Before Suffolk City Council got to the nitty-gritty of the business Wednesday night, three presentations were made.

The first went to Betsy Brothers for her decades of efforts and successes in preserving historical aspects of the city lest any be torn down for the sake of a shoddy replacement. Brothers is most frequently associated with the local historical society by the public. The work she has done individuals or with other residents, such as Sue Woodward and Barbara McPhail, for example, caught the attention of the Virginia Society of American Architects and Engineers. This group thought enough of Brothers achievements to laud her.

The city scores points with two other recognitions, the Finance Deparment for 20 years in a row is sitting pretty, and the Treasurers’ office got an accreditation award from the Treasurers’ Association of Virginia.

Individually or collectively, people who strive to preserve what’s best, work their most efficient should be spotlighted. They’re a model for what the rest of us can achieve.