The Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce will recognize the contributions of several community members at a gala evening next month, A Toast to Scotts Valley. The night will feature food, awards presentations, entertainment and live and silent auctions.
Woman of the Year: Mary Dettle
Vine Hill Elementary School fifth-grade teacher Mary Dettle specializes in the sciences and has raised her students’ science proficiency.
Dettle has been president of the Scotts Valley Educational Foundation and vice president of several parent-teacher associations. She also serves on the Scotts Valley Art and Wine Festival Committee.
Man of the Year: Jim Reed
Jim Reed, Scotts Valley’s vice mayor, has led the Vine Hill Dinner and Auction Committee to help pay for classroom coaches, art, music and dance activities, and a computer lab and lab assistant at Vine Hill Elementary School. He has also participated in beautification and fundraising projects there.
Reed spearheaded the creation of the Friends of Scotts Valley Library and works with Scotts Valley Little League. He contributes sports and feature stories to the Press-Banner and represents the city on the Library Joint Powers Board.
Youth of the Year: Annika Gustafsson
Annika Gustafsson has served as secretary of Scotts Valley High School’s Key Club for two years, helping with the city’s Fourth of July fireworks event, the high school’s haunted house, homecoming and the Scotts Valley Art & Wine Festival.
She is founding president of the One Dollar for Life Club at the high school, which raises money for a school in Africa. She is secretary of the school’s California Scholarship Federation and has volunteered with the Santa Cruz Homeless Shelter, the American Red Cross and the Wharf to Wharf race.
Organization of the Year: Scotts Valley Unified School District PTAs
The Scotts Valley Parent-Teacher Associations support the four Scotts Valley schools with fundraisers that provide classroom supplies and stipends for music and art, technology, libraries, after-school enrichment and other needs.
Business of the Year: Jesse Gabriel Photography
Since opening Jesse Gabriel Photography, Jesse and Susan Flippen have worked with the Fallen Officer Foundation, Friends of the Library fundraisers, Scotts Valley Art & Wine Festival, the Christmas Tree Lighting Festival, Scotts Valley High School’s Fashion Show fundraiser, Music in Skypark and Operation Smile. They serve as ambassadors for the Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce.
SV Beautification: BCI Builders
Taking the lead in green building in Scotts Valley, BCI Builders designed and built the Tree Circus Center on Scotts Valley Drive to meet the requirements of both the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for New Construction and the city of Scotts Valley’s green building program.
At a glance
• WHAT: Scotts Valley Chamber of Commerce Community Awards Dinner
• WHEN: 5 p.m. Nov. 14
• WHERE: Hilton Santa Cruz, 6001 La Madrona Drive, in Scotts Valley
• TIX: $75 each; $850 for a table for 10
• INFO: 438-1010 or www.scottsvalleychamber.com