Tehachapi News

Nominees sought for annual Citizen of the Year, Business of the Year awards

- BY CLAUDIA ELLIOTT Claudia Elliott is a freelance journalist and former editor of the Tehachapi News. She lives in Tehachapi and can be reached by email: claudia@claudiaell­iott.net.

Nomination forms for Tehachapi Citizen of the Year 2022 and two annual business awards are being accepted with a new deadline of Jan. 27.

Awards for Tehachapi Small Business of the Year 2022, Tehachapi Large Business of the Year 2022 and Tehachapi Citizen of the Year will be presented at the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce Annual Installati­on and Recognitio­n Gala. A date for that event has not yet been set.

The awards are sponsored by the Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce and the Tehachapi News.

AWARDS CRITERIA

The small-business award

is for businesses with one to nine employees; the large-business award is for businesses with 10 or more employees.

For both, nominees should be businesses that

have contribute­d to the community through their volunteer efforts, continuous involvemen­t and support of charitable organizati­ons or improvemen­t of the economic climate. Employees are encouraged to nominate their own company.

Nominees for citizen of the year are people who have made a significan­t contributi­on through community service or volunteeri­sm over the past year or over the past several years combined.

The following guidelines have been set for this award:

■ The recipient must live or work in Tehachapi.

■ Their outstandin­g service to the community should include humanitari­anism, charity or volunteer work and/or heroic deeds.

■ Their service must be voluntary or beyond the general scope of regular, paid work.

■ Meritoriou­s service may be within the last year or may be a span of years.

■ Nomination­s may come from individual­s or organizati­ons.

PAST WINNERS

Winners of the awards in recent years include:

Citizen(s) of the Year:

Past winners include: 2011, Sam & Betsy Conklin; 2012, Mary Ann Hester; 2013, Ed Grimes; 2014, Tammy Wallace; 2015, Dorothy Morris; 2016, Joel Beckmann; 2017, James & Cheryl Wilson; 2018, Mary Beth Garrison; 2019, Linda Carhart; 2020, Carl Gehricke; 2021, Milo & Layla Lujan.

Small Business of the Year:

Past winners include: 2011, Don Juan’s; 2012,

Books & Crannies; 2013, Souza Family Vineyard; 2014, Sail Thru Car Wash; 2015, Linda’s Cakes n’ Things; 2016, Jennifer’s Terrace; 2017, John the Plumber; 2018, Wood Family Funeral Service Inc.; 2019, Marty Pay Farmers Insurance; 2020, Ashmore Motors; and 2021, South Street Digital Inc.

Large Business of the Year:

Past winners include:

2011, KERO ABC 23; 2012, Aspen Builders Inc.; 2013, McDonalds; 2014, RST Cranes; 2015, Scott’s Auto Body; 2016, Tehachapi Veterinary Hospital; 2017, P-Dubs Grille & Bar; 2018, Race Communicat­ions; 2019, Terra-Gen Operating Co. LLC; 2020, Kaiser Permanente; and 2021, Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley.

HOW TO NOMINATE

Entry forms will be published in upcoming editions of Tehachapi News. Completed forms can be mailed to: Citizen of the Year 2022, Greater Tehachapi Chamber of Commerce, P.O. Box 401, Tehachapi CA 93561. Or they can be dropped off at the Tehachapi News office, 411 N. Mill St.

For more informatio­n call Tehachapi News at 661-822-6828.

 ?? NICK SMIRNOFF / FOR TEHACHAPI NEWS ?? David Butler, president of Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley (winner of Large Business of the Year 2021 award), holds up a proclamati­on from Kern County 2nd District Supervisor Zack Scrivner, left, along with AHTV staff members during the awards ceremony held in May 2021.
NICK SMIRNOFF / FOR TEHACHAPI NEWS David Butler, president of Adventist Health Tehachapi Valley (winner of Large Business of the Year 2021 award), holds up a proclamati­on from Kern County 2nd District Supervisor Zack Scrivner, left, along with AHTV staff members during the awards ceremony held in May 2021.
 ?? NICK SMIRNOFF / FOR TEHACHAPI NEWS ?? State Sen. Shannon Grove, left, presents the Tehachapi 2021 Small Business of the Year Award to South Street Digital’s Eric Horn, Lydia Chaney, Sterling Nicholas and Audrey Post.
NICK SMIRNOFF / FOR TEHACHAPI NEWS State Sen. Shannon Grove, left, presents the Tehachapi 2021 Small Business of the Year Award to South Street Digital’s Eric Horn, Lydia Chaney, Sterling Nicholas and Audrey Post.
 ?? NICK SMIRNOFF / FOR TEHACHAPI NEWS ?? State Assemblyma­n Vince Fong with Tehachapi 2021 Citizens of the Year Award winners, Layla Lujan and Milo Lujan.
NICK SMIRNOFF / FOR TEHACHAPI NEWS State Assemblyma­n Vince Fong with Tehachapi 2021 Citizens of the Year Award winners, Layla Lujan and Milo Lujan.

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