Photo By: Nancy Ziller Centennial Plaza located in Historic Downtown Weed on Main St.
It is the people of Weed who make this town special and enable the Chamber to successfully promote Weed as a great place to work and live. The Weed Chamber of Commerce thanks some of those special people who, through their community service and involvement, have helped to make the community of Weed what it is today. Welcome to the Chamber’s annual awards ceremony, held for the second time during the Chamber’s most significant community event – the Weed Carnevale.
Citizen of the Year:
The Weed Chamber of Commerce is pleased to honor Kim Greene and Ronda Gubetta as its citizens of the year:
Kim and Ronda have together served the community of Weed for years, jointly receiving the chamber’s meritorious service award in 2001.That is because they have worked together to organize and be in charge of Weed Carnevale for several decades. This is a transition year for them as they train others to take on that responsibility. They are exchanging their Carnevale responsibility for new roles organizing a bocciball league and working on a covering for Weed’s bocciball courts. The adult league now has 12 teams and plays every Tuesday evening.
Kim and Ronda are jointly named citizens of the year because they share in common a lot of service, including members of the Weed Chamber Board and serving as president. They have each worked in almost every chamber event and activity.
Kim Greene was born and raised in Weed and still lives on the same street she grew up on. She is now the ROP Director for all the county high schools. Kim helped apply for the grants and worked on the bond measure for the construction of the new trades building at Weed High School. She also helped organize Weed High School’s senior graduation trip and sober grad night and is a member of the Sons of Italy Lodge, working their events.
Ronda Gubetta married her way to Weed, moving here from her hometown of Redding in 1985. She is the branch manager of Scott Valley Bank in Weed. Besides her involvement with the Chamber, Ronda coaches at Weed High School, is active in Cougar Power and Weed Youth Girls Softball. Her other community service includes working with the youth at Holy Family Parrish and helping out where needed at church and is a member of Beta Sigma Phi.
The Weed Chamber of Commerce is pleased to name Kim Greene and Ronda Gubetta its citizens of the year.
Business of the Year:
The Weed Chamber announces McDonalds as its business of the year:
Five years ago Linda Carlin and Marilyn Yawnick purchased the McDonalds restaurants in Weed and Yreka and immediately started doing community service in both communities. There is now a long list of organizations and community events they have sponsored in the county and in the community of Weed. Both Linda and Marilyn are active with the Weed Chamber of Commerce and serve on the board. Giving back to the community for them includes personal participation in community events and support to organizations with free meal certificates.
Weed McDonalds has also adopted the third grade class and Weed Elementary School, displaying the student’s artwork in the restaurant. Some of the organizations McDonalds in Weed has help include the Family Support Team, Family Resource Center, Shop with a Cop, Weed High School and Weed Elementary School events, Weed Golf Course and Men’s Club, Community Easter Egg Hunt at Shasta View Nursing Home, and Siskiyou Golden Fair events such as Kids Day and the Destruction Derby.
With this as a small sample of their community involvement, the Weed Chamber of Commerce is pleased to recognize McDonalds as its business of the year. Receiving the award is owners Linda and Marilyn and Weed McDonalds manager Mark Hofer.
Educator of the Year:
The Weed Chamber is pleased to recognize the contribution of Mike Ristuccia and name him the educator of the year:
It is not uncommon for teachers to like a principal. As principal at Weed High School for the last two years, Mike Ristuccia has earned the respect of staff, teachers, students, and parents. He has been an educator for 17 years and high school principal for the last four years. Starting his teaching in Eureka and Crescent City, Mike has been with the Siskiyou Union High School District for 10 years, teaching at McCloud and Mount Shasta High Schools and principal at Jefferson and Weed High Schools. He is also an active supporter of youth baseball and active in the community with his family.
Nominated by the students he serves, the Weed Chamber of Commerce is pleased to name Mike Rastuccia its educator of the year.
Organization of the Year:
The nonprofit organization of the year – The Weed Berean Church:
- For the last five years the WBC has served a free Christmas dinner at the Son’s of Italy Hall, serving over 200 people each year;
- For the last seven years the WBC has provided the Celebrate Recovery program for the community, a weekly group meeting providing dinner, motivational talks, counsel, anger abatement and practical “how to” information for people with substance or other abuse issues;
- For the last ten years the WBC has provided annual scholarships in the amounts of $300 to $600 for Weed High School and other south county school students;
- For the last ten years the WBC has participated in the Weed Chamber’s Olde Fashioned Christmas providing games and prizes for the children;
- This year the WBC has partnered with the Community Resource Center to help local residents with emergency needs such as food, gas vouchers, utility bills, and temporary housing;
- Also this year the WBC is one of the driving forces behind the “helping hands” day to clean up Abner Weed Plaza and partner with Parks and Recreation with some projects, including removal of graffiti from walls.
For its outstanding example of community involvement and for its faithfulness to its primary purpose of proclaiming the message and love of Jesus Christ, the Weed Chamber of Commerce is please to recognize Pastor Bill Hofer and the members of the Weed Berean Church as the nonprofit organization of the year.
Please stop by one of their Sunday Services starting at 8:30 and 11:15 am and Sunday school for all ages. The Weed Berean Church is located at 705 S. Weed Blvd. their phone # is 530-938-2860
Meritorious Award:
The Chamber’s meritorious service award goes to Sheryl Wilson:
We have a shining example of Sheryl’s community service: she is the organizer of today’s parade. Sheryl is a past president of the Weed Chamber of Commerce and besides the Carnevale Parade, continues to take a leadership role in the annual Chinese Auction.
Sheryl was born and raised in Siskiyou County, moving to Weed following High School and graduating from College of the Siskiyous. She is now the director of medical records at Shasta View Nursing Home in Weed where she takes an active part in putting on the annual community Easter Egg Hunt. Her community service includes active participation in the Weed Rotary Club where she is on the board and committees, Sons of Italy Lodge, and Beta Sigma Phi sorority.
Because of Sheryl’s outstanding commitment to community service, the Weed Chamber of Commerce is pleases to award her its meritorious service award.
These are only a few of the outstanding citizens here in Weed, CA! It takes the work of many people and organizations to keep our town the friendly place we all call home! Thank you to everyone that contributes to our community!
Our towns are full of people, and groups that are constantly contributing towards building a better community. Whether it’s through volunteering, donations, guidance, and leadership, these people are the bloodlines of our town.
