Mayor’s awards recognize service of three Lodians
Lodi City Council recognizes Mark Armstrong, Pastor Glen Barnes, and Claude Brown to receive the prestigious Mayor's Community Service Award for 2018.
Mayor Alan Nakanishi presented the recipients with plaques, honoring their dedication and commitment to helping the community. Nakinishi took a moment to thank each individually, and provide background content to all who attended the meeting.
Among those being honored was Pastor Glen Barnes, who was recognized for his work on the board of Love Lodi. Barnes spearheaded a multitude of projects that were meant to encourage students to be active members of the community. “I love my community” said Barnes, “and I want others to share in that love.”
Nakinishi praised Barnes for his development of the 180 Teen Center. “I remember Barnes saying he wanted to make a teen center at the old Sunset Theatre,” said Nakinishi, who jokingly said “I remember trying to dissuade him, because I didn’t think it would happen.”
Barnes engagement with the youths at First Baptist Church has lead to many activities that allows them to take action and help. He began by providing local law enforcement and firefighters with cookies as tokens of gratitude for their work, and visits at convalescent communities. “I never knew how long I would be here but I’m glad to say I have made Lodi my home,” said Barnes.
Mia Brown accepted the award on behalf of her father, Claude Brown, who passed away in August of this year. “He has dedicated countless hours to this community,” said Nakinishi.
Claude is known for his work with many of the agricultural groups around the San Joaquin County and for his work with University of California, Davis. He served as president of the Micke Grove Zoological Society, vice president of the San Joaquin County Historical Society, president of Lodi Adopt A Child, and president of the Board of Directors of Mokelumne Fire.
“My father loved this Lodi a lot, and he would have been honored to accept this award in person,” said Brown.
Mark Armstrong was also recognized for his efforts with Take back Lodi, a local group dedicated to cleaning vacant lots around town, and his work on improvements in the buildings on the Lodi Grape Festival grounds.
“Mark’s goal is to make Lodi a better place” said Nakinishi, who noted Armstrong’s, clean up around the Mokelumne River, his mattress and couch pick up, and the efforts made by Take Back Lodi to retrieve and return more than 500 shopping carts.
“Until you have been on one of our clean-ups, you can’t imagine what people can do to the environment, and the messes they leave,” said Armstrong “but it has been a great year and honor with Take Back Lodi.”