Chamber pays tribute to Moorpark's standout citizens

CITY'S FINEST— Veteran Fire Capt. Bill Breuklander heads to the stage to receive the Public Servant of the Year award May 21 at the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce Community Awards. The Chamber handed out a number of honors to deserving members of the community. WENDY PIERRO Acorn Newspapers During his 20-year career with the Ventura County Fire Department, Capt. Bill Breuklander has helped countless Moorpark residents beset by fires, floods and other emergency situations.

And the 57-year-old has been a hero with his helmet off as well, volunteering his time to mentor the Citizen Emergency Response Team and coordinating golf tournaments to benefit Lou Gehrig's disease research and the widows and orphans of New York City firefighters killed on Sept. 11, 2001.

For his continued commitment to the city, Breuklander received the 2009 Public Servant of the Year award from the Moorpark Chamber of Commerce last Thursday during the Chamber's annual Community Service Awards Luncheon.

He was one of 14 local citizens honored for their good works.

WENDY PIERRO/Acorn Newspapers IN REMEMBRANCE—Dale Parvin, left, and Lyle Pennington, center, look on as Dawn Lowenberg says a few words after her late husband Gary was posthumously named Man of the Year. The fire captain, who spends his workday helping others, said the Chamber nomination means a lot to him because it came from Moorpark Police Capt. Ron Nelson, a fellow public servant.

"I was very humbled. It was completely unexpected," said Breuklander, who works out of station No. 42.

Man of the Year:

Gary Lowenberg

Lowenberg, who died from a brain aneurysm in April, was appointed to serve as an interim City Council member in December 2008.

He served on the Moorpark Planning Commission, on the Chamber's board of directors and was a leader in the Rotary Club. Lowenberg was a founding member of the Moorpark Education Foundation and the Gold Coast Youth Football League.

"Beyond all of that, Gary was a loving husband and father and a mentor to many," said Chamber member Lyle Pennington, who presented the award to Gary's wife, Dawn Lowenberg.

Woman of the Year:

Lisa Leal

In addition to volunteering time to the Boys & Girls Club, the Chamber of Commerce, the Rotary Club, veterans groups and Moorpark Food Pantry among many others, Leal helped a local family that was displaced by fire last year. She assisted them with storage needs and helped find affordable housing and work for them. As a U.S. Postal Service employee, Leal reported more than $10,000 worth of fake money orders, said a presenter for the Chamber.

Educator of the Year:

Larry Jones

Jones, coach of the Moorpark Academic Decathlon team, has changed the lives of many students by bringing out the best in them, said a presenter for the Chamber.

A world history teacher at Moorpark High for more than 20 years, Jones has led local students to win 12 Ventura County decathlon contests, five California state championships and four national titles. In his spare time he supports the CROP walk, the Moorpark Food Pantry and the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life.

Youth of the Year:

Brandon Rokos

Rokos, 18, participated in the local YMCA renovation of Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times and Coastal Cleanup Day. He volunteered at the annual city Easter festival and raised funds for the local Relay for Life. While earning a 4.21 GPA, he's been awarded several noteworthy scholarships and will attend UCLA in the fall.

Rokos is a member of the National Honor Society and the Future Business Leaders of America and he participated in Gold Coast Sectionals.

The Chamber also gave a Youth of the Year award to the Moorpark Cleanup Association, started by four high school students who wanted to beautify their school and the community.

Juan Rosales, Sena Sadeghi, Christopher Ponciano and Patrick Stewart improved their campus and the community, and they educated others about the importance of having a voice in regard to the environment in which they work and live, said a presenter.

Nonprofit/Service Organization of the Year:

Moorpark Women's

Fortnightly Club

The 141-member Fortnightly Club supports philanthropic causes such as the Moorpark High School Girls Empowerment Conference and the Student Art Contest, and it awards scholarships to students at Moorpark High School, Moorpark College, Community High School and the High School at Moorpark College.

The centuryold club also supports the Moorpark High School Academic Decathlon Team, Future Business Leaders of America Club and middle school music programs.

Senior of the Year:

Joe Lopez

Lopez collects food donations for the seniors at Vintage Crest Senior Apartments every day, including weekends, and delivers goods to senior centers in Moorpark and Simi Valley. In addition, Lopez is a volunteer night monitor at his apartment complex, patrolling the grounds and parking lot to make sure the area is safe.

Volunteer of the Year:

Bruce Thomas Thomas, who is president of the Moorpark Unified School District board of trustees and the Rotary Club of Moorpark, also serves on the board of directors of the Boys & Girls Club of Moorpark and is past commander of the Moorpark American Legion Post 502.

Local businessman Joey Cappacino of the Moorpark Athletic Club & Cinema 3 and businesswoman Sue FitzGerald of The Haircut Place were also recognized for their entrepreneurship and contributions to the local community.