Community Service Awards Gala a Night to Remember

The Redwood Room of the Scotts Valley Hilton was warm and cozy Friday evening, for this year's Community Awards Gala—a Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce tradition since 1995. This year was the first year a live band was added to the party, and the "Sparkletones" were as dazzling and dance inducing as their name implies. But it wasn't the dancing that made the room so warm, it was the smiles and hugs that never ended.

The awards recipients all accepted their honors with deep gratitude. , Donna Lind, kicked off her red shoes on the dance floor and was deeply moved to accept the award from her community. Lind joked that she "failed retirement" since she is busier now than she has ever been. For a woman who worked for the Scotts Valley Police Department for four decades, that's saying a lot. 

, Don Dumller, was equally touched to receive the award, and Mayor Dene Bustichi called him "the unsung hero." Lt. John Hohmann of the Scotts Valley Police Department thanked Dumller for his work in helping to discourage teenage drinking in the community. Hohmann, who said he spent all summer sending minors into Liquor Stores to try to buy alcohol, also jokingly thanked Dumller for not taking it the wrong way. Of course, Dumller's business, Leo's Liquors, passed the test with flying colors. 

Debora Van Bruggen accepted the award on behalf of the Scotts Valley Friends of the Library. Mayor Bustichi personally thanked the Friends of the Library for creating a beautiful library, and admitted that in the beginning he had been "pretty staunch" about spending money on things like solar tubes and the media wall. 

"But the Friends of the Library came through. They deserve all the credit for this library that is such a special place for the community," Bustichi said.

, Tyler Marshall, thanked his Grandmother for influencing him by being a community-minded woman. 

The Interact Clubs at Scotts Valley high and middle schools received thefor a tree planting project at the high school and a mural in honor of late SVHS custodian Daniel Garcia, and Scotts Valley Market received the  

Sharolynn Ullestad, executive director of the Chamber, said she was very happy with this year's event. The Youth of the Year Award is named after her daughter, Sharemi Ullestad, who passed away in 2009.

"This used to be one of her pet projects. She loved to plan this event each year, from the napkin colors and decorations to the tablecloths. So this event has always been dear to my heart," Ullestad said.