The 65th Annual Carpinteria Community Awards
The 65th Annual Carpinteria Community Awards Banquet took place on Saturday, April 6, at Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s indoor gym.
Held annually since 1958, the event was led by the newly formed Carpinteria Community Association [CCA], whose Board of Directors are President Karen Graf, Neil Bartlett, Bob Berkenmeier, Mary Ann Colson, Beth Cox, Gary Dobbins, Clyde Freemen, Donna Lemere, Curtis Lopez, Shelley Nunes, and Pam Werner. The CCA was recently formed for the annual awards selection and event.
Awards categories for 2023 are the Merit Awards to members of local organizations such as the Avo Fest, Carp Beautiful, Carp Women for Agriculture – a total of 15; and awards for the Educator[s] of the Year, outstanding students, Outstanding Community Business Award, the Junior Carpinterian of the Year, and the Carpinterian of the Year. Nominations are open to Carpinteria citizens. The Selection Committee is made up of local educators, business owners, and residents of Carpinteria.
As I arrived, the air was filled with harmonious conversations in the mix of business associates, friends, and families. Politicians attending and presenting their certificates for the honorees were Carpinteria Vice Mayor Natalia Alarcon, Councilmember Representing District 3 Roy Lee, Councilmember-at-Large Wade T. Nomura, Councilmember Representing District 1 Mónica J. Solórzano, U.S. Congressman 24th District Salud Carbajal, California State Assembly 37th district Gregg Hart, and a representative from the office of SB County 1st District Supervisor Das Williams. Also attending were 22 past Carpinterians of the Year honorees, who were given a special mention and place – seated in front of the stage during the awards ceremony.
The main 2023 awards honorees are as follows: The Carpinterian of the Year – Rick Olmstead; Junior Carpinterian of the Year – Lizbeth Alpizar Farfan; Educators of the Year Award – Luis Quintero and Arturo Monarres; and Outstanding Community Business Award – Coastal View News. (For the full list of winners visit the 411 link)
The event program commenced with welcomes and sponsor thanks by Graf. Title Platinum sponsor Tim Bliss of the Bliss Family Avo Farmstalked about the history of agriculture in Carpinteria, noting his family history of farming, Carp’s key crops such as avocados, blueberries, flowers, lettuce and herbs, and now cannabis. With that he presented a recognition of the Carpinteria High School Future Farmers of America Students. Next, 15 Merit Awards were presented to honorees where they were seated. John Palminteri presented the Outstanding Community Business Award to the Coastal View News. Speaking on behalf of his team, the paper’s Publisher Michael VanStry talked about the paper being founded in 1994 by Rosemarie Fanucchi, Dobbins and himself to present news solely about Carpinteria. He thanked the supporters of the paper who were there when it needed funding in the past few years to keep it afloat, and he also thanked his team and the advertisers.
The Junior Carpinterian of the Year award had three finalists all with GPAs above 4.5, excelling in extracurricular work and sports. The winner was Lizbeth Alpizar Farfan, who thanked her parents for immigrating to Carpinteria to provide opportunities for their children. She is on the President’s Honor Roll, Varsity Basketball Captain, Varsity Volleyball Captain of the Court and Varsity Softball 3rd baseperson.
The 2023 Carpinterian of the Year Award went to an emotional and surprised Rick Olmstead for his work as both a teacher and coach in the Carpinteria schools for 37 years, and upon retirement for the past 10 years dedicates his days to helping the homeless in Carpinteria. He started a lunch program for the homeless, gets supplies and sleeping bags for them, and found space for them at the Carpinteria Veterans Center through the City of Carpinteria. He thanked his wife of over 50 years for her love and for raising their kids while he was working most of the time. He acknowledged prior Citizens of the Year and the CCA.
Graf concluded the ceremonies, as many photo ops and hugs ensued.
Nods went to Carpinteria Lions Club Festival of Trees for their generous contributions toward the awards banquet, the Rincon Beach Club Catering, Lynda Fairly and Richard Finkley, Chevron, Agilent, Clyde and Diana Freeman, California Avocado Festival, Brownstein Hyatt Farber Shreck, Carpinteria Beautiful, and Meister & Nunes, PC.
