Laughter, tears at Petaluma Community Awards

It was a night of praise, laughter and more than a few tears as Petalumans gathered to honor the best the community has to offer. The annual Petaluma Community Awards of Excellence, held Thursday at the Sheraton Hotel, was more notable this year for the one honoree missing from the audience of more than 200.

A special inspiration award this year was presented to the family of James Forni, the beloved Casa Grande High School basketball coach who last year died of cancer at the age of 35. After a moving video celebrating his life, Forni was remembered by friends Jake Lee and Gabe Kearney.

Lee, the current Casa basketball coach, said Forni was a mentor to him.

“Yes, James Forni was an amazing basketball coach and an amazing educator,” Lee said. “What he really was, he was a gold-plated role model and an inspiration for young men and women.”

Kearney, a Petaluma City Council member, knew Forni since the two were in high school at Casa Grande.

“James meant so much to the community,” he said. “James had a way of making you feel special, like the most important person in the world. James was truly an example of what it means to be a leader.”

The annual awards show sponsored by the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce and the Argus-Courier, featured other traditional honorees, including service award winners in several categories and public safety standouts. Capping off the night, Jeff England, a longtime volunteer through his Rotary club, was feted with the Citizen of the Year honor.

Garrett Hill, a friend and fellow Rotarian, said England had participated in more than 50 improvement projects around Petaluma using his skills as an engineer.

“He does big projects. He doesn’t like the small ones,” Hill said. “When you get to the heavy stuff, you call Jeff.”

England said that he is lucky to call Petaluma his home.

“I have this fabulous life,” he said. “I couldn’t have designed it any better. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

Lance Novello, a detective who helped solve several property crimes in Petaluma, won the Police Officer of the Year award, while Jason Engh, who saved two lives in the past year using CPR, was honored as the Firefighter of the Year.

Police Chief Patrick Williams introduced Novello saying, “We’re very proud of Lance’s efforts, his dedication and passion for the community. He’s really concerned about you and your loved ones.”

In accepting the Firefighter of the Year award, Engh said he was humbled by the honor, although his one-year-old daughter, whom he held in his arms, stole the spotlight.

Friedman’s Home Improvement, which participated in several beautification projects in Petaluma, won Large Business of the Year, while Mail Depot won Small Business of the Year. Owner Maureen McGuigan talked about opening a mail service business right next to the post office.

“My business model is to stay close to the competition,” she quipped.

Service awards were given to cyclist Steven Cozza, founder of the Petaluma Kids Gran Fondo, for service to youth; Sally Brasseur, who works with dementia patients, for service to seniors; Jennifer Koreen, a barista at Java Hut, who won the Service Person of the Year award; and Karen Bergin, a philanthropist and consummate volunteer, who won Volunteer of the Year.

Bergin said everyone has the potential to give back to the community.

“None of us can do everything, but all of us can do something,” she said. “I encourage everyone to find their something.”

Petaluma Educational Foundation Executive Director Maureen Highland presented Kenilworth Junior High teacher Laura Bradley with the Excellence in Education award, saying: “Teachers like Laura make a difference in our schools.”

Andrea Krout was honored with the Excellence in Agriculture award for her work advocating for the preservation of agricultural land and local, sustainable food systems.

“There is nothing more that I love about Petaluma than the community,” she said.

(Contact Matt Brown at matt.brown@arguscourier.com.)