The Redwoods’ 22nd annual Celebration of Service Awards were held April 25, with 18 Mill Valley youth, teachers, volunteers and a police officer among the honorees. Awardees for the invite-only event are nominated by The Redwoods, the schools and the Public Safety Department of the City of Mill Valley. Click here for more info.

The Redwoods’ 22nd annual Celebration of Service Awards event is set for April 25, with Mill Valley youth, teachers, volunteers and a police officer among the honorees. Awardees for the invite-only event are nominated by The Redwoods, the schools and the Public Safety Department of the City of Mill Valley.

“The Redwoods is part of the fabric of the Mill Valley,” says Barbara Solomon, CEO of The Redwoods. “We hold this event to give back to the community that has supported us for over 40 years.  It is great way to publicly thank members of the broader community for the extraordinary services they perform and the difference they make in the lives of others – not only at The Redwoods, but throughout the community.”

The 2014 awards, which are given in six categories, will be presented to the following individuals:

Trisha Garlock, recipient of The Award of Honor, a special recognition (not given on an annual basis) selected by The Redwoods. This award honors an individual for long term commitment and dedication to community service. Garlock (Mill Valley) recently retired as executive director of Kiddo, the foundation that raises $3 million annually for Mill Valley school programs. A co-founder, she was associated with Kiddo for 32 years.

Kathy Magnuson, recipient of the Grace Orne Award, which honors a resident of The Redwoods who has made a significant contribution of time and effort to help others. This award is nominated by residents of the Redwoods. Ms. Magnuson, age 81, began volunteering at the Redwoods when she moved in eight years ago. She has chaired the College Scholarship Committee for five years, chaired the annual Bazaar for five years and has served as editor of The Bark, the residents’ newsletter, for six years.

Donna Cameron, recipient of the Bill Bacon Award, which honors a member of the community who has made a significant contribution of time and effort to The Redwoods and its residents. This award is also nominated by residents of The Redwoods. Ms. Cameron (Larkspur), 68, is a retired physical therapist. She has been teaching exercise classes at The Redwoods since 2009.

Detective David Kollerer, recipient of the Public Safety Officer Award.  Kollerer, 29, (Petaluma) was nominated by the Mill Valley Police Department for two aspects of his work:  addressing crimes related to children (including his close working relationship with the schools and his ability to effectively communicate with children); and, his success in investigating elder abuse fraud.

Seven Mill Valley public school teachers will be honored with the Elizabeth Terwilliger Award for excellence in teaching. Selected by their respective school principals and fellow teachers, this year’s recipients are:

• Jen Berry, 1st grade teacher, Old Mill School
• Jason Lane speech and language teacher, Strawberry Point School and Mill Valley Middle School
• Gwen Perin, art teacher, Park School
• Teresa Shern, 5th grade teacher, Edna Maguire Elementary School
• Anne Maria Padilla, 4th grade teacher, Tam Valley School
• Cari Pompanin, 7th grade teacher, Mill Valley Middle School
• Nate Severin, PE teacher, Tamalpais High School

Seven public school students will be honored with Student Community Service Awards. Selected by their respective school principals, the recipients are:

• Amelia Sharpe, age 10, 5th grader at Edna Maguire School
• Natalie Frederick, age 11, 5th grader at Old Mill School
• Jessie Fisher, age 12, 5th grader at Park School
• Serafina Carlucci, age 10, 5th grader at Strawberry School
• Lily Rose Fruchter, age 11, 5th grader at Tam Valley School
• Olivia Shine, age 14, 8th grader at Mill Valley Middle School
• Lauren Killingsworth, age 18, senior at Tamalpais High School

The Celebration of Service event was founded by Bob Canepa.

Friday’s event will be emceed by Mill Valley Mayor Stephanie Moulton-Peters.  The event has been supported by in-kind donations from the following:  Jonathan and Deborah Goldman (wine), Sol Food (food), Barbara Borden and Anne Stearns (music), and past student recipients (dessert). 

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Throckmorton Theatre founder Lucy Mercer knew that her decision to create a free weekly concert series as part of her venue's anniversary celebration was a good idea when she saw a busload of residents from the Redwoods arriving one Wednesday afternoon.
Having Redwoods' residents show up in droves for an event isn't a complete anomaly, however, as the senior community's transportation service allows residents to shop, dine, volunteer, keep appointments, and enjoy cultural events seven days a week. 
The Redwoods’ 10th Annual CrabFest Fundraiser – the major fundraiser for that transportation service – is set for Saturday, March 29 at the Mill Valley Community Center. A reception and no-host bar starts at 5 p.m. followed by one dinner seating at 6 p.m. that includes all-you-can-eat fresh Dungeness crab, green salad, pasta, bread and dessert. Dinner tickets for residents are $50 and non-resident tickets are $75.
In addition to the tasty dinner, CrabFest features live bluegrass music from Belle Monroe and Her Brewglass Boys and a performance by Rock the Ages, the popular contemporary rock chorus composed of 25 Redwoods residents.
The Rockin' Raffle Grand Prize is a Holland America Line cruise for two to the Caribbean or Mexico. Silent auction and raffle items include a weekend in Tahoe, theater and symphony tickets, gift certificates, wine, gift baskets, and unique fashion accessories. Raffle tickets are $5 each, five for $20, and can be purchased in advance and up until the drawing at CrabFest. You do not need to be present to win the raffle prizes.
The 411: Click here for more info or to buy tickets, or call Patti Flynn-Boston at 415-383-2741 ext. 295 or email crabfest@theredwoods.org to buy tickets.

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Enjoy Mill Valley Blog is sponsored by the following local businesses: