STORIES FROM OUR COMMUNITY

Saluting those who give

2009 Santa Rosa Merit Awards to honor contributions of those who 'make Santa Rosa a better place to live'

X00108_9.jpgBy MIKE McCOY
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

They are among Santa Rosa's "unsung," people whose contributions to the city and its citizens often go unheralded.

But on Monday, 21 individuals, nonprofit groups and businesses will be awarded Merit Awards for their contributions and volunteer efforts that "make Santa Rosa a better place to live," said Sally Mullen, chairwoman of the 2009 Merit Award Committee that chose this year's recipients from 38 nominations.

"It's to give honor to those who are hardly ever talked about," said Mullen, noting most honorees go about enriching people's lives, neighborhoods and opportunities with little fanfare.

Since the awards program began in 1978, more than 700 have been given out "partly to
encourage volunteerism and to show there are people among us who are unsung," she said.


PARTNER VIDEOS

Chad Surmick from Newsroom: Winemaker Paul Dolan talks about John Wayne, Petite Syrah and Global Warming.; John Burgess: Press Democrat wine of the week is the Novy 2006 Santa Lucia Highlands Syrah.; Peg Melnik.; snonoma; syrah; tasting room; Warehouse; wine of the week; Winery; Chad Surmick from Newsroom: Could this be the worlds largest tortilla.; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Tasting Room: Cabernet Sauvignon Retrospective; Cabernet; democrat; NAPA; press; sauvignon; shafer; tasting room; vineyards; wine; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: J Winery; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: James Hall Patz & Hall Tasting Room; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Join press democrat reporter Peg Melnik as she picks a wine of the week.; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Join press democrat writer and the Moonlight Brewer as they talk about the beer of the week.; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: The St. Francis Winery 2005 Merlot is this weeks wine of the week.; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Join Peg Melnick and a panel of judges as they check out the oysters at Nick's Cove in Marshall Ca.; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Our wine of the week winner is Hanna Winery Chardonnay; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Fork and Shovel program couples local produce with area restaurants; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Join Press Democrat reporter Peg Melnik and a panel of experts as they pick a wine of the week.; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Join press democrat reporter peg melnik as she finds a wine of the week.; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Our panel tastes California cabernets while seeking a lone Bordeaux in the flight.; Cabernet; California; peg melnik; Santa Rosa; tasting room; wine tasting; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Blind wine tasting of Sauvignon Blanc including one entry from New Zealand.; peg melnik; Sauvignon Blanc; tasting; tasting room; white; wine; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Tasting Room: Best Red Wines that go with Hamburgers; hamburger; peg melnick; Press Democrat; red; room; tasting; wine; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Tasting Room pcking wine of the week for Syrah; peg melnick; Press Democrat; syrah; tasting; wine; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Wine of the Week pick for Merlot; merlot; peg melnick; Press Democrat; Sonoma; tasting; wine; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Wine of the Week Viognier Tasting; peg melnick; Press Democrat; room; tasting; viognier; wine; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Tasting Room: Zinfandel; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Join Press Democrat reporter Peg Melnik for a blind Sonoma County chardonnay tasting at Wine Spectrum in Santa Rosa, CA.; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Healdsburg's Relish Culilnary Adventures cooking school in Healdsburg, CA.; Follow Chef Agustin Gayatan to market and class at Relish Culinary in Healdsburg.; Earth Day came early to Green Valley this year - Sunday, Apr. 20, at the Eat, Drink and Be Green fair held at Iron Horse Vineyard outside of Sebastopol.; Earth Day; green; Green Valley; Sebastopol; Winery; It isn't what you think it is - true 'schmaltz' is a key ingredient in the Jewish kitchen. ; Jewish cooking; BiteClub gets her Filipino on at Sonoma County's newest lumpiaria; filipino; Petaluma; Press Democrat; restaurants; Santa Rosa; Wine Country dining; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: BiteClub gets knee-deep in cheese; artisan cheese festival; biteclub; Petaluma; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Bill Myers leads a group of hikers on a trek across the vineyards of Kunde Winery in Kenwood, Calif.; "Go Green" with the Sonoma County Mycological Association, at the SOMA Mushroom Camp. Christian Kallen reveals their secrets...; mushrooms; mycoremediation; Petaluma; petaluma360; Sonoma; sustainability; Press Democrat Newsroom from Santa Rosa, CA: Kate MacMurray talks about her family's history at the MacMurray ranch near Healdsburg and the Taste of Sonoma County scheduled for July 14, 2007.;

MORE COMMUNITY STORIES

The power of beauty
Look Good . . . Feel Better program provides wigs, scarves, makeup and skin care tips for women fighting…
An angel for women in need
Volunteer Melody Montero honored for her work with Sloan House shelter BY BOB NORBERGTHE PRESS DEMOCRAT Melody Montero likes…
A plea for troops at war
MOMS volunteers seek donations to make care packages for soldiers overseas by Lori A. CarterThe Press Democrat The quarterly "comforts…