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Leslie Nichols (left) spoke of the contributions of 2016 Chamber of Commerce Community Service Award recipient Carlos Juarez as Chamber President Marilyn Appleby waited to present the award.
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Community Service Award lauds volunteer efforts of Carlos Juarez
March 15, 2017
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Retired after a decades long career as a Santa Paula Police Officer, Carlos Juarez continues to be on duty by volunteering for programs and activities that help make the city great.
Juarez was honored with a 2016 Community Service Award at the March 1 Chamber of Commerce Celebrate Santa Paula/Citizen of the Year Awards banquet. The celebration was held at the Community Center where a sold out crowd enjoyed an evening of paying tribute to individuals and businesses that make a difference for Santa Paula.
Leslie Nichols presented the award to Juarez, noting that as the primary producer of the Santa Paula Theater Center, “I have a truly wonderful volunteer position. And, I am lucky to work with Carlos. I first became aware of Carlos when he was a high school student, he seemed shy and introverted.”
Later, “It was a joy to see Carlos around town in his Santa Paula Police uniform…even then little did I know he would become so important in my life,” when his talents — ranging from set design and building to writing — became apparent.
“He willingly jumped on board,” the SPTC and “has been so integral to our success, there is so much he can do and he is so important to us.”
And his family: Nichols said Juarez and his wife Heidi have two adult children.
Juarez, a Santa Paula resident since he was a 1-year-old, retired from the SPPD as a Lieutenant after 27.5 years of service.
In his “retirement” he has become active with the Rotary Club of Santa Paula and is current President of the service organization.
He has been a member — and Past Grand Master — of the Odd Fellows for a decade, has been active with the SPTC benefitting Ghost Walk, is a Santa Paula Historical Society Board Director, volunteers for the California Oil Museum, CASP and Food Share, and is a member of the Santa Paula Unified School District Bond Oversight Committee.
Juarez also plays with the Cruise Knights, a popular retro-rock band that plays all over Southern California and donates their talents to local fundraisers.
Nichols said Juarez does “so much more…and we thank you Carlos for all you do!”
Juarez thanked Maria Bombara for “The nomination for the award…things wouldn’t get done without volunteers. In the police department I learned about volunteering,” with the work of those helping the SPPD helping to sustain the department.
“There were things we couldn’t do without volunteers,” he noted.
And there are things “our significant others” are involved in where help is needed, “That’s called ‘voluntold,’ ” joked Juarez.
“Donna Nelson said she was going to be at the dinner but then another volunteer activity took precedence,” common in strong volunteering Santa Paula.
Juarez said the award reminded him of his volunteer effort: “I was in the 6th grade and the principal called me into the office and asked if I would deliver the food to the special needs kids. He said I could eat before the others,” so he would have time for the delivery.
The experience showed him that volunteering wasn’t just that he was able to eat lunch earlier and subsequently be able to play before other students, “What stuck with me is I got to do something for somebody else.
“No one does it for recognition,” said Juarez. “They do it because it has to be done.”
The awards dinner also featured honors given to Citizen of the Year Harold Edwards, Sam Edwards Lifetime Achievement Award winners Dianne and Dudley Davis, Community Service Award recipients Elvia Hernandez and Juarez, Non-Profit of the Year Blanchard Community Library, Business Beautification Award — Santa Paula Orthodontics Jared T. Lee, DDS MS, Small Business of the Year Red Hot Foods/Santa Paula Salas Co. Burma and Butch Baselice and Large Business of the Year Bank of the Sierra.
Mayor Jenny Crosswhite gave the State of the City Address before an audience of community leaders and elected officials that included Supervisor Kelly Long, Vice Mayor Ginger Gherardi and Councilmen Clint Garman, Martin Hernandez and John Procter.
