Latino Town Hall awards honor those who exemplify principles of volunteerism
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Published: September 19, 2008
Honoring those who exemplify the principles of volunteerism was the goal of the 12th Annual Latino Town Hall Awards Dinner, which filled the Community Center with an array of family and friends of those lauded.
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula Times
Honoring those who exemplify the principles of volunteerism was the goal of the 12th Annual Latino Town Hall Awards Dinner, which filled the Community Center with an array of family and friends of those lauded.
The September 6th celebration also drew various countywide and local elected officials, including City Councilman Dr. Gabino Aguirre and Councilman John Procter - the former the LTH president and the latter an award recipient - as well as Ventura County Supervisor Kathy Long. Santa Paula Planning Commissioner Jesse Ornelas was also present, as were a variety of school districts’ trustees and former elected officials.
“This,” Aguirre told the crowd, “is about bringing the community together.” Whatever is good for Latinos, he added, is “good for the whole community.”
Familia Moraza provided entertainment, and Master of Ceremonies was Lorenzo Moraza. Featured speaker was Kenneth Burt, an author and the Political Director of the California Teachers Association.
“We are proud of all our students, but we’re really proud of Rosa,” said Santa Paula Union High School District Trustee Christina Urias, who presented the Youth Award to Rosa Maria Navarro. Raised on Limoneira Ranch, Rosa, the Class valedictorian, graduated from SPHS with a 4.6 GPA and she will attend the University of California Davis to major in environmental studies with a goal to bring water to Third World countries and eventually reconnecting with her hometown.
Urias said when she spoke to Rosa’s sister Lupita, “She said the family is very honored, so elated that Rosa” was honored.
“I have been very pleased to be a part of a wonderful community,” which Rosa said proves the Ralph Waldo Emerson poem that notes, “The world is all gates, all opportunities.”
Carmen Guerrero said together Leonard and Hope Mata have contributed more than 25 years of service to the youth of Santa Paula by coaching and providing other support services to Girls Softball and Little League, the focus of their LTH Sports Award.
Hope served as a Bobby Sox/Girls Softball player’s agent on the board for years and was a team mother for more than 25 years, as well as managing the Snack Bar. Leonard coached Girls Softball and Little League for more than a quarter of a century and was the coach at SPUHS for more than a decade, where his leadership led to CIF finalists as well as consistent Frontier League Championships.
The Matas forged strong and enduring relationships with many of the players, several who became successful university level coaches. “Hope and Leonard formed a bond with many of these young people,” a bond noted Guerrero, that “continues to his day. Our community is proud to include Hope and Leonard.”
“There’s more to sports than just the game,” and Hope noted the couple’s own daughter, a “product” of area schools, has attained her Masters degree. When it comes to life’s milestones, Leonard said, “Having girls come back has been my reward for all these years.”
Teaching not only dance, but also preserving a rich culture garnered Grupo Folklorico Tecalitlan and Director Dr. Jesus Gonzalez the Cultural Arts Award. Guerrero noted that Gonzalez, a Port Hueneme based dentist, “wants to teach dance free to anyone who wants to dance folklorico.”
The dance company is “not for profit and not a nonprofit,” with Dr. Gonzalez absorbing the bulk of the troupe’s expenses. Gonzalez’s efforts and dedication, said Guerrero, “makes him a treasure in Santa Paula.”
More than 50 Santa Paula children receive weekly lessons at Casa del Mexicano - which donates the space - from Gonzalez, who has performed internationally. Guerrero noted, “His commitment to educating the community about the beauty and diversity of the Mexican culture through folklorico dance is more than commendable.”
Gonzales said the award is an honor, and he recognized dancer Maria Saiz, who “brought me to Santa Paula.”
Santa Paula Elementary School District Trustee Ofelia de la Torre outlined the accomplishments of Education Award recipient Adriana Gonzales, who has taught at Grace Thille Elementary School for more than two decades. “Adriana,” said de la Torre, “is a great teacher who loves to teach and loves her students.”
Born to a Santa Paula farmworker family, Adriana also worked the fields before she graduated with a Bachelors degree and her teaching credential in Liberal Studies from CSUN. Returning to Santa Paula, “Adriana came back to her hometown for her professional career,” married, and had children.
De la Torre said that Adriana “possesses all the qualities one admires in a human being and those one hopes for in a teacher,” and she especially enjoys teaching kindergarten/1st grade, where “she establishes the foundation for later learning.” Vital to the annual school Authors Fair, Adriana is popular with her peers and with the parents of students, staying after school until early evening with many of the students to help them with their homework.
Adriana said, “Seeing students growth academically” is especially rewarding, since her own parents sacrificed for her education. “It is important to me to contribute to Santa Paula” through education.
Former longtime LTH President Robert Borrego introduced Community Service Award honoree John Procter, a two-term City Councilman and native Santa Paulan. “John is very straight-forward, doesn’t play games,” and Borrego said among John’s proudest Council accomplishments were the hiring of City Manager Wally Bobkiewicz, settlement of the multi-million dollar wastewater treatment fine, and the reopening of Santa Paula Hospital.
John’s “certain humility” and activism on behalf of numerous organizations and programs - ranging from Relay for Life to the Santa & Me program - have made him such an “appreciated member of the community whom everyone wants on their team.”
Council service, said John, demonstrates “There is a big difference between talking your job seriously and your self seriously... although I always loved Santa Paula, I had done very little for it” until he became politically active. Being an elected official allows him to “see the best and the worst of people,” including those who demonstrate that “a firm grasp of the facts is not” the basis of opinion.
John thanked numerous people who have influenced him, and thanked LTH for “this tremendous honor. I don’t see things as a white/brown issue, but as a simple issue of fairness.”
Chino’s Market was honored with the Business Award presented by Victor Espinosa, who noted that founder Elias (Chino) Valdes took a dream and a $600 loan to open the popular market on July 4, 1954. But it was more than a market: “Chino instilled in staff and customers values and dreams,” as well as a “sense of aspiration and pride.”
Chino, noted Espinosa, not only “provided the groceries,” at times on credit, but also helped mentor youth and ensure families in Mexico were provided for. “All those who came through the doors were always treated with dignity and respect.”
When Chino was killed in a 1975 traffic accident, the “family had to pick up the baton” and operate the market, as well as fill the void the death of the community-minded Chino created.
“Chino’s Market will always be my dad,” said Elias Valdes, who accepted the award on the behalf of the family and staff. When Chino was selected the 1967 Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year, he “was so excited to tell me... I thought ‘I’m never going to beat this man, so,” said Elias, “I have dedicated my life to imitating him. I wanted to do what my dad did.”
Chino’s Market always was a “magical place” that resembles a “Fountain of Youth” for all the young people that work there. “Chino’s has gone full circle; we are dedicated to community service,” not just “selling groceries,” said Elias. “Dignity, recognition and respect” of all who enter remains a hallmark of the business.
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