City's most giving citizens honored

Recipients of awards encourage others to volunteer their time

March 29, 2006

By DANE GOLDEN
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

About 350 people were on hand at the Sheraton Sonoma County-Petaluma last Friday to honor the city's most giving citizens and businesses in the fifth annual Community Recognition Awards, sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the Argus-Courier.

Award recipients included citizens, businesses, educators, volunteers, a police officer and a firefighter. The ceremony honored 12 individuals, groups and businesses who tirelessly work to make the community better.

"I venture that Petalumans volunteer more time per capita than any city or town in the country," said Chamber president David King.

The first award was for Service Person of the Year, given to Bette Jo Reich, a teller at Wells Fargo. As Argus-Courier publisher John Burns announced her name, three rows of seats cheered wildly in a standing ovation.

"She appears to be so popular, in fact, that she could probably even be elected mayor," said Burns to even greater applause. Mayor David Glass, who was the other presenter and is not running for re-election, shrugged and smiled as if to say, "The job's open."

Reich thanked her customers and coworkers, whom she said she views as an extended family, but joked, "If you thought I was impossible to work with before ..."

Capt. Dave Sears of the Petaluma Police Department presented the award for Police Officer of the Year to John Antonio. A volunteer on the St. Vincent High School football coaching staff, Antonio was at a practice last year when he and a teacher performed CPR on a jogger having a heart attack.

"Anyone out there who knows John knows that he's a very humble person," said Sears. "This is actually more difficult (for him) than what he did to receive this award."

Antonio said that any of his fellow officers would have done the same thing.

Fire Chief Chris Albertson presented the award for Firefighter of the Year to fire captain Jeff Holden.

"They say if you can turn your passion into a career, you'll never have to work another day in your life, and that's been the case for me," Holden said.

Small Business of the Year was Top Speed Data. "We're hooked on volunteering," company president Anthy O'Brien said. "Every single person in Petaluma can make a difference. Pick a passion and go for it. Tell a friend, share the joy, and get hooked."

Mayor Glass and David King presented the Large Business of the Year award to Basin Street Properties.

Glass said that the smart growth occurring in downtown Petaluma with the help of local developer Basin Street has helped the local economy thrive and enhanced the city's character.

"We've grown in an ecologically and economically superior manner and it's a formula that will be replicated throughout the state of California."

Company vice president Paul Andronico accepted the award for Basin Street, as president Matt White could not be present due to a previously scheduled commitment. Andronico said that that despite its small size of 25 employees, the company was honored to be recognized as having a large positive impact on the community.

"Matt and I and the rest of the company are most moved by this award," he said, "because it recognizes our commitment to improving the community in other ways."

The Excellence in Healthcare was awarded to Judy DeVasconcellos.

"I've been a nurse for 24 years, and I can't tell you how much I look forward to going to work and making a mark in my profession," she said.

Gary Imm of Clover Stornetta Farms presented the Excellence in Agriculture award to Ralph Sartori of Dairy Farmers of America, who is a past president of the Chamber and has sat on the fair board for 14 years. Imm was assisted in the presentation by Clo the Cow, who made a surprise visit to the amusement of the audience.

Sartori said that he enjoyed being on the fair board because it was "all about the kids," and said, "If you haven't been to the fair, shame on you."

McNear Kindergarten teachers Christa McCoy, Margaret Potts, and Suzanne Gray were jointly awarded the Excellence in Education award.

"We really wanted to wear our Winnie the Pooh costumes, and when I saw Clo, I thought we really should have," joked Potts.

"If children leave kindergarten loving books and with a fistful of memories, then I've succeeded," McCoy said in her speech.

J.T. Wick presented the Service to Seniors award to Pat Vachini of Petaluma People Services Center.

Each day, he said, "the PPSC bus arrives, autos arrive, wheelchairs arrive, walkers, and canes -- by all modes of transit, seniors arrive at our little house, enter, and are immediately greeted by Pat and her staff, with an ebullience that is infectious."

Dick Sharke of the McDowell Drug Task Force was given the Service to Youth award.

"I tell everyone that I spent 21 years as a soldier, fighting wars in foreign countries," he said. "I'm still a soldier, fighting a war in my country to insure that our young people don't die on the streets in the freest country in the world, through drug and alcohol abuse, or through gun violence."

Whitney Hall was presented with the Volunteer of the Year award.

"We have to recognize in our town that the Petaluma of this century is not the Petaluma of the last century," Hall said. "There are new needs developing that have to be met in order to keep this the wonderful place it is. And a large part of that is helping children."

And, he added about volunteering, "There's nothing better than a good volunteer job to keep you from having to clean out the garage," he said.

Sheila Bride was awarded Citizen of the Year with an extensive introduction listing her many community and international contributions. She said that it was a joy to serve the community.

"There are so many leaders here, so many people that do so much for this community, and I too am grateful for all of your help in making this one of the greatest places on earth to live."

And, she added, if someone in the audience was interested in participating in some sort of community service, "Call me, I can steer you to the right people."

(Contact Dane Golden at dgolden@arguscourier.com)