A night of honor for Lindsay

Over 200 people attended the Lindsay Chamber of Commerce's 100th year anniversary awards celebration at McDermont Field House on Saturday.

The Chamber honored the following recipients: Organization of the Year, Employee of the Year, Youth of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Business of the Year, the President’s Award, Woman of the Year and Man of the Year.

Guests chatted and perused the tremendous variety of silent auction offerings, which ranged from a glistening red mountain bike, custom art photographs, to gift baskets, coffee makers and a presentation box of Lindsay Olives.

“This is a well put on event year after year by a small town,” said Starr Warson.

Rachel Hill presented the 2011 Woman of the Year Award.

“This woman was born in Texas,” Hill said, noting that the honoree’s parents were migrant farm workers and how they finally settled in Lindsay. She also spoke of the recipient's involvment in helping Lindsay schools. Hill presented the award to a surprised and thrilled Janie Castro, who said, “I was here because I thought my daughter, Christina, was going to get an award.”

The 2011 Man of the Year Award was presented to an overwhelmed Alan Guire, who emotionally said, “I love this community. I’m so honored, but I’m not worthy. God Bless.”

Guire is an electronics engineer and is active in both the Lindsay and Strathmore communities on the School Site Council and is Secretary Treasurer of Lindsay Kiwanis. His wife, Melissa, is an elementary school teacher in Strathmore.

“Our future is based on our kids,” said Guire. “We need to join hands together as a community. Love each other, and remember what we are here for.”

The 2011 Business of the Year Award, was awarded to Miguel Antonio Gutierrez, who employs over 125 employees at M & G Harvesting. Gutierrez proudly said, “I want to thank my dad, who started the business in 1982.”

The 2011 President's Board Award was given to “a strong supporter of the community and the new assistant city manager” Maria Knutson. Knutson remarked, “I’m blessed to work with the city and get paid for it. I want to thank everyone in the community. Let’s get back to what this friendly little city can be.”

The first award of the evening was presented by Sol Nunes, General Manager of Sunset Waste Systems, who talked about recycling, and how educators in Lindsay taught their students to recycle while teaching them about math and science. He presented the Kirby Award to Lindsay Unified School District. LUSD Superintendent Janet Kliegl, who announced she will be retiring at the end of the current school year, accepted the award.

“It is a privilege to receive this honor. Thank you for providing recycling containers,” she said.

Sally McDonald then spoke at length about the 2011 Organization of the Year and presented the award to Alice Gutierrez of the Lindsay Strathmore Coordinating Council.

Gutierrez, who works tirelessly for both communities, said, “I’m not the only one who is working, there are many volunteers who work and help our community. This is the first time in my life I’ve been speechless.”

The 2011 Employee of the Year Award was received by Danny “Dano” Smith, who works at Mike Butler’s Garage in Lindsay.

The 2011 Youth of the Year Award was awarded to Valerie Jean Esparza.

The 2011 Volunteer of the Year Award was given to two deserving women Esperanza “Hope” Poteet, and Kathleen Rivas, who said, “I’m happy to help the City of Lindsay.”

Honored guests attending the event were Tulare County Supervisor Allen Ishida and his wife, Wanda, who is also a Chamber Ambassador, Dameane Douglas, a representative for Senator Michael Rubio, and Justin Stoner, representative for State Assemblywoman Connie Conway.

Lindsay City Council members, Mayor Ed Murray, and city administrators also attended the event.

A humorous video about Lindsay businesses sponsored by the Chamber, and a nostalgic musical slide show with pictures of Lindsay from the 1920s until the present, was shown.

The evening also served as the installation of officers for the 2012 Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. The 2011 Chamber Board of Directors president, Alice Gutierrez, passed the gavel to Sam Wollenman.