LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Stars of Lake County Awards Program is seeking nominations for its 2011 awards, and winners will join a lengthy and impressive list of people who have worked hard to make their community a better place.
The deadline for the 2011 Stars of Lake County Community Awards is Friday, Jan. 28, 5 p.m., or must be postmarked by January 28.
Nomination forms are available on the Lake County Chamber of Commerce Web site at www.lakecochamber.com or by calling the office at 707-263-5092.
Chamber Chief Executive Officer Melissa Fulton said that in the award program's 13 years it has honored 260 people, plus hundreds more nominees.
In February 1998, the Lake County Chamber of Commerce held the inaugural Stars of Lake County Community Awards Program. “We began with about a dozen categories which have now grown to 21,” Fulton said.
The concept was to bring recognition to people, organizations and businesses who work to make Lake County a better place to live, work and play, she explained.
She said it's a misconception that the awards program is a popularity contest. “As you read through the list, it’s obvious that the bulk of the recipients are not names you see in the news,” she said. “The recipients are entities who go about working to improve our quality of life, to care for others in our communities, who go out of their way to make life better in Lake County.”
Fulton said so many people tell the chamber how amazed they are when nominated.
The process includes submission of a nomination – anyone can write one, said Fulton – which is then reviewed by chamber staff, which looks at whether or not more detail is required.
Each nominee receives a letter notifying them they have been nominated, giving them information about the dinner and tickets; they are asked to provide a photo or come to our office so we may take a photo. Photos are used to create a video which is played during the reception and dinner at Stars.
The chamber staff compiles the nominations into a book, copies if which are supplied to every member of the Stars Selection Committee, comprised of people from all around the county, chosen because they know their community.
Fulton said the selection committee has approximately one week to read all the nominations, then they are brought together for a four- to five-hour meeting where they discuss all the nominees in every category.
The committee then casts secret ballots which are collected, tallied and noted for the awards to be created, Fulton explained. She said only three people know who the recipients are until the evening of the awards when they are announced.
The discussion of the selection committee can sometimes reveal details that were not included in the nominations and that information is also taken into consideration prior to the voting.
The list of winners follows.
Man of the Year
1999 Frank Cammarata
2000 George McQueen
2000 John Tomkins
2001 Jim McMurray
2002 Mike Gayeski
2003 Kenny Parlet
2004 Howard Chase
2005 Kendall Fults
2006 Dennis Rollins
2007 John Norcio
2008 Dave Fesmire
2009 Willie Sapeta
2010 Tom Hewlett, DDS
Woman of the Year
1999 Judi Pollace
2000 Nancy Ruzicka
2001 Dana Kearney
2002 Debbie Nordell
2003 Marie Steele
2004 Karen Hansen
2005 Jeri Spittler
2006 Kelly Mather
2007 Dr. Louise Nan
2008 Ginny Craven
2009 Georgina Lehne
2010 Cheri Johnson
Large Business
1998 Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa
1999 Cinema 5
2000 Outrageous Waters
2001 Shore Line Realty
2002 Foods, Etc.
2003 Lake Community Bank
2004 Private Harvest
2005 Jonas Oil
2006 Kelseyville Lumber
2007 Piedmont Lumber & Nursery
2008 Shannon Ridge Winery
2009 Umpqua Bank
2010 Lakeport Grocery Outlet
Small Business
1998 Dart Couriers
1998 Northlake Medical Pharmacy
1999 Hillside Honda/Yamaha
2000 Ployez Winery
2001 Material Solutions, Inc.
2002 Edgewater Resort
2003 Judy's Junction Family Restaurant
2004 Calistoga Press
2005 Clearlake Florist
2006 Big "O" Tire
2007 Strong Financial Network
2008 Kerrie's Quilting
2009 Solo Flight Academy International
2010 A & B Collision
New Business
2005 Rob Roy Golf Club
2006 Blue Wing Saloon & Café
2007 Aero Airport Shuttle & Charter Service
2008 Wild About Books
2009 Harbor Artists Village
2010 LuLu's Ice Cream & Desserts
Agriculture
1998 Myron & Marilyn Holdenreid
1999 Madeline Lyons
2000 Toni Scully
2001 Bob Roumiguiere
2002 David Tuttle
2003 Eric Seely
2004 Chuck March
2005 Alexander Suchan
2006 Kelseyville Pear Festival
2007 Jim Fetzer, Ceago Vinegarden
2008 CA Women for Ag & Lake County Farm Bureau
2009 Lake County Community Co-Op
2010 Renker Farms
Youth Advocate
1998 John & Pat Norcio
1999 Judi Graham
2000 Jeff & Donelle McCallister
2001 Tom Aiken
2002 "Volunteer" Ray Starks
2002 "Professional" Nick Biondo
2003 "Volunteer" Dave McGrath
2003 "Professional" Susan Cordell
2004 "Volunteer" David Lane
2004 "Professional" John Berry
2005 "Volunteer" Elaine Mansell
2005 "Professional" Mark Conrad
2006 "Volunteer" Andi Skelton
2006 "Professional" Carle' High School Staff
2007 "Volunteer" Roy & Charlotte Disney
2007 "Professional" Mike Stempe
2008 "Volunteer" Helen Finch
2008 "Professional" Adam Garcia
2009 "Volunteer" Shel Bush
2009 "Professional" Anna Santana
2010 "Volunteer" Darren Brookshire
2010 "Professional" Jill Hoeffer
Bo Tipton Award / Student
1998 Jared Holly
1999 Bonnie Ryan
2000 Anne Marie Montero
2001 Tricia Fettig
2002 Brittany Mills
2003 Nicole Hellwege
2004 Quincey-Kaye Butler
2005 Michelle Wells
2006 Eric Clow
2007 "Male" Jorel Allegro
2007 "Female" Lauren Nixon
2008 "Male" Erik Jameson
2008 "Female" Krista Collins
2009 "Male" Anthony Tavares
2009 "Female" Alma Martinez
2010 "Male" Benjamin Mullin
2010 "Female" Cylinda Neidenbach
Art Person of the Year
2002 Rebecca Robinson
2003 The Lake County Arts Council
2004 "Amateur" Cody Rose
2004 "Professional" Rolf Kriken
2005 "Amateur" Michelle John-Smith
2005 "Professional" Bob Minenna
2006 "Amateur" Saundra Combs
2006 "Professional" Karen Turcotte
2007 "Amateur" Cindy Car
2007 "Professional" Caroline Greenlee
2008 "Amateur" Shelby Posada
2008 "Professional" Ron Keas
2009 "Amateur" Patsy Mitchell
2009 "Professional" Gail Salituri
2010 "Amateur" Bert Hutt
2010 "Professional" No Award
Volunteer of the Year
1998 Ellen Sylar
1999 Sue Evans
2000 Arlene Carter
2001 Carl Shauger
2002 Nancy & Grant Cary
2003 Carl Webb
2004 Vicki Ellsworth
2005 Bob Kiel
2006 Jerry and Mary Ann McQueen
2007 Margaret Medeiros
2008 William Barrows & Connie Miller
2009 Bill and Carolyn Tobin
2010 Denise Johnson
Year Humanitarian of the Year
1998 Art Thompson
1999 Bernie Edwards
2000 Mary Borjon
2001 Ilene Dumont
2001 June Wilcox
2002 Steve Brooks
2003 Joy Swetnam
2004 Debbie White
2005 Kathy Porovich
2006 Hedy Montoya
2007 Dr. Tony Veletto
2008 Susie Wiloth
2009 Faith Hornby
2010 Debra Rodrigue
Year Senior of the Year
1998 Jack Devine
1999 Bonnie Trumble
2000 Walter Robinson
2001 Virginia Martin
2002 Beverly Bergstrom
2003 Mae Nahmias
2004 Jo Rodriguez
2005 Howard Stuckey
2006 Marilyn Johnson
2007 Shari Koch
2008 Floyd Surber
2009 Treva Ryan
2010 Jean Welch
Best Idea of the Year
1998 Lake County Summerfest
1999 Outrageous Waters
2000 Westside Community Park
2001 Lake County Passion Play
2002 Lake County Sheriff's Citizen's Academy
2003 Pearl Harbor Memorial, Lakeport Rotary Project
2004 Lakeside Wellness Foundation
2005 Wine Country Carriage Classic
2006 Arnna-Marie Egan – Shirts Off Our Back
2007 Blue Grass Festival
2008 Team DUI
2009 "Ageless Dream Day" – Orchard Park
2010 Woody's Café
Organization of the Year
1998 Boy's & Girl's Club
1999 Business Outreach & Response Team (BORT)
2000 Clearlake Performing Arts
2001 "Non-Profit" Sutter Lakeside Community Services
2001 "Volunteer" Lake County Revitalization
2002 "Non-Profit" DAAC
2002 "Volunteer" Kelseyville K-Corp
2003 "Non-Profit" Lake County Community Action Agency
2003 "Volunteer" Lakeport Sea Scouts, Ship Genesis #191
2004 "Non-Profit" Habitat For Humanity, Lake County
2004 "Volunteer" Lake County Wildlife Rescue Center
2005 "Non-Profit" Hospice Services of Lake County
2005 "Volunteer" United Veteran's Council of Lake County
2006 "Non-Profit" RCHCD-Rural Communities Housing Dev. Corp.
2006 "Volunteer" Lake County Animal Services
2007 "Non-Profit" Meals On Wheels
2007 "Volunteer" Free Kitchen Project
2008 "Non-Profit" Lakeside Dental Clinic
2008 "Volunteer" Sponsoring Survivorship
2009 "Non-Profit" People Services, Inc.
2009 "Volunteer" Operation Tango Mike
2010 "Non-Profit" Mt. Konocti Facilitation
2010 "Volunteer" Lake County AARP Tax Preparers
Local Hero of the Year
1999 Steve Sprague
2000 Clattie Mandeville
2001 Sarah Focose
2002 Dr. Arthur Bikangaga
2003 Joy Gabriel
2004 Fred Wendt
2005 Mary Alice Glenn
2006 Derek Woodcock, R.J. Hudson, Lindsey Hamner, Dannille Hamner, Taylor Butler, Quincey Butler, Tyler Brin, James Beall, Sloan Reynolds
2007 Sgt. Mike Hermann
2008 Javier Batres
2009 Walt Foster
2010 No Award
Lifetime Achievement
1998 Alden Jones
1999 Baird Anton
1999 Dr. Donald Browning
2000 Richard Freeborn
2001 David Borjon
2002 Marian Geoble
2003 Donald Ellis
2004 Carl Braito
2005 May Noble
2006 Edgar Hill
2007 "Male" Bill Cornelison
2007 "Female" Thelma Dangel
2008 "Male" Don Emerson
2008 "Female" Joan Holman
2008 "Couple" Robert & Nadine Strauss
2009 "Male" Father Philip Ryan
2009 "Female" Eva Johnson
2010 Mildred Pickersgill
Spirit of Lake County
2001 Tony Jack
2002 Lucille Hill
2003 Hardester's Market & Hardware
2004 James Dougan
2005 Peter Windrem
2006 Brad Gatton
2007 David Neft
2008 Kacey Tallman
2009 Duane Furman
2010 Harry Graves
Parents of the Year
1998 Michael & Diana Lunas
1999 Guy & Kim Tipton
Benefactor
1998 Orville Magoon
1999 James Soper
2000 Lake County Wine Alliance
Business Leader
1998 Bill Brunetti
Environmental
2006 Redbud Audubon Society
2007 Frank Meisenbach
2008 Val & Tom Nixon
2009 Leona Butts
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