One is a soft-spoken, yet spontaneous, banker. Another is a
retired art teacher who’s literally giving her work away. There’s a
local nursery which has seeds that have grown crops from here to
New Mexico and a funeral home that’s held the hands of Gilroyans
through grief and loss. Another is a school principal who has his
students scoring high, and one man will volunteer for just about
anything. On Saturday night, they will share the stage during the
Gilroy Chamber of Commerce’s annual Spice of Life Awards at the San
Juan Oaks Golf Club.
One is a soft-spoken, yet spontaneous, banker. Another is a retired art teacher who’s literally giving her work away. There’s a local nursery which has seeds that have grown crops from here to New Mexico and a funeral home that’s held the hands of Gilroyans through grief and loss. Another is a school principal who has his students scoring high, and one man will volunteer for just about anything.
On Saturday night, they will share the stage during the Gilroy Chamber of Commerce’s annual Spice of Life Awards at the San Juan Oaks Golf Club.
“One of the things about Gilroy is that we have a high level of involvement in our community by our citizens,” Chamber President/CEO Susan Valenta said. “When we do the Spice of Life Awards, it gives us an opportunity to recognize individuals, businesses, educators who really have done over and beyond.”
– Carol Peters, who served as an art instructor for 30 years and has donated many of her works will be honored as Woman of the Year.
– Kurt Michielssen, South Valley National Bank Sr. vice president, who serves as president of the Economic Development Council and isn’t afraid to volunteer as a guinea pig for Gilroy Police Department demonstrations, is the Man of the Year.
– Headstart Nursery, which ships about 500 million vegetable transplants and ornamental plugs throughout the West Coast, will be recognized as Large Business of the Year.
– Habing Family Funeral Home is the Chamber’s selection for Small Business of the Year. The Habing family has owned and operated the business in Gilroy since 1943, and has donated time to numerous citywide foundations.
– The Chamber has named Salvatore Tomasello, Ascension Solorsano Middle School principal, as its Educator of the Year. Under Tomasello’s leadership, the school has excelled in statewide test scores.
– Gilroy “go-to guy” Jeff Orth was tabbed by the Chamber as its 2010 Firman B. Voorhies Volunteer of the Year. Orth has served two terms on the Chamber board of directors as an ambassador, and has made time to actively support the Gilroy Memorial Day Parade, the Morgan Hill Bible Church, the YMCA and St. Joseph’s Family Center.
“These are exemplary people,” Valenta said. “It doesn’t just happen over a moment. It’s a continuum of giving and contributing and making the community great.”
Spice of Life Awards
– 5:30 p.m. Saturday at San Juan Oaks Country Club in Hollister
Click on the links below to read about the winners.
Man of the Year: Kurt Michielssen | Woman of the Year: Carol Peters | Firman B. Voorhies Volunteer of the Year: Jeff Orth | Educator of the Year: Salvatore Tomasello | Large Business of the Year: Headstart Nursery | Small Business of the Year: Habing Family Funeral Home
