History Makers

Honoring the history makers

By Patt Diroll

"An individual whose civic passion, innovative design or charitable interests continue to shape Pasadena's unique heritage."

That's the challenging guideline for the Pasadena Museum of History's Contemporary History Maker Awards. The prestigious awards, established in 2000, pay tribute to people whose achievements impact the city's present and its future.

A quintet of local activists - Christe Balvin, Betty and Charles McKenney, Joel Sheldon III and Larry Wilson - was honored at this year's benefit dinner held at Old Pasadena's Twin Palms restaurant on June 11:

Balvin's longtime involvement with local nonprofits includes the Ronald McDonald House, Wellness Community - Foothills, Pasadena Playhouse and Pasadena Community Foundation.

The McKenneys transformed a vacant lot on the northwest corner of Pasadena Avenue and Arlington Drive into what is now Arlington Gardens, a water-wise oasis of more than 2,000 California-friendly plants including a citrus grove.

Joel Sheldon III, chairman and CEO of Vroman's - Pasadena's venerable book emporium (est. 1894) - was recently named Bookseller of the Year by Publishers Weekly, the industry's highest honor for an independent bookstore. Sheldon, whose family has owned the business since 1922, has served as president of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and director of the Pasadena Rotary Club.

The Star-News' own Larry Wilson, public editor of the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group, traces his Pasadena roots back to the 1880s. His great-grandfather's farriery was located where the One Colorado complex is now. Along with writing three columns a week, a regular blog, and representing the newspaper in the community, Wilson organizes the Pasadena Library's One City, One Story program and Claremont Graduate University's Kingsley Tufts annual poetry prizes. He also serves on the boards of the Armory Center for the Arts, the First Tee of Pasadena and heads the board of the Daily Californian Education Foundation at UC Berkeley.

Zena Brown, 2008 Tournament of Roses Princess, a devoted junior docent at the museum and a Girl Scout Gold Award candidate, was celebrated as a "Contemporary History Maker of Tomorrow." Also in the spotlight were five museum stalwarts who are newly appointed honorary trustees: John Armagost, Peter Boyle, Alice Butler, Sid Gally and Ken Patton.

Regina and Ian Whitcomb and His Bungalow Boys kept the party jumping with their ragtime music. Jeanette O'Malley, executive director, reports that the event raised $35,000 for the museum's educational programs.

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