Andersen, Arnerich to lead Danville

The selection of Candace Andersen as Mayor and Newell Arnerich as Vice Mayor capped an evening of recognition in Danville on Tuesday during the town's 30th Annual Mayor's Installation and Community Service Awards.

"This truly is a caring community," said Andersen, whose most recent title on the Danville Town Council was Vice Mayor. "The outpouring of love and support shows we are a community that cares."

Following a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by fifth-grade student Avery Chapman, the presentation of colors by Boy Scout Troop 236, an invocation by Ron Dunn, the Senior Pastor of San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church and the reading from Lea Kagel, Danville's Poet Laureate, a number of citizens were honored for their longtime service to the community and others were presented with awards.

Turner Stanton and the Exchange Club of the San Ramon Valley were recognized for two major awards.

Stanton won the Michael K. Shimansky Community Service Award for dedicating his time, effort and energy to the community. He served as youth representative on the Danville Parks and Leisure Services Commission, assisted the SRV Community Resource Network in planning a community-wide event dedicated to educating parents, youth, and community leaders about identifying and preventing cyber bullying in addition to volunteering at the 2011 summer car shows.

The Danville Award went to the Exchange Club for their work of providing living American history education and scholarships for youth in the San Ramon Valley, for presentations of historical documents, youth debate forums about current issues, living history discussions led by veterans, and for developing traveling Freedom Shrine in conjunction with the Town of Danville.

Amelia and Heidi Abramson were given the Parks and Leisure Services Commission Volunteer of the year award for their work on proposing and developing plans for the Bounty Garden at Hap Magee Ranch Park.

Stephen Rodriguez was honored by the Arts Commission for his years of helping to coordinate the Art in the Park festival for the Alamo Danville Artists' Society.

Harry and Barbara Hubinger received a volunteer award for their countless hours of dedication and volunteering for the Danville Police Department.

J.P. McDermott, Madeline Gillette and Tara Power were recognized as outgoing commissioners from the Arts Commission while Bonnie Antoun was given a similar sendoff from the Planning Commission.

Six were recognized for service awards including Danville Council member and former Mayor Mike Doyle (20 years), Heritage Resource Commission member Randy Haberl (12 years), Kent Rezowalli from the Parks and Leisure Services Commission and the new Mayor Andersen for Town Council service (eight years each), Joe Loecher from the Arts Commission and Patricia Dobbin from the Heritage Resource Commission (four years each).

Seven awards of merit were bestowed. They included:

• San Ramon Valley United Methodist Church for organizing the "Mission Saturday" event, volunteering time with non-profits in the Tri-Valley area, and deepening commitment to serve others.

• Monte Vista High School student Alissa Anderegg for raising the awareness of Alzheimer's disease in the community.

• Vista Grande student Landon Gervase Mello for his fundraising efforts for the All Wars Memorial at Oak Hill Park.

• Village Theatre Art Gallery's Curatorial Committee (Constance Anderson, Arthur King, June Krug, Tricia Grame) for providing guidance and direction to the Village Theatre Art Gallery.

• Jeff Phelps for his service to the Danville Police Department and the community.

• Sagan Richardson for the “haunted house” fundraiser benefiting local schools.

• Barbara Farmer for enhancing the arts in the community.