Our ever-versatile Community House was transformed once again into an intimate and elegant setting on the evening of February 8. With logs burning in the room's massive fireplace and a full house of celebrants, any remaining mid-winter chill was chased well away. Red heart-shaped balloons bobbed high above the dining tables in honor of the Valentine season, adding a further rosiness to the many scenes of friends greeting friends.
This was the Topanga Chamber of Commerce's 55th Annual Awards and Installation dinner. Fifty-five years! What has lasted 55 years in this Canyon, other than the trees, hills, hawks and creek? Certainly the twin qualities of indomitable volunteer spirit and entrepreneurial inspiration have flourished here for many years too, which leads to the purpose of the awards dinner: to celebrate and honor Topanga's standout community leaders and businesses for the year 2002.
PHOTO BY ANDREA MAKSHANOFF  Kareem presents the Chamber's Business of the Year award to Adam Silbar and Michael Spencer with restaurant partners Debra Silbar, at left, and Valerie Spencer and daughter Sierra, at right. Below, the room is aglow with Valentine's charm for the annual awards dinner. |
Newly sworn in Chamber president Melanie Kareem emceed the evening and the award presentations.
Enthusiastic applause greeted the announcement of Lisa Villaseņor as the Citizen of the Year.
Friend and comrade in community involvement Jo Barry tried to detail Villaseņor's many accomplishments, but it wasn't easy.
"It's easier to tell a few things Lisa has not accomplished yet," Barry said. "An Olympic medal for downhill skiing! I don't think she has launched a hot-air balloon festival from the ballfield. But give her time!"
From her long-standing involvement in the Topanga Community Club, overseeing Topanga Days and hosting the senior citizens monthly luncheons; leading girl and boy scout troops; organizing and coaching Topanga baseball; and working as a teacher's aide to presiding over Topanga Elementary's parent organization for many years--putting on school events such as the annual Halloween Carnival and the Silent Auction--Villaseņor does it all, said Barry.
"And it doesn't stop with our community" she said. For years, Villaseņor has also been a Sunday School teacher at St. Monica's Church.
"Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to the Topanga community," said Barry.
A round of certificates and thanks were given to Villaseņor by Laurie Newman on behalf of State Senator Sheila Kuehl, along with Christina Romero for Congressman Henry Waxman and Jennifer Toder for State Assemblymember Fran Pavley, followed by Capt. Jim Glazar of the Lost Hills Sheriff's Station, who expressed appreciation on behalf of the Sheriff's Department for her extraordinary volunteer spirit.
Susan Nissman, field deputy for county Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky thanked Villaseņor for her commitment to volunteerism and presented a certificate of appreciation from L.A. County.
Nissman also acknowledged the representatives of the elected officials who came out to honor the Topanga community and its volunteer spirit.
When Villaseņor stood on the stage to speak, she credited the spirit and support of others around her.
"Love and gratitude to my husband, who has been so supportive; my four beautiful children; Linda Hinrichs and Randy [Just] and their children, who with my children are off to the side playing, having a great time, and for bearing with all the things we do and all the hours that go into this place [the Community House] and the school," Villaseņor said.
"Thanks to an incredible support team, all my friends, I couldn't do these things without their help. I love the Topanga community and thank you for this honor."
The Chamber's award for 2002 Business of the Year went to Abuelitas Mexican Restaurant, which also had many cheering supporters in the room.
"They said 'yes,' every step of the way," said Kareem about the restaurant's owners, Michael and Valerie Spencer and Adam and Debra Silbar.
PHOTO BYJOANNA GUNST  Lisa Villaseņor, center, accepts Citizen of the Year honors from Susan Nissman, senior field deputy for Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky and from new Chamber president Melanie Kareem, right. |
"When asked if they would allow the Earth Day committee meetings upstairs, they said 'yes.' And over and over again, it's been that way. This is a business that has touched so many lives so very quickly."
Kareem presented the owners, backed by two of their staff, Jill Novick and Michael Anapol, with the Chamber certificate, framed by Howell- Green Fine Art and Custom Framing.
"This is really a great honor for us to receive this Business of the Year award," Adam Silbar said.
"We have worked very hard. They say if you want to do well in business, you must find a need and then satisfy that need."
After 10 years as a Topanga resident, Silbar said he knew the need: there was not a Mexican restaurant for 10 miles, or an affordable, kid-friendly restaurant, or a place where local musicians could play anytime they wanted.
"One big problem," added Silbar. "I swore I would never get into the restaurant business.
"But when Willows went up for sale, I called my best friend, Michael [Spencer], who had said in the past that he wanted to open just such a restaurant."
At the time he was running a hotel on the Sunset Strip and had recently married, said Silbar.
He called with the proposition: "Give up a cushy job, live on faith, commute 60 miles from a home in Burbank. On top of that, they were expecting their first child."
But, after meetings with Willows owner Leslie Carlson and some deep soul-searching, they were hooked, he said.
The two couples made a great team, Silbar said, "God stepped in and brought us our chefs, Urbano and Inez [Cielo]," said Silbar. "Now we had...some of the best Mexican food in Los Angeles, so it was just a matter of keeping afloat, getting the word out and bringing the customers in.
"That's when we brought in some more partners: you, our family of Topangans," Silbar said.
"Because of Abuelitas, I've gotten to know and love some of the people in the community that otherwise I would never have had the opportunity to meet. Because of this experience, my life has become so much richer. I've made lifelong friends. I am very grateful. I saw a need for Abuelitas, but the biggest need I would satisfy is in myself."
When Michael Spencer took the stage, he generously invited everyone to Abuelitas after dinner to celebrate with drinks on the house. Spencer paid homage to his wife Valerie's grandmother, the original abuelita, Spanish for grandmother, who inspires them still.
He described how the restaurant has evolved in the last three years.
"We are successful because you have chosen us as a monthly, weekly and sometimes daily, ritual in Topanga," Spencer said.
Spencer also credited his loyal staff.
"The reason we are standing here today is Inez and Urbano," he said of his chefs. "They are the true abuelita and abuelito, giving a high quality plate every single day, consistently. Jill [Novick] is a tremendous resource. She bartends, waits on tables and covers my back. Her dedication to the restaurant has been a tremendous help to me.
"Michael [Anapol] is the ideal server," Spencer said. "He cares about service and people more than about making money. He has been our toughest critic and our best advisor."
Spencer thanked his family, in-laws and parents for their support, and especially his wife Valerie for sticking by his side and allowing him to pursue his dreams.
"It's very tough to own a restaurant, but impossible to do it alone," Spencer said. "We were newlyweds when we started, but now we are business partners and parents, and my daughter, Sierra, is my inspiration."
Topanga must work together to support its businesses, Spencer said, expressing regret at the recent closure of Froggy's.
"This is not good," he said of Froggy's closing after 10 years.
"People won't come here if there's only one business. We must support the Chamber, share our resources, and sell Topanga as a destination.
"We have a great Board and a great Chamber, and it's a privilege to be recognized. We look forward to working very hard to bridge the gap between survival and prosperity in this fantastic town."
Nissman also took a moment to commend the Topanga Chamber of Commerce.
"There is no other Chamber of Commerce like this, trust me, in the world," said Nissman emphatically.
"This Chamber has managed to recognize, support, promote...and impart a sense of vitality for a unique community."
Though without the tax base of neighboring cities, said Nissman, "we do have enough spirit and dedication to make this community unique and surviving."
Part of the evening was devoted to the Chamber's official business with Sheriff's Capt. Glazar swearing in the new Chamber officers and board of directors. Last year's board members Melanie Kareem and Karl Hamner were inducted in as president and vice-president, respectively.
David Green of Howell-Green gallery was sworn in as recording secretary, along with returning officers Joanna Gunst as corresponding secretary and Peter Norwood as treasurer. Also sworn in as board members were last year's vice-president, Gail McTune; and Anne-Christine von Wetter, Caren Ebert and Harvey Moss.
In an entertaining disruption of the proceedings, Sue Warner began wandering through the room playing the part of a road worker, in a traffic vest, carrying a trash-picker, and grumbling, "Who's throwing this trash around the road?"
This was the introduction to a special award for Yedvart Tchakerian.
"It was created purely from the hearts of the Chamber for all of his attempts to keep our road clean," said boardmember Gail McTune. No framed plaque for Yedvart this time, the Board presented him instead with a decorated traffic cone signed by all its members.
"Yedvart is doing everything he can to alleviate the damage from people who don't know the difference between a litterbag and our road," McTune said.
Also, the first-place winner of the Chamber's Topanga Elementary School fifth-grade essay contest, Sylvia Gintowt-Gindick read her winning entry titled "What Will Life Be Like in 20 Years." She received a $100 prize from the Chamber and a warm round of applause.
The last award to be presented, the President's Award, to acknowledge someone special from the Chamber Board, went to outgoing Chamber president, Pat Burke.
"What is wonderful about Pat's commitment to his restaurant is that it's a commitment to the village he lives in," said Kareem. "The way he handles his business is as a contribution back to the community. He is one of the leaders in buying scrip which benefits Topanga School; he helps elderly people that may need a meal, and he contributes to the teen meetings."
A surprised Burke gave his thanks to the Chamber.
"I want to thank Topanga in general for eight and a half years in business. For without your support, it would have been impossible," Burke said. "I'm looking forward to many more years."
The program ended with Catherine McClenahan singing a rocking rendition of "Taking Care of Business," inspiring several to get up and dance.
Neil Shaw and Menlo Scientific provided the sound system. Chanterelle Catering of Topanga provided the food, including delicious vegetarian lasagna and mocha brownie dessert.
Event chairwoman Gail McTune put on the excellent party with help from Kareem, Bill Buerge and Joanna Gunst.
"We worked really hard to put this on and to honor who we felt necessary to honor," McTune said. "Abuelitas has done a lot to interface with the community and to bring the community to them. And Lisa is incredible, always there being a helping hand."
