PORT TOWNSEND— Local residents with extraordinary accomplishments in volunteerism and business leadership were recognized at an awards brunch Sunday, a tradition that began in 1949.
“There is a lot of energy that goes into volunteering in this community,” said Port Townsend City Councilwoman Michelle Sandoval,
“It is really a testimony to these people who live their beliefs.”
The Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce selected Dave Stanko as Citizen of the Year and baker Linda Yakush as Business Leader of the Year, picking the two from slates of nominees that were announced in January.
About 125 people attended the brunch, which took place in the Fort Worden State Park Commons.
In a reference to the contentious national Republican Party debates, Yakush said that she was pleased to receive the award “without having to debate anyone or deal with interviews from any of my exes.”
“I have learned that having enough is enough and that if I have enough I need to share with everyone else,” she said.
“We are an exceptional community in so many ways — we are building our own general store, but we can’t forget the people who haven’t been able to make it in this economy.
“We need to keep our money here and help the local businesses who aren’t finding it so easy.”
“When I retired from law enforcement I wanted to find ways to stay involved in the community,” Stanko said.
“This is a humbling experience.”
After the brunch, Stanko said he would like to see more young people involved in local business activity.
Yakush said her hope for the coming year was that “every small business in Port Townsend will succeed.”
Stanko, a retired police officer, is past president of Port Townsend Rotary, a driver for ECCHO, a member of Calvary Church and a participant in COAST’s work at the homeless shelter.
Under his leadership, funds were raised to help remodel the homeless shelter’s kitchen and leverage a Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation grant to help up to 20 homeless families achieve permanent housing.
Yakush’s Pane d’Amore bakery products have become the first choice on the tables of many area restaurants and family dinner tables, while she has instigated a no-waste policy, cooperates with local farmers.
She makes generous donations to area food banks and local nonprofit organizations.
The awards were not a competition, as nominees stood together during the ceremony and cheered the winner.
“Anyone who is nominated is a winner,” said presenter Scott Wilson, editor and publisher of the Port Townsend/Jefferson County Leader and himself a past recipient.
The other nominees for Citizen of the Year were Kim Hammers and educators Gay Eisenberger and Mary Weeding.
Hammers’ program provides school-based mentoring by matching children with high school and adult mentors, and she headed the What a Valuable Experience (WAVE) food drive.
Weeding and Eisenberger have devoted many hours to implementing the Math Competency Program in all four East Jefferson County school districts, which consists of twice weekly, 40-minute tutoring sessions staffed by volunteers.
Additional nominees for the Business Leader of the Year award were Charlie and Amy Arthur, Kaci Cronkhite, Heather Flanagan and Kris Nelson.
Port Townsend Deputy Mayor Nelson is a local restaurateur who owns Sirens Pub and the Galatea Cafe, and has been a tireless advocate for the business community.
Charlie and Amy Arthur are co-owners of RE/MAX First Inc., which is the top volume real estate company in Jefferson County, recording more than $33 million in closed transactions in 2011.
Flanagan is a life coach and facilitator who is active in the Chamber of Commerce’s Young Professional Network.
Cronkhite, who was out of town and did not attend the brunch, managed the Wooden Boat Festival during its period of recent growth and is credited with developing an international reputation for the annual event.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
