Last month, the Santa Clarita Valley Bar Association held its annual Law Appreciation Day at the Valencia Hyatt Hotel. I was privileged to serve on the planning committee, and thrilled with the success of this highly anticipated event. The Bar Association honored local heroes who have made significant contributions to our community. Speakers included Supervisor Michael Antonovich, our State Assemblyman Cameron Smyth, our Mayor Bob Kellar, Sheriff Leroy Baca, and others. It was an exciting event, and very well attended.
The Bar Association received numerous community nominations for “local heroes.” These nominations were considered by the Bar Association and several were selected to be honored at the annual event. Those honored included Captain Gary Dellamalva of the Los Angeles County Fire Department, as well as Fire Station 73, for their heroic response to last year’s Interstate-5 truck route tunnel collision and explosion in the Newhall area. Many lives were saved through Captain Dellamalva’s quick response and expertise. David Dunkel, a Valencia High School student, was honored for his amazing leadership and achievements as a cadet in the Air Force Junior ROTC program. Also honored was Edward Cole for his dedication to our community’s charitable organizations, and to his selfless acts and fundraising activities to assist “Flying Mike Brown” who suffered life threatening injuries in a serious motorcycle crash. Officer Adrian Garcia of the CHP was honored for saving the life of a woman attempting to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge railing on the northbound I-5 freeway. Dale Gerstel was honored for his countless hours and dedication for our deployed troops and wounded serviceman. Mr. Gerstel has co-founded Prayer Angels for the Military, the largest military support group in our area. Lisa Hernacki was honored for her significant and inspiring contributions to music in our valley. Ms. Hernacki designs and presents a grand-scale free concert titled “Celebrate Music” each year, where students and children are exposed to the joys of music, and can even visit an instrumental “petting zoo.” Detective Richard Welch was honored for his courage and investigative work which keeps our Valley safe. Detective Welch led the operation which resulted in the arrest of an attempted kidnapper in Canyon Country.
Thank you to our community heroes. And thank you to the Santa Clarita Valley Bar Association for such an inspiring event.
For more information, please call Jane McNamara, attorney, at 661-287-3260.