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Don and Debbie Johnson, from the Santa Paula Times, thank the Chamber of Commerce, audience, employees and others as they accepted the “2009 Business of the Year” award at the annual Chamber of Commerce luncheon held Tuesday. Don and Debbie have owned and operated the Santa Paula Times since 1993. (Photo Courtesy Craig Mailloux) |
Business of the Year honored at Chamber luncheon
February 05, 2010
Santa Paula Times honored as Business of the Year
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
A community without a newspaper lacks a brain, heart and soul, and the dedication of Debbie and Don Johnson of the Santa Paula Times to the power of the press and the power of the people was lauded with recognition as the 2009 Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year, 13 years after the first time the Times received the same award.
The Santa Paula Times, as well as Citizen of the Year Ginger Gherardi and Beautification Project of the Year Depot Plaza, was honored February 2 at the annual Chamber awards luncheon held at the historic Mill, the soon to be home of the Farm Heritage Museum of Ventura County. Almost 200 people attended the event that featured the State of the City address by Mayor Jim Tovias.
Tovias presented the Johnsons with the Business of the Year award, noting a community without information “about its movers and shakers, politics, schools, crime, controversies and news vital to the hometown, the community has nothing to think about.” In addition, without news about “helping those in need, proud high school graduates, happy kids playing sports, Girl Scouts selling cookies, endless celebrations and deepest sorrows, the community has nothing to feel about.”
Tovias noted without stories “detailing its against all odds accomplishments, wonderful books at the library, music, art and artists, churches, the theater, thinkers, activists, complainers and philosophers there is nothing the community needs a soul for.” But because of the Santa Paula Times, “This lucky community continues to have a brain, heart and soul. But without Don and Debbie Johnson there would be no Santa Paula Times, a void that could never be filled.”
Tovias said the Johnsons, who founded the newspaper in 1993, have positioned themselves as the “chief advocates of the brain, heart and soul of Santa Paula through sharing the news... good, bad, joyous and sad.... Not just chroniclers of the community, the Johnson’s have also been highly active in the community they serve.”
Don served on the City Council and was Mayor two terms; is a former Rotarian; was president of the Boys & Girls Club board, and received one the highest honors from the national club organization. Debbie, said Tovias, “continues to lead all things commerce as president of the Downtown Merchants Association, which offers the community arts and jazz festivals and glad tidings with holiday activities.”
The Optimist and Kiwanis clubs, Hospice Home Tour, Chamber, SPUHS Education Foundation, Relay for Life, Citizens Patrol, Soroptimist, Boys & Girls Club and the Santa Paula Police & Fire Foundation Board of Directors are just a few of the organizations to which the Johnsons have given their active support. “This support is often given together, because,” said Tovias, “above all Don and Debbie are a strong, dedicated and loving team.”
There is not an cause “that has not benefited from the Johnsons and their Santa Paula Times,” which serves as a forum for many community groups and strong support for fundraisers, special events, and activities of area non-profits. Although starting the newspaper presented numerous risks and challenges, “They persevered, knowing that the newspaper’s success would be the only way the community could retain its fine-tuned brain, tender beating heart and the true essence of its soul.”
Tovias said the Johnsons “continuously strive to maintain a standard where every voice is heard, every issue presented, no matter what might come the Times’ way. They have respect for the power of the press they gladly shoulder, and reverence for the power of the people - especially those of the Santa Paula community - it helps.” The award, noted Tovias, again demonstrates “Chamber and community appreciation for the mighty Santa Paula Times and its continued devotion to the power of the press for the people it serves.”
Don thanked the business “community as a whole for what you do for us,” and particularly advertisers. Don and Debbie have been in the Santa Paula newspaper business for more than 30 years, “and some of you run the same ad!”
The Times does not have a “huge staff,” but all are “invaluable” - from Diana Ramos who is “the first person people see” to Suzi Skutley, who “puts the ads together for you,” to Sports Editor Brian D. Wilson “who tries to get every kid’s name in the newspaper,” to Peggy Kelly.
Don also offered thanks to those who assemble the newspaper and then deliver it. “If it doesn’t get to you all,” then all such work would be wasted. Some employees, he added, have worked with the Johnsons for 18 years.
“We could not do it without the community,” Debbie said. Don urged people to advertise and subscribe to the newspaper, whether through home delivery or through the Internet edition.
He also urged everyone to support the financially troubled Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Clara Valley: “We need that, that’s our future, they are us. And if you’ve never been up to the high school Agricultural and Science Academy go up there, visit... we have wonderful kids.”
The Johnsons received proclamations and recognitions from Brian Miller on behalf of Representative Elton Gallegly, Linda Johnson representing Senator George Runner, Matthew Hewitt on behalf of Assemblywoman Audra Strickland, and Martin Hernandez for Supervisor Kathy Long.
Miller complimented the Santa Paula Times for its strong community dedication and commitment to the news, while Hernandez said it was a “great privilege to be here honoring friends” such as the Johnsons and Citizen of the Year Gherardi. Tovias noted, “People like Don and Debbie are what really sets this town apart” from others.
Other communities, said Master of Ceremonies John Chamberlain, “don’t have the soul” of Santa Paula and as many people, such as the Johnsons, that “are busy making the town we love prosper.”
