Volunteers of Year Honored at City Hall

To a packed, standing-room-only atrium full of local volunteers, Mayor Jack Tingstrom announced Ventura’s group and individual “Volunteer of the Year” awards at City Hall on Thursday.

Edward Klein, a volunteer in the Treasury and Business License Office, was named Volunteer of the Year.

Tingstrom recognized him for being dependable, meticulous and conscientious on the job at City Hall and for the many hours Klein spends helping low-income, homebound and elderly citizens prepare their income taxes.

Shawna Atchison of the city’s information program and Edess Fargo of the city clerk’s office were also nominated.

The Olivas Adobe Volunteer Historical Interpreters were named Volunteer Group of the Year for their outreach to schools, weekend tours and more than 32,000 hours of city service.

Organized in 1982, the 100-member group offers special programs and maintains the furnishings and herb garden in Ventura’s only rancho-era adobe mansion.

The Olivas Adobe group won over three other nominees: the Elders and Sisters, Missionaries of the Church of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who perform many volunteer services; the Western Aires Band, which performs western dance music twice a month at senior centers; and the Westside Storefront Volunteer Corps, which runs the Westside Storefront seven days a week.

Volunteer program coordinator Dora Lou Alvarez said 234 awards were given out during the annual event, held to celebrate National Volunteer Week.

“It’s always packed,” Alvarez said. “This is the only event of the year to thank our volunteers.”