2011-2012

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Category: 2011-2012

Candace has had a singing career spanning several decades. She tours with a female quartet called the New Chordettes. She is currently musical director at St. Andrews Episcopal Church as well as the director of a local a cappella group, The Grace Notes.

Ms. Delbo has dedicated herself to establishing children's choral programs in Ojai at a time when those programs did not exist at the elementary level. Participants were allowed to explore the joys of singing and performing, transitioning to junior high and high school choral ensembles, inspired and ready to participate.

Candace has served on the Ojai Music Festival's BRAVO Board and developed vocal outreach programs.

Whether working with adults or children, Candace's driving passion is to connect students of all ages with their own God-given voice and to discover thejoys of expressing one's self through song and performance.

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Category: 2011-2012

Lavonne Theriault was born in Deadwood, South Dakota amidst the adventursome, vibrant lore of the old West and colorful characters. As a child, she observed Mount Rushmore being constructed and had a brown bag lunch on George Washington's head.

Lavonne and her husband, Doug came to Ojai in 1954 for a one-year stay, intending to move up to the Bay Area. However, following the birth of their daughter April, the mystique of Ojai worked its charm upon them and they stayed to adopt this as their permanent home.

Music has always been a major part of her life and she has been a participating member of numerous musical groups throughout Ventura County. She serves on the board of various musical and civic organizations locally. Now retired, she bills herself a professional volunteer, happy to give back to her community.

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Category: 2011-2012

With her husband and three children, Cricket moved to Ojai in 1969, admonished by their moving van driver that "There's varmits in them hills."

In 1997, Ms. Twichell became the "token woman" in the admissions office of Thacher School, the year that Thacher first admitted women to their school. She taught English as a Second Language at OVS and worked with the Thacher alumni.

With Toastmasters, Crickett conquered her fear of public speaking and now, at the drop of a hat, dresses up as Zaidie Soule and gives talks to community groups about Ojai's colorful past.

At the behest of Editor Fred Volz, she wrote a series of articles for the Ojai Valley News, covering such notables as Fred Linkenhelt, Dwayne Boccali, Winnie Hirsch, and Carla Bard to name a few. This interest in Ojai's history led to oral histories for Thacher's archives and for the Ojai Music Festival.

She has helped to re-establish the Ojai Historical Walking Tours under the auspices of the Ojai Museum 10:30 every Saturday morning.

She helped to start a group called International Outlook which have brought interesting speakers to the Ojai Valley for speaking engagements. She has served as an MC for the Ojai 4th of July Parade, Ojai Valley Land Conservancy Board, and on the Ojai Historical Preservation Commission.

"I've been smitten by the Valley's special history and breathtaking views...and its varmits."

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Category: 2011-2012

Mr. Paul Garth was born and raised in the United Kingdom. He emigrated to the United States in 1983 to finish his schooling and graduated from Fordham University with a degree in computer science.

He was a pilot, flying with the South Bay Civil Air Patrol as their First Lieutenant Safety Officer and FAA Aviation Safety Counselor.

He joined the David Allen Company in Ojai as their Director of Technology.

Paul has a strong sense of community service from the early 1990's as a volunteer for Bronx Fordham-Belmont Safety Patrol which led to the participation in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). Shortly thereafter, he earned his Ham Radio License.

He now is a FCC Volunteer Examiner, and CERT Coach during Refresher Exercises. He participates in the Ojai Valley CERT, Ojai Valley Amateur Radio Club, and Ojai American Red Cross. He has forwarded and expanded the annual OK Drill in the Ojai Valley which trains local citizens to respond appropriately in a mass disaster.

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Category: 2011-2012

Dr. Williamson has been serving the Ojai Valley as our sole Pediatrician for the past 30+ years. He practices in Ojai with his wife and nurse practitioner, Mary Ann Williamson.

Tim is a strong supporter of the Ojai Valley Youth Foundation and Past President of the Ojai Education Foundation.

He has developed and taught newborn resusitation to local nurses and doctors and developed a nursery capable of caring for ill newborns up until obstetrics was discontinued at Ojai Valley Community Hospital in the early 2000's. He is a consultant for California Children's services for over 30 years. Tim has a special interest in Learning Disabilities with past graduate training at UCLA. He helped establish the Nan Tolbert Birth Resource Center and is a strong advocate of child nutrition.

He serves currently on the staffs of Ojai Valley Community Hospital (where he also works in the Emergency Room), Ventura County Medical Center, and Community Memorial Hospital of Ventura.

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Category: 2011-2012

Wendy Hilgers moved to Ojai in 1969 with her family. Since their arrival, Wendy and her family have served the Ojai Valley in numerous ways.

Initially, she volunteered at school and became involved with after school programs. "Sally Iwata was and remains my mentor.", she maintains.

Throughout the years she has volunteered at St. Joseph's Care Center, Help of Ojai, Memorial Day Committee, 4th of July Committee, Ojai Tennis Tournament, Ojai Day, Libbey Park and Parks and Recreation programs, to name just a few.

In 1995, the community began working on a skate park for the local youth. 1998 was the year that Wendy became involved. The Hilgers donated time, labor, and money to build the temporary and subsequent permanent park.

"Ojai is a wonderful community, andit seems only natural to do whatever we can do to help. I am always inspired by groups like the Rotary Clubs and the many gifts they give to the people of our town."