by the Gazette-Times | Posted: Monday, January 5, 2009 12:00 am
Tickets to the 61st event are on sale
Some 50 Corvallis individuals, businesses and institutions have been nominated for awards at this month's "Celebrate Corvallis," the annual event honoring outstanding contributions to the community.
The year's event, the 61st, carries the theme "An Evening with the Stars" and will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 21. A celebration party will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the CH2M Hill Alumni Center on the Oregon State University campus, followed by the awards show in the LaSells Stewart Center, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Luanne Lawrence, OSU's vice president for university advancement, returns as emcee.
Nominations were made by community members.
The event is produced by the Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition.
Tickets are $48 per person, and include hors d'oeuvres, complimentary beverages, and preferred seating at the awards presentation. A $550 nominee sponsor preferred package for eight is also available, with four additional tickets for two nominees and their guests.
Tickets can be purchased online at www.cbchamber
coalition.com. Or call 541-757-1505 if you don't have Internet access, or for more information.
This year's nominees are:
First Citizen: Nicole Dodson, community volunteer; Stacy Mellem, Leadership Corvallis volunteer; Sharna Prasad, physical therapist, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center; Peter Sekermestrovich, Town & Country Realty; Linda Van Powell, Civic Outreach.
Business of the Year: Alphagraphics; Barker-Uerlings Insurance; Benton County Schools Credit Union; Expressions in Bloom; The Inkwell Home Store; 7 Stones Spa and Wellness Center, Strega Restaurant and Wine Bar, Elements Building; Special Occasions One Stop Party Shop; ViewPlus Technologies Inc.; Visual People Design.
Community/Nonprofit Agency: Benton County Historical Society; CASA - Voices for Children; Community Outreach Inc.; Heartland Humane Society; Love in the Name of Christ of Benton County; Putting on the Pink Steering Committee; Reach Out Yoga.
Entrepreneur of the Year: Jon Hofmeister, Perpetua Power Source; Sue Long, Keller Williams Realty.
Future First Citizen: Elliot Finn, Crescent Valley High School; Ashmi Patel, Philomath High School; Jason Powell, Santiam Christian High School; Sloan Storie, Corvallis High School.
Good Steward of the Planet: Benton Habitat for Humanity; Bombs Away Café; CORE Communications; Corvallis Sustainability Coalition; First Alternative Natural Foods Co-op; Solar Summit.
Junior First Citizen: Tad Abernathy, American Family Insurance; Matt Andresen, Turman Financial Group; Christopher Gerritz, OSU student, Air Force ROTC; Kelley Kaiser, Samaritan Health Plans; Chris Nordyke, Chris Nordyke State Farm Agency.
Patron of the Arts: Jim and Jorjie Coakley, Corvallis Youth Symphony Association; Nelia Mendonca, Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis; Keith Moses, The Arts Center, high school arts teacher; Carol Nelson, Heart of the Valley Children's Choir; Mary Jeanne Reynales, Corvallis Community Theater.
Robert C. Ingalls Business Person: Tim Fitzpatrick, Fitzpatrick Painting; Bill Ford, Business Enterprise Center; Dave Gazeley, Citizens Bank; Frank Hall, EntrDigm Consulting; Nancy B. Kneisel, Second Glance.
Senior First Citizen: Dan Dunham, Benton County Fair Board; Betty Griffiths, Corvallis City Council, Corvallis Sustainability Coalition; Dr. Kenneth Johnson, Boys & Girls Club of Corvallis. Hans Neukomm, Leadership Corvallis.