CARMICHAEL, CA (MPG) - All Carmichael’s elected legislators stood up to cheer retired Assemblyman Key Cooley, named Person of the Year at Carmichael Chamber of Commerce Community Awards last week.

Held at North Ridge Country Club, the gala sold out at 200 attendees.

Accepting his award, Cooley congratulated the Chamber for its diamond jubilee. “You’ve been invested in the community and focused on its needs for 75 years,” said the honoree. “If we can’t put shoulders to the wheel to achieve our hopes for the future, then we’re in trouble.

“All of life depends on people committed to the future and to neighbors. In this era, to be that kind of person – that takes gumption. All my fellow honorees have shown persistence in their goals and it’s a pleasure for me – and for my wife Sydney – to be among them.”

Cooley compared fellow award recipients’ efforts to a lesson learned in his Boy Scout career. “They taught us that if you want to put out a fire, you separate all its embers. But if you want to build it up, you push its embers back together. It’s a good metaphor for life. Our efforts to do good, to bring people together and spur each other along build stronger, brighter communities.”

Other 2023 Chamber of Commerce honorees were:

Businessman of the Year - entrepreneur Ernesto Delgado (owner of The Milagro Centre’s Mesa Mercado restaurant).

Businesswoman of the Year - Bonnie Prophet (who runs one of Carmichael’s longest-enduring enterprises: Serritella’s restaurant).

Educator of the Year - Holly Olson (representing the third generation of her family to lead Carmichael’s El Rancho Preschool and Elementary).

Community Advocate of the Year – Linda Martin (who served the San Juan School District for most of her teaching career and now volunteers for many non-profits).

Chamber Ambassador of the Year – Betty Bowles (a Chamber volunteer for 14 years).

Nonprofit of the Year – American River Parkway Foundation.

Learn about the Carmichael Chamber of Commerce at www.carmchamber.com