Citizen of the Year - Valencia County News-Bulletin

Locals 2012: Citizen of the Year & Unsung Heroes

by Staff | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

Citizen of the Year: Jim Lane

Brent Ruffner-News-Bulletin photo: Jim Lane, the 2012 Citizen of the Year, sits on a stump carved by volunteers of the Meadow Lake Parks Area Association. Lane is the driving force behind a project that will include four ponds and several seating areas for community members. Lane and other volunteers are vying for a $150,000 legislative appropriation to help revamp the area. The association, a non-profit group, wants to turn the 35-acre area into a wildland park for Valencia County.

by Brent Ruffner | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

Enthusiasm is contagious.

Unsung Heroes: Cecilia ‘CeCe’ Aragon and Patti Bucklew

Deborah Fox-News-Bulletin photo: Cecilia “CeCe” Aragon, left, and Patti Bucklew, right, are tireless volunteers and advocates for the Belen Art League and its gallery at 509 Becker St. in Belen. The duo are always working to attract visitors and new members.

by Deborah Fox | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

Raising money for the Belen Art League Gallery is a labor of love for Cecilia "CeCe" Aragon and Patti Bucklew.

Unsung Hero: Shirley Blackwell

Poet Shirley Blackwell has had little time to get much writing done lately as she prepares for the June 2013 National Federation of State Poetry Societies Annual Convention to be held in Albuquerque.

by Ungelbah Daniel-Davila | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

"When power leads man toward arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limits," quotes Shirley Blackwell of President John F. Kennedy. "When power corrupts, poetry cleanses."

Unsung Hero: Cindy Clark

by Staff | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

It would be difficult not to like Cindy Clark.

Unsung Hero: Linda Erickson

by Abigail R. Ortiz | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

"Red rover, red rover send Mrs. Linda right over!" sang a group of fourth- through sixth-grade girls with their arms outstretched and hands linked together.

Unsung Hero: Candice Johnston

Julia M. Dendinger-News-Bulletin photo: Working to make sure those with less don’t go without the essentials, 13-year-old Candace Johnston clips coupons to find great deals on groceries and toiletries, then donates the items to those in need.

by Julia M. Dendinger | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

At first glance, Candace Johnston's room is that of a typical 13-year-old girl. It's not as clean as her mother, Kimberly, would want it.

Unsung Hero: Gene Kastelic

Jason W. Brooks-News-Bulletin photo: Gene Kastelic and his wife, Laurie, stand in front of the field house at Los Lunas High School’s Volunteer Field soccer complex. Kastelic donated much of his own time, materials and organizational skills to create and maintain the complex.

by Staff | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

"One … two … three … Tigers!"

Unsung Hero: Gillis Mullins

News-Bulletin file photo: Gillis Mullins, the commander of the VFW Post 2387 in Belen, salutes the flag at a recent Memorial Day event. Mullins, has been awarded the Purple heart, a Service Medal, a Campaign Medal and a Combat Action Medal. He has unofficially earned a Bronze Star.

by Staff | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

The year was 1969.

Unsung Hero: John Michael Nagy

Mike Stearns-News-Bulletin photo: Show skills come in handy for Los Lunas High School school senior John Michael Nagy, displaying one of his prize goats. Nagy showed the grand champion goat at this year’s Valencia County Fair and donated the $700 prize money to the Wounded Warrior Project.

by Mike Stearns | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

One of the first things a 4-H club participant learns is that their projects will take an investment of time and money.

Unsung Hero: Teresa Romero

Julia M. Dendinger-News-Bulletin photo: A stay-at-home mom of three, Teresa Romero makes time to volunteer at her children’s school, Peralta Elementary, as well as for the local Little League team.

by Julia M. Dendinger | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

There are just some houses you walk into and know immediately that they are more than bricks and mortar, wires and tile.

Unsung Hero: Rebecca Romine

Jason W. Brooks-News-Bulletin photo: Rebecca Romine volunteers at CareNet and with the Christian Motorcycle Association. Service work is so important to her, she went back to volunteering soon after having open-heart surgery.

by Jason W. Brooks | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

Some of the News-Bulletin's Unsung Heroes never really get to reap any benefit for their years of service.

Unsung Hero: Jim Schnitzler

Deborah Fox-News-Bulletin photo: Jim Schnitzler is a marathon runner living in the Jubilee subdivision at Los Lunas. He enjoys running for a cause to help raise money for veterans, cancer research and children.

by Deborah Fox | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

Jim Schnitzler enjoys running for a cause, combining his favorite sport with raising money to help war veterans and youth service organizations.

Former News-Bulletin Citizens of the Year

by Staff | Oct 27, 2012 | Filed under: Citizen of the Year Locals 2012

Since 1995, the News-Bulletin began choosing a Citizen of the Year and honoring Unsung Heroes. They're all people who do things out of the goodness of their hearts, folks who are volunteers and are not paid for their activism. Each year, we like to review the names of the people we've honored as sort of a continuing tribute. Here's an update of those who have been honored as Citizens of the Year:

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