou, three stores in downtown Lewes – The Stepping Stone, Puzzles and Lewes Gourmet. He retired in 2015 and the chamber honored the couple with a lifetime membership.

Braithwaite currently volunteers for six organizations, plus every day while out walking their dog, he picks up trash with his E-Z grabber. It started out as a new year’s resolution three years ago and has continued ever since. The six organizations are: Lewes Public Library Development Committee; Coastal Concerts Programming and Production committees, also writing program notes for the concerts; Lewes in Bloom, working in the Fisher-Martin House herb garden, Savannah Road medians, Gateway and Lighthouse gardens; Friends of Cape Henlopen State Park’s Bike Barn, Trails Days and event signage; Lewes Chamber of Commerce calendar and map distributions; and Lewes Lions Club Eyeglass Recycling program, Recycle for Sight. His prior roles and affiliations include Coastal Concerts board president; Lewes Historical Society board member and endowment committee chair; Greater Lewes Foundation board; Village Volunteers advisory board; and Lewes Chamber of Commerce board.

Four years ago, when Forney retired as publisher of the Cape Gazette, the chamber’s board of directors initiated the award as a way to recognize his many years of service to numerous organizations. The first awardee was Ted Becker, former Lewes mayor, followed by Murt Foos, American Legion Post 17 volunteer; and the Lewes in Bloom organization volunteers.