9th Annual Dinner Gala and Silent Auction a Big Success!
|
The 9th Annual Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad Dinner Gala was held on Saturday May 18, 2024 to it largest attendance. Emcee and President of the Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad Garret Matsuura welcomed the record crowd at the Dominion Barn less than a quarter of a mile away from the former Eastern Branch of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. Several awards and scholarships were presented along with a silent auction ending with a live auction closed out a successful night. The recipients of this year’s Santa Maria Valley Railroad Public Safety Award are Officers Jesus Caro and Daniel Meraz and the Santa Maria Police Department’s Community Service Unit. Accepting the awards on the behalf of the Santa Maria Police Department’s Community Service Unit was Officer Seth Hall. Presenters of the awards were Santa Maria Valley Railroad’s President Rob Himoto and Director Nathan Paul. The Annual Santa Maria Valley Railroad Public Safety Award is awarded to individuals or organizations who promote local railroad safety in the Santa Maria area. Presenter Rob Himoto commented that “the homelessness problem plagues us in Santa Maria as well as any major city in the nation. It is a major safety problem along our railroad tracks homelessness, vandalism, and trash dumping is a serious and ongoing problem. We are so grateful for Officers Caro and Meraz’ efforts in coming up with creative solutions for this complex and impossible situation. Both officers have the fundamental elements for this task, is their pride and devotion to their community. They want to make the community a better place which is their drive and persistency in combating these issues day in and day out. This situation is a big safety concern to our employees, customers, and the public as well as the transients themselves.” G.Allan Hancock History Preservation Award is awarded annually to individuals working to preserve the rich history of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. This year’s G; Allan Hancock History Preservation Award recipient is Karl Hovanitz. Karl has been one of largest supporters of the Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad and is a charter member of Friends. Karl was instrumental in bringing the motorcar excursions and supported the dinner excursions and other events. Karl and Stephanie have generously donated a private lunch at Bitter Creek Western Railroad which is one of our featured Live Auction items. Karl is a member and former director of the San Luis Obispo Railroad Museum, member of the Motorcar Operators West, and other organizations which he built relationships with the Friends. Through the years Karl has recovered and donated historical artifacts from the Santa Maria Valley Railroad such has the wooden logo that was on the former Maintenance of Way shop in the McClelland Street Yard and various publications and pictures. Always willing to help, Karl brought his trailer to receive the hood from Engine 10, the very first GE 70 tonner on the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. There were two winners of the Betty Himoto Memorial Scholarship, awarded to students studying industrial arts and vocational training. The two winners were Marc Colores from Santa Maria High School and Luis Padilla from Pioneer Valley High School. Together with a Live and Silent Auction, the event garnered over $7,000 towards the acquisition of historical markers commemorating historic moments along the historic Sant Maria Railroad Corridor, currently operating as the Airbase Branch of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. Almost $1,000 was raised towards the Betty Himoto Memorial Scholarship Fund. Title sponsor for the event was the Santa Maria Valley Railroad. Major sponsors included Arclight Media, Brazen Fox Fabrication Inc., Cool Hand Lukes, Nancy Stewart, Community Bank of Santa Maria, and Back Porch Floral. The Friends of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad’s mission is to preserve, improve, and interpret the historical aspects of the Santa Maria Valley Railroad and its economic and cultural impact on the Santa Maria Valley and Central Coast of California. |
Public Safety Award to Community Service Unit Officer Seth Hall   G.A. Hancock History Preservation Award to Karl Hovanitz   Betty Himoto Memorial Scholarship award to Luis Padilla and Marc Colores  |