Community awards honor Carson's best

It's fitting that many of those honored at Thursday's 2000 Community Awards shared the credit for their awards.

The awards, sponsored by the Nevada Appeal, Carson Access Television and the Pinon Plaza, recognize Carson City residents' accomplishments in a variety of categories.

"This is for my mom and dad, who taught me the hard-work ethic and always put the tools in my hand to create," said Karen Chandler, the Carson High School drama teacher and jack-of-all-trades in local theater who was named Artist of the Year.

Sam Waldman, named Humanitarian of the Year for establishing the Kids on Horses program in the Carson Valley, was unable to attend because of a medical problem. Kids on Horses volunteer Shellie Edwards spoke for him in accepting the sculptured acrylic award.

"I know Sam would like to thank all of you. It's because of the support of individuals like you that Sam's program has been able to bring children and horses together," Edwards said.

"In the past year, we've seen children walk who had been unable to get out of their wheelchairs, kids talk to horses who have never talked to people. These miracles will continue because of the generosity and support of the community."

In accepting the Organization of the Year award for the Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada, executive director Cathy Blankenship said, "This room is filled with lots of people who do lots of good in our community. Our staff's goal is to give the kids lots of opportunities to volunteer themselves, so in the future this room can be filled with them."

Academic of the Year Tom Badillo, the Carson Middle School principal who was not present because he was presiding of the school's graduation, sent word that he credits his staff with the award.

Badillo, principal of Middle School for the past 11 years, also was recognized as the K-12 Administrator of the Year for 1999-2000 by the University of Nevada, Reno.

Athlete of the Year Darrell Rasner elected not to speak but was recognized for his outstanding performance as pitcher for Carson High School's Senators, the Carson Capitols and the University of Nevada, Reno's Wolf Pack baseball team. Known as the winningest freshman pitcher in the country, Rasner's 14-2 season tied the Big West record.

The marketing staffers at Carson-Tahoe Hospital successfully nominated their supervisor, Richard Linkul, as Boss of the Year, noting his support for their advancement: "In fact, he has three of us going to college right now so we can be experts, too."

Employee of the Year Bob Williams was nominated by John Jantos Menus & Advertising Specialties owner Laurel Stadler, who noted that his trustworthiness and reliability allowed her to leave the business in his care while she devoted time to the Lyon County Mothers Against Drunk Driving chapter she had founded.

A previously unannounced Special recognition was given to Mary Fischer, who founded Gardeners Reclaiming Our Waysides to lobby for landscaping along the bypass being built through Carson City.

"It's not often that one lady changes state law," master of ceremonies Craig Swope of Carson Access Television said in announcing Fischer's award. "Because of her, the State of Nevada is changing how it does landscaping."

After extended lobbying by GROW, the Nevada Department of Transportation agreed to make sure the bypass design would be compatible with landscaping.

"It's up to the community to make sure that this thing gets done - it's not a one-person thing," Fischer said as she as accepted the honor. "Just when you're thinking it's a sure thing, it could change. But I think it will happen."

Besides the community award itself, each honoree also received certificates of recognition from U.S. Representative Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., and Nevada Lt. Gov. Lorraine Hunt.

And engraved medals on red, white and blue ribbons were presented to all the nominees, which also included:

- Academic of the Year - Nick Reinhardt and the teaching team of Kathy Bakst and Paula Davies.

- Artist of the Year - Stephanie Arrigotti and Carol Foldvary-Anderson.

- Athlete of the Year - Nicole Scott and John Chirila.

- Humanitarian of the Year - Dorothy Crosby and Lora Myles.

- Boss of the Year - Robert Crowell and Steve Smith.

- Employee of the Year - Thursteen "Tiny" Frances and Sarah (Sally) Zola.

- Organization of the Year - Carson City Kiwanis and Eagle Valley Children's Home Respite Program.

This was the first year the awards were not sponsored by the Carson City Area Chamber of Commerce.

Appeal publisher Jeff Ackerman said that this year's sponsors had received substantial help and advice from chamber members who had organized previous Community Awards selections and presentations. He said the program is evolving with the addition of new awards.

After soliciting nominees from the public, members of the Appeal's reader panel and CAT's board of directors made the final selections. Swope said the final choices were difficult with several tie votes that had to be broken.

The nominees and winners are:

- Academic of the Year

Winner: Tom Badillo; other finalists: Kathy Bakst/Paula Davies and Nick Reinhardt

- Artist of the Year

Winner: Karen Chandler; other finalists: Stephanie Arrigotti and Carol Foldvary-Anderson

- Athlete of the Year

Winner: Darrell Rasner; other finalists: John Chirila and Nicole Scott

- Boss of the Year

Winner: Richard Linkul; other finalists: Robert L. Crowell and Steve Smith

- Employee of the Year

Winner: Bob Williams; other finalists: Thursteen (Tiny) Francis and Sarah L. (Sally) Zola

- Humanitarian of the Year

Winner: Sam Waldman; other finalists: Dorothy Crosby and Lora Myles

- Organization of the Year

Winner: Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada; other finalists: Carson City Kiwanis Service Club and Eagle Valley Children's Home Respite Program.