'Standing Room Only' is the best way to describe the scene at City Hall where Joni Miringoff and Rev. Gordon Baker were named Carlsbad's Citizens of the Year in October. In fact, so many people came to honor them that nearly every seat in the council chambers was taken and the hallway behind the meeting room filled up as well.
The two honorees attracted a broad cross section of the community. Miringoff, one of the founders of the ArtSplash chalk art festival, had a bevy of supporters including her 95-year-old father, as well as local tourism officials, many people from the city’s arts community and Flower Field tour volunteers. Miringoff has lived in Carlsbad for 22 years and handles special events at The Flower Fields.
Rev. Baker's guests included one of his daughters, as well as literacy program aides, Rotary Club members and many people from his church, the Pilgrim United Church of Christ. Rev. Baker is a retired pastor who has been active in literacy and migrant farm worker housing campaigns. His wife, Betty, founded the Carlsbad Literacy Center and he has led the organization for 12 years. He also served as pastor at Carlsbad’s Pilgrim United Church of Christ from 1964 to 1981, and helped establish the church’s day care center.
Since 1967, the City of Carlsbad has annually recognized Carlsbad residents by naming them "Carlsbad Citizens of the Year". Each year, the Mayor of Carlsbad appoints a group of four Carlsbad residents to serve on the "Citizens of the Year Committee." To select the two recipients of this award, the committee reviews submitted nomination forms, looking for Carlsbad residents who are noted for giving tirelessly of themselves in some form to the Carlsbad community.
The two honorees attracted a broad cross section of the community. Miringoff, one of the founders of the ArtSplash chalk art festival, had a bevy of supporters including her 95-year-old father, as well as local tourism officials, many people from the city’s arts community and Flower Field tour volunteers. Miringoff has lived in Carlsbad for 22 years and handles special events at The Flower Fields.
Rev. Baker's guests included one of his daughters, as well as literacy program aides, Rotary Club members and many people from his church, the Pilgrim United Church of Christ. Rev. Baker is a retired pastor who has been active in literacy and migrant farm worker housing campaigns. His wife, Betty, founded the Carlsbad Literacy Center and he has led the organization for 12 years. He also served as pastor at Carlsbad’s Pilgrim United Church of Christ from 1964 to 1981, and helped establish the church’s day care center.
Since 1967, the City of Carlsbad has annually recognized Carlsbad residents by naming them "Carlsbad Citizens of the Year". Each year, the Mayor of Carlsbad appoints a group of four Carlsbad residents to serve on the "Citizens of the Year Committee." To select the two recipients of this award, the committee reviews submitted nomination forms, looking for Carlsbad residents who are noted for giving tirelessly of themselves in some form to the Carlsbad community.