The Davises’ efforts and dedication to the city have truly beautified the downtown, noted Mayor Fernandez as he presented the Chamber award to the couple.“What a wonderful goal... City of Flowers,” noted Supervisor Long, who presented a Board of Supervisors Proclamation to “Dianne and Dudley, who do the right with a great heart.”Miller offered his congratulations as well as a Proclamation to the couple for “making this a more beautiful community than it already was.”Jim and Marie McCoy, Connie Tushla lauded by Chamber at annual awardsThe Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce celebrated their own with special honors for Jim and Marie McCoy and Connie Tushla at the 47th Annual Awards luncheon honoring 2008 Citizen of the Year Maria Bombara, Business of the Year Heritage Hardware & Garden Center, and Beautification Project of the Year Do Right’s Plant Growers.The sold-out event, held at Ironhorse Restaurant at the Glen Tavern Inn on February 22, was attended by elected officials including Supervisor Kathy Long, Mayor Ralph Fernandez, Vice Mayor Jim Tovias and Councilmen Bob Gonzales and Fred Robinson, as well Brian Miller, chief aide to Representative Elton Gallegly, past chamber honorees, and others who turned out in force to show their support for the 2008 award recipients and enjoyed the witty dialogue of Master of Ceremonies John Chamberlain.Connie, the immediate past chair of the Chamber Board of Directors, is unlike others that Chamber President/CEO John Blanchard said often move on to other interests. “But Connie, an amazing woman, is a positive force for change in all things Santa Paula; she has dedicated her life to the community.... Although I won’t recite all her contributions,” Blanchard noted the Chamber wished to “show our appreciation for her two years of leadership that made for an active and viable Chamber.”Connie said she enjoyed the support of an “amazing board, intelligent,” that also proved to be extremely hardworking. “The type of people,” she added, “you like to hang out with!” Connie thanked her family for their “continual and strong support,” and noted Chamber Board Chair Sam Hishmeh is “an outstanding businessman who still manages” to maintain warm friendships.Now the co-chair of the Chamber’s Education in the 21st Century Committee, Connie urged support for same, as well as for the Foundation for Santa Paula Youth and the Santa Paula Police & Fire Foundation, the latter for which she thanked Bud Brown and others for getting “up and running.”Marie and Jim McCoy have been active in Santa Paula for 50 years, and Blanchard said Jim is a “big hero in Santa Paula and the Chamber... he was City Councilman, Mayor and many times the Chamber president. He’s a fierce fighter for Santa Paula.” Jim also was a co-founder of the popular Cruise Nite, which for more than a decade has brought thousands of visitors to Santa Paula, as well as the Good Morning Santa Paula monthly Chamber program.“Jim was recognized on the floor of Congress” and, Blanchard noted, “several years ago when the Chamber” was facing a financial crisis and on the verge of closing, “he and Marie as well as John Macik provided $10,000 to literally save the organization.” Blanchard awarded a Chamber Life Membership to the couple.“I’m not often without words” and, said Jim, “I appreciate that a lot of friends are here today, I’m very emotional.” He thanked Marie, noting, “We’ve been married 53 years and it’s been fantastic!”Alluding to Connie’s earlier quote from Mother Teresa centered on the happiness of those that always move quickly, Marie said she appreciates the satisfaction of always being on the move, and to “never stop running.”
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(Photo top left) Dudley and Dianne Davis thank the luncheon audience after receiving their “Beautification” award. (Top right photo) Mayor Ralph Fernandez (right) presents the “Business of the Year” award to Ray and Brenda Padgett. (Photo bottom left) John Blanchard (right) presents Jim and Marie McCoy a life-time membership to the Chamber of Commerce. (Bottom right photo) John Blanchard (left) presents Connie Tushla an award for being the Chair of the Board of Directors. (Photos by Don Johnson) |
Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce awards
February 27, 2009
Santa Paula News
Chamber awards: Padgetts lauded for business, Davises for beautification
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce celebrated two dedicated businesses for their efforts on behalf of the local economy as well as making the Glen City the most beautiful in the county at the 47th Annual Awards Luncheon. 2008 Business of the Year Heritage Hardware & Garden Center and 2008 Beautification Project of the Year by Do Right’s Plant Growers were lauded at the February 22 luncheon.Citizen of the Year Maria Bombara was also honored at the luncheon, held at the Ironhorse Restaurant at the Glen Tavern Inn, where Master of Ceremonies John Chamberlain added his strong humorous touch to the celebration.The sold-out event was attended by elected officials including Supervisor Kathy Long, Mayor Ralph Fernandez, Vice Mayor Jim Tovias and Councilmen Bob Gonzales and Fred Robinson, as well Brian Miller, chief aide to Representative Elton Gallegly, past Chamber honorees, and others who turned out in force to show their support for the 2008 award recipients. Chamber Board President Sam Hishmeh and Chamber President/CEO John Blanchard oversaw the awards.Brenda and Ray Padgett opened Heritage Hardware, an independently owned Do It Center, on East Main Street in 2000. They moved the popular business to the Santa Paula Shopping Center three years later, and later expanded it with the Garden Center.“I was there in December” attending a Chamber Mixer, and Hishmeh said he was impressed with the cleanliness of the business, “just spotless.... The reason Heritage Hardware & Garden Center was chosen for the award is its contributions to the local economy” through tax revenues and employment opportunities, as well as its popularity as a destination business.Brenda noted she and Ray, both Santa Paula natives, were “so honored to look out” and see so many friends and supporters. “We would have not received this award” without the employees who had demonstrated a “strong dedication to service,” including those family members employed by Heritage Hardware.Brenda also thanked Dianne and Dudley Davis, owners of Do Right’s Plant Growers, for “being instrumental in guiding us” in the creation of the Garden Center. “We are,” added Brenda, “committed to being the best that we can be for the community of Santa Paula.”Heritage Hardware has the “greatest employees,” and “as a business is a great model for me and others,” said Mayor Fernandez, who presented the Chamber Award to the Padgetts.“Thank you for your investment,” noted Supervisor Long, who presented a Board of Supervisors Proclamation. “Small business is the backbone of the nation.”Representative Gallegly “loves spending time in hardware stores” and is strongly supportive of small business, noted Miller, who also offered a Proclamation.Dianne and Dudley Davis, owners of Do Right’s Plant Growers, the 2008 Beautification Award recipient, “did something totally sweet.... As the owners of a statewide” flower business, Hishmeh said the couple made the Chamber an offer it could not refuse, to hang and maintain baskets bursting with flowers along Main Street. “John Blanchard said the couple are truly selfless people, and Connie (Tushla) said because of Dianne and Dudley’s efforts Santa Paula will soon be known as the city of flowers.”“We’re honored,” said Dudley. “It’s a small thing we can do for the city that we can do and will continue to do better.”Blanchard and Tushla also deserve credit, Dianne noted, as the two had provided Chamber funds to purchase basket brackets. “I hope others will be inspired” and, Dianne added, visit the Heritage Hardware Garden Center to “beautify Santa Paula with flowers.”
