Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad Salute "Super Stars"

by Penny Bonnot, Staff Writer, North County Times

(February 5, 2006 -- Carlsbad, CA) The Village Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad was the venue for the sixth annual Super Star Recognition Dinner January 26.

The dinner and presentations honored the Club's generous community and business leaders, dedicated volunteers and its board of directors. Club members from both the Village and La Costa branches attended the celebration as well as parents, families and friends.

There were two recipients of the Youth of Year Award: from the Village branch is 16-year-old Toni Brown, a junior at Carlsbad High School; and Gabriel Pliego from the La Costa Branch.

Other awardees included Board Member of the Year David Kulchin; Spark Plug Award, Alyssa Mercier; Bob Grimes Humanitarian Award, Greg Nelson; Champions for Children Award, Furnishings 4 Less and Cisco Systems Inc.; Volunteer of the Year, Gasper Chifici, Rebecca Moore and Andrea Otway-Barnes; Parent of the Year Tony Garcia, Village Branch, and Robin and Dan Cochran, La Costa Branch; Employee of the Year Jim Salvia, Village Branch, and Julie Martinez, La Costa Branch; Golden Boy Award, Village Branch Sam Spring (ages 6 to 8), Josh Ochoa (ages 9 to 12), and Justin Livingston (ages 13 to 18); Golden Boy Award La Costa Branch, Jasper Lam (ages 6 to 8) and Shiv Mather (ages 9 to 12); Golden Girl Award, Village Branch, Amber Arlinghaus (ages 6 to 8), Jasmine Antonetty (ages 9 to 12) and Lauren Jimenez (ages 13 to 18) and Golden Girl Award La Costa Branch Paula Parlade (ages 6 to 8) and Kelly Dittoe (ages 9 to 12).

Aubrey Kuepper of Furnishings 4 less made a surprise announcement during the presentations about the computer desk with a top hutch Furnishings 4 Less would donate to the Youth of the Year recipient. Kuepper was there with his wife, Claudia, and their 2-year-old daughter, DeLaney.

Others attending the fete included Board President Patrick Casinelli; Chief Professional Officer Ron Sipiora; board members Dawn and Keith Blackburn, who provided the scholarships; Lexy Harshman, Sally Vigil and Jim Morrison with his wife, Nicki; past Boys & Girls Club member Kim Speak; volunteer Steve Moore; Kevin Storr, who is on the marketing Committee; Beth Shelburne, an anchor at KFMB 8 News, supporter Henrietta Blasic, Harriet Cole, who was a board member for 10 years; donor Rip Harper; and Dale and Tracie Weston of Toyota Lexus Carlsbad.