Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Peter James DeJarnatt for his 16 years of service on the Pacifica City Council, four of them as mayor. Pete has been a tireless champion of the environment and Pacifica residents and visitors can thank him for many of the trails and much of the open space that allow all of us to enjoy the beautiful coast.

Pete was first elected to the city council in 1996. During his tenure, he always aimed to achieve a balance between development and the quality of life of residents. His work and partnership with the Pacifica Land Trust were vital in the transfers of Mori Point, the San Pedro Headland parcel and Cattle Hill to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Pete was instrumental in championing major improvements to Linda Mar Beach, a popular surf spot. Ample parking, hiking and biking trails have turned it into a true multipurpose area, attracting tourists and locals alike. He also helped create flood protection for lower Linda Mar as well as a new estuary for San Pedro Creek. The San Pedro Creek Control Project included rerouting the lower creek, placing gravel to provide steelhead spawning beds, and creating new wetlands. The solar power projects on top of the wastewater treatment plant and the community center are in part due to Pete's outstanding work.

As an advocate of the arts and civic engagement, Pete played an important part in creating the Sanchez Art Center, the farmers market, additional senior housing, the skateboard park and the new police station. He has been a long-time supporter of Pacifica's library system and the resource center.

Pete, a native San Franciscan, graduated from Terra Nova High School and attended the College of San Mateo.

He and his long time partner Dianne Devin live in Pacifica. In his spare time, Peter loves to garden, hike, camp, dive and read.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Peter DeJarnatt on the day of his retirement as mayor of Pacifica. He has dedicated his life to his community and public service and has never tired of improving the lives of residents of this coastal gem.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor James Nantell. He has served for 40 years in the public sector, twelve of them as the City Manager for the City of Burlingame. A gifted community leader, there isn't a street corner in Burlingame that doesn't have his fingerprints on it.

Jim became city manager of Burlingame in November of 2000 and my time is too short to list all of his accomplishments. At the top of that list is the merger of the fire departments of Burlingame and Hillsborough to form the Central County Fire Department in 2004. The two cities share staff, training and equipment to protect their citizens while reducing cost. For the past 15 years Jim has been a champion of shared services and he currently chairs the Shared Services Initiative of the San Mateo County City Managers Association.

Much of Jim's work has resulted in very visible improvements in Burlingame. For example he facilitated the upgrade to the Burlingame Avenue train station, oversaw the approval of the Mills-Peninsula Medical Center and the Peninsula Humane Society Center for Compassion, obtained federal stimulus funds for street resurfacing projects, developed the Burlingame Avenue streetscape concept plan, obtained a designation of Burlingame as a ``Tree City USA'' for a 31st consecutive year, and implemented the construction of a bicycle and pedestrian crossing bridge over U.S. Highway 101.

Over the last ten years, Jim has overseen the rehabilitation of some 40 miles of the 100-year-old water and sewer pipeline system in Burlingame and the construction of a 1.5 million gallon retention basin at the waste water treatment plant.

Jim has also brought many wonderful celebrations to Burlingame. In 2008, he worked closely with local officials and community members to put on nine flawless Centennial events. Residents can thank him for the annual pet parade and employee Halloween costume contest.

Before Jim brought his energy and talent to Burlingame, he served the City of San Mateo for 28 years. He started as assistant recreation center director in 1973 and within a year became the director. From 1975-76 he was the supervisor for athletics and outdoor recreation. From 1976-81 he served as the administrative director of athletics, aquatics, outdoor recreation and community relations. The following four years Jim was the superintendent of recreation and human services. From 1985-90 he served as assistant city manager and from 1990-2000 as deputy city manager and the interim fire chief from 1995-96.

Jim has been a board member of the San Mateo Rotary Club, the Lesley Foundation, the Strategic Planning Committee for the Peninsula Family YMCA, and Our Lady of Angels men's club.

His career clearly demonstrates his passion for recreation and outdoor activities. In his spare time, he has helped coordinate many foot races, including the Bay to Breakers race, the Giants Run to Home Plate, the San Francisco Zoo Run, and the San Francisco Marathon.

Jim, a Wisconsin native, graduated with a BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He earned his M.S. in Parks and Recreation Administration from San Francisco State University. He attended the Harvard Kennedy School of Government in 2000.

Jim married his college sweetheart Christine 42 years ago. They are the proud parents of four children--Maddie, Michael, Ashley and Erin-- and grandparents of three grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor James Nantell for his outstanding and storied service to San Mateo County. His contributions will continue to benefit residents for decades to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Chief Robert Louis Lotti, II for his 30 years of service at the Belmont and Colma Police Departments.

Robert Lotti started his law enforcement career in 1984 as an officer with the Belmont Police Department. Three years later he was assigned to the traffic division as a motorcycle officer. In 1990, he was promoted to sergeant and served as a SWAT team member, team leader, and tactical commander. In 1997 and 2000 he completed two assignments as acting commander. In 2000, he was assigned as detective sergeant to the investigations bureau.

After protecting the residents of Belmont for 18 years, Sergeant Lotti moved to the Colma Police Department where he was hired as first commander. Within less than a year, he was promoted to chief in May of 2003.

Chief Lotti's dedication, commitment and professionalism are reflected in his many accomplishments, and awards. He is a founding member and architect of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office regional SWAT Team, a weaponless defense instructor, Academy instructor, and inner perspectives facilitator. From 2003-2012 he served on the San Mateo County Police Chief's and Sheriff Association--in 2009 as president. Since 2005 he has been on the Board of Directors of the North Peninsula Food Pantry. He also served the San Mateo County Gang Task Force, the Academy Advisory Board, and the Realignment Committee. In 1987, the Peninsula Council of Lions honored him with the Police Heroism Award and in 1996, he received a commendation from the Belmont Police Department.

During his tenure, Chief Lotti has worked on many homicide investigations, fatal accidents, even a pipe bombing case, but he says the most rewarding part of the job is helping people in need and giving back to the community--both out in the field and at the station. He has been a mentor to his fellow officers who appreciate his optimism and great sense of humor.

He has volunteered as a little league umpire and sits on the board of directors for the North County Food Pantry and Dining Center of Daly City.

Chief Lotti, a lifetime resident of San Mateo County, was born in San Mateo, grew up in San Bruno, attended Terra Nova High School in Pacifica, and received his AA from Skyline College in 1982. He earned his BS in Human Services Administration and MPA in Public Administration from the College of Notre Dame in 1992 and 1997 respectively.

In his well deserved retirement, Chief Lotti is looking forward to spending more time with his wife of 26 years, Karen, and their four children.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Chief Robert Louis Lotti, II on the occasion of his retirement after making our Peninsula communities and residents safer for three decades.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Warren Heckman who has spent his life serving our community and sharing his passion for music with those around him.

As a teacher and band instructor, Mr. Heckman brought the joy of music to hundreds of students for more than thirty years. He started teaching at South San Francisco High School in 1950, and created the Blue Knights, a jazz ensemble that won countless awards and put South San Francisco High School's music program on the map. The Blue Knights were one of the first high school jazz ensembles and paved the way for similar programs around the country. This jazz group is still part of South San Francisco High School's music program today.

Mr. Heckman's passion for music spread to his students, many of whom have remained in touch with him. In 2006, 180 former Blue Knights from around the country gathered together for a reunion. Many of them continue to play music, both recreationally and professionally, a testament to Mr. Heckman's influence on his pupils at such a transformative age.

In 1958, Mr. Heckman received his Master's degree from San Francisco State University. He also earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music in 1949 and a teaching credential in 1950 from the University of California-Berkeley where he met his wife, Marie, who has since passed away.

During World War II, Mr. Heckman served his country in the United States Navy. He entered the Navy in 1943 one month after graduating from high school. He attended college in Missouri for 18 months, then transferred to midshipman school at Cornell University where he received his commission in May 1945. He attended Fire Control School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and was stationed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway CV-41. As a Fire Control Officer he spent one year on board the Midway until he was honorably discharged in July of 1946.

For many years, Mr. Heckman participated in community organizations, including a long tenure as a member of the South San Francisco Elks Lodge. In addition, he helped create the School Personnel Credit Union and led that organization for 17 years, contributing as a board member, secretary and president.

After retiring, Mr. Heckman began a successful business tuning pianos. At 87, Mr. Heckman continues to play the trombone with a group of local musicians. Mr. Heckman believes that music is a lifetime adventure, and he's been playing the trombone since he was 7 or 8 years old.

Family has always been an important part of Mr. Heckman's life. He enjoys spending time with his son, Mark, and his daughter-in-law, Kathy, who live locally. His twin daughters, Patty and Tina, both live in Gridley, California. Mr. Heckman is also the proud grandfather of David, Sean, Kelly and JW, and the great-grandfather of James.

Mr. Speaker, I ask this body to rise with me to honor the outstanding service of Warren Heckman to the city of South San Francisco and the whole of San Mateo County. He was a role model for other teachers, a beacon for his students, and he will be remembered as an exceptional human being for many years to come.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor a rare and special occasion for 45 individuals who went to grammar school together 43 years ago. It is nothing short of remarkable that two thirds of the Holy Angels Class of 1969 will gather on this day of November 10, 2012 to reminisce and exaggerate old stories.

The Sisters of the Holy Infant Jesus taught at Holy Angels, a Catholic school founded in 1952.

The Class of 1969 consisted of 45 students: Donna Abrahamsohn, Charlene Behnke, Robert Bernie, Kevin Chapot (deceased 2010), Raymond Ciardella, Shirley Conti, Richard Delgado, Mary Dillon, John Gallagher, Robert Gerughty, Randy Golobic, Susan Gomez, Joseph Gordon, Kathleen Griffin, Dennis Harvey, Stephen Haught, Loretta Kelly, Patricia Kerns, Catherine Lapachet, Carole Lindsey, Patrick McLoughlin, James McCarthy, Maura Moran, Paul Nannini, Bruce Olmanson, Thomas O'Shea, Mary Pinelli, George Putkey, Elizabeth Randall, Timothy Rea, Marie Antoinette Rodriguez, Mary Rushka, Kimberly Seitz, Debra Sola, Terrie Sottile, Marialena Spadaro, George Tinetti, Barbara Trapp, Robert Trapp, Linda Tricerri, Peter Woolery, Nina Varni, Thomas York, David Zanini, and Loretta Zolezzi.

By today's standards, a class of 45 is unheard of, but the Holy Angels students assert that it didn't harm any of them in their later lives. They moved on to careers in teaching, public safety, law enforcement, the military, the medical field, and more. Many of them stayed right here in the Colma and Daly City area, home to Holy Angels.

The class of 1969 was the first second grade class to celebrate their First Holy Communion in 1963, a year after Holy Angels church was built. All of the teachers at the school were nuns, except for Miss Sandy Sheffield--unanimously voted everyone's favorite teacher in the 4th grade for her innovative and fun teaching style. Until Miss Sheffield brought in a pinata, most students had never seen one.

Another teacher bringing fond memories to the students is Miss Whitney who taught all the dance routines for the annual May Day festivities. Each class performed a variety of folk dances on this popular day of games and raffles.

Back in the day, the TV show ``The Man From U.N.C.L.E.'' brought out the best in a group of Holy Angel girls portraying themselves as secret agents. They would pass around secret messages in an empty Chapstick container and they would reveal the locations of dangerous enemy agents via walkie talkies. The Class of 1969 refuses to disclose whether one of the class members later joined the CIA.

Life at Holy Angels wasn't all fun and games. In 1963, televisions were not part of the regular classroom, but when President Kennedy was assassinated, the nuns brought in TVs so that the students could witness the funeral.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor the Holy Angels Class of 1969 which reminds all of us of

the ties that hold us together as members of our community and country.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the Rotary Club of Pacifica on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

Rotary International brings together business and professional leaders to help build peace and goodwill in the world, and the Pacifica club fulfills Rotary's admirable mission of ``Service above Self.''

The Rotary Club of Pacifica equips students with the skills and resources to thrive and become contributing members of society. Scholarships and underwriting coaching for student loans help students and their families afford college. Other projects spark curiosity and motivation in young people including the Dictionary Project, which involves distributing dictionaries to every third grader in the Pacifica School District. Likewise, Rotary Club-sponsored career days teach middle school students about vocations and professions, sparking curiosity and motivation at a young age.

The newly built Rotary Plaza, a beautiful public space in Pacifica, represents the Rotary Club of Pacifica's commitment to service. Rotary Plaza was created in partnership with local arts organizations, businesses and public offices to celebrate the Club's 50th anniversary. This project provides an essential outdoor space for people to gather, talk and connect with others.

In addition, Pacifica's Rotary Club does whatever is needed to beautify and improve the community--from painting the public library, to landscaping the Boys and Girls Club. The club holds annual food drives, provides financial aid to single-parent families and assists in rescue operations from flooding in lower Linda Mar. The Rotary Club of Pacifica creates an essential social safety net for needy families.

The Club's reach even extends beyond the close perimeters of Pacifica--to Pakistan, where it provides vocational training for Afghan refugees. It makes microcredit loans to women with families in Ecuador, Guatemala and Colombia. Because of the Rotary International's persistence, polio will soon be eradicated from the world, and the Rotary Club of Pacifica has consistently participated in this important global mission.

Mr. Speaker, it is right to honor the Rotary Club of Pacifica on this day, October 12, 2012, for 50 years of outstanding service and to wish the members the best for the next 50 years.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Lloyd R. LaCuesta, one of the best-known faces in the Bay Area. For 36 years, Lloyd's face and voice have been beamed into millions of living rooms every night during the award-winning Ten O'clock News on KTVU. His reporting is a chief reason why the newscast is rated as one of the best in the country.

With 43 years in journalism, Lloyd is often considered the dean of reporters in the Bay Area. He is the longest tenured reporter at KTVU and has run its South Bay Bureau for decades. I have had the pleasure to be interviewed by Lloyd many times and have witnessed his professionalism and attention to detail first hand; he is meticulous, fair and won't give any public official a pass.

Lloyd has covered some of the biggest stories of our region and time: The Loma Prieta earthquake, the Oakland Hills fire, the eruption of Mt. Saint Helens, the L.A. riots in 1992, the Columbine school shooting, Hurricane Mitch in Honduras, the Kobe earthquake, the Marcos vs. Aquino presidential campaign in the Philippines, and the list goes on. So many of us in the Bay Area experienced these events through his eyes.

Early in his career Lloyd covered a story that would affect the way he reported for decades. He was doing a live stand up from Stanford Hospital where the family of a Castro Valley man was holding a vigil because he needed a heart. Lloyd reached into his wallet, pulled out his driver's license with the pink donor dot and said, being an organ donor is a way to make a life-changing gift, even though you will never meet the recipient. A few days later, he received a call from a woman who told him that her daughter had died in an accident and she donated the daughter's heart because she had seen his story and remembered his words. This experience powerfully reminded Lloyd that his reporting affected lives and that he carried a responsibility to always be mindful of people.

Before coming to KTVU in August of 1976, Lloyd worked for the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, KMPC Radio, KNX-CBS Newsradio, American Forces Korea Network, KABC Radio, KABC TV and KGO TV.

He has won several of the most prestigious journalism awards, including six Emmys from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, NATAS. His reporting was essential in the Ten O'Clock News winning a national Edward R. Murrow Award for Newscast Excellence in 2004 from the Radio-Television News Directors Association, RTNDA.

One of his award-winning series took Lloyd to Vietnam in 1986. He followed three Vietnam veterans who went back to find their Amerasian children they had fathered during the war. It was fathers like them that in 1982 led to the Amerasian Act which allowed children born in Cambodia, Korea, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam after December 31, 1950 and before October 22, 1982 to immigrate to the United States.

Lloyd was the first elected national president of the Asian American Journalists Association and the first president of Unity Journalists of Color. He is on AAJA's list of pioneer Asian American journalists and received the group's Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2004, he was inducted into the NATAS Silver Circle for his many years of outstanding Bay Area reporting.

Lloyd was born in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1947. He received his BA in journalism from Los Angeles and San Jose State Colleges and his Masters in Journalism from UCLA.

In his retirement, Lloyd is looking forward to spending more time with his family and friends and a slower pace of life with more time to read, play tennis and travel. He is married to Mona Lisa Yuchengco and has two daughters, Angelisa Marie LaCuesta-Russo and Elena Maria LaCuesta-Roberson.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor a broadcast icon who has been part of the fabric of the Bay Area for decades. Not long ago, a person saw the retired reporter in San Mateo, stopped him and said, ``You used to be Lloyd LaCuesta!''--I'm sure that won't be the last time. Lloyd will be deeply missed by viewers, public officials and his co-workers alike.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the San Carlos Adult Community Center on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, and the Friends of the San Carlos Adult Community Center on the 20th anniversary of its founding as a nonprofit. The center is dedicated to providing programs and activities for persons age 50 and above while recognizing the importance of people of all ages.

Groundbreaking for the 17,000 square foot center took place in 1982 and at the time the building was the most completely equipped facility of its kind in the nation. It cost $1.5 million to build and about $550,000 of that funding came from federal and county sources. The remainder was contributed by San Carlos. The residents received quite a bargain, given all of the amenities of this facility.

The center has a modern kitchen and its meeting room, which I've been privileged to speak in, is first-rate. The center also has a paperback library and computer lab, regular health screenings and is available for community events. In short, the San Carlos Adult Community Center is a place where people come to refresh themselves after a hard day's work or to maintain their connections to others while in retirement.

Mr. Speaker, there are a handful of public services that connect people to their governments. One such service is recreation, including physical activity and continuing education classes. The San Carlos Adult Community Center draws people out of their homes and into recreational activities and thereby knits the community together. For example, the AARP offers driver safety classes. Adults can create lasting friendships by participating in health and wellness classes or by learning a new hobby such as painting, cooking or gardening. Adults can become better creative writers by taking a class and the current events sessions often feature local experts. Pedro tournaments draw persons from age 18 and up, while the moonlight and roses social dance draws people who remain young at heart.

There is another aspect to the San Carlos Adult Community Center that also merits special mention because not everyone in San Carlos is self- sufficient. Some need additional assistance, and this is where the Caring Cupboard Food Program becomes important. Twice per month, the Caring Cupboard, operated in part by center volunteers, delivers canned food, boxed food or packages that are non-perishable to seniors whose budgets do not stretch through an entire month. The volunteers in the Caring Cupboard also check on the welfare of the seniors who are served, and provide companionship for those who might not see another face for many days in a row. The center also helps seniors understand their Medicare choices by supplying HICAP volunteers who can explain options during open enrollment, a vital way to ensure that seniors remain independent.

The Friends of the San Carlos Adult Community Center provide extensive fundraising support for the budget of the center. Anchored by a strong board of directors, the ``Friends'' are a group of volunteers who know that communities thrive when their volunteers build local institutions that provide great services. I'm sure that this mission of providing a place for adults to learn and to build bonds with the community makes the ``Friends'' one of the largest official matchmakers on the San Francisco Peninsula.

Mr. Speaker, there are quite a few strong community institutions in San Carlos. The city prides itself on being the City of Good Living. The San Carlos Adult Community Center is a concrete example of why people love this town. In his book ``Democracy in America,'' the 19th Century French historian Alexis de Tocqueville remarked on the role of volunteerism in the young nation known as America. He contrasted it with the lack of a similar ethic of volunteerism in France at that time--a nation that he said required an official act to create even the smallest civic accomplishment. San Carlos is very much like America in its early years, filled with the warmth of volunteerism and the ethic that actions speak louder than words. We salute the San Carlos Adult Community Center on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, and the Friends of the San Carlos Adult Community Center on its 20th anniversary. During every single day, they make a difference for the better in the lives of countless persons in the special community on the San Francisco Peninsula known as San Carlos.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Ruth Wisnom, the most committed and altruistic volunteer I know. Ruth has dedicated her life to helping others and creating a better future for all of us.

Ruth started volunteering with Peninsula Family Services 48 years ago, a testament to her perseverance and commitment. She and her husband David Wisnom have also passed on their passion for volunteering to their children and grandchildren.

I commend Peninsula Family Service for honoring her with the Wisnom Family Award. The organization could not have chosen a more deserving family which exemplifies its mission to empower children, families and older adults to achieve and maintain self-sufficiency.

Ruth grew up in Ontario, Oregon. She went to Ontario High School and received her B.A. in Speech and Hearing Therapy from the University of Oregon.

From 1955 to 1957 she was the Assistant Director of the speech clinic at the May T. Morrison Rehabilitation Center in San Francisco. The following year she was a speech and reading consultant and English teacher at the Taipei American Schools in Taiwan.

She used her speech therapy expertise to set up speech clinics at the Crippled Children's Society in Monterey County and at UCSF Medical Center.

Since Ruth started volunteering for Peninsula Family Services-- formerly Family Service Agency--in 1964, she has served on many boards of directors and committees, including Family Service Agency 75th Anniversary, Biennial Family Service Agency International Conference in Detroit, Family Service America, Family Service Agency of San Mateo County and as president of San Mateo County's Hillsborough Auxiliary. She is still an active member of the auxiliary and established its popular annual travel auction in 1970. Ruth is an honorary lifetime board member of Peninsula Family Service.

Ruth's service to the community includes other non profits--Peninsula Community Foundation, the Monterey County Symphony, and the San Francisco Opera Guild Board where she has been a tireless advocate for children's education and served as vice-president of fundraising. Her love for children is also evident in her work for the Avery Fuller Children's Center Foundation, the Episcopal Church of St. Matthew's and the Junior League of San Francisco and of the Monterey Peninsula, the Children's Home Society and the Crippled Children's Society.

Ruth's love of flowers, especially roses, has driven her to support the Hillsborough Garden Club where she was president from 1995 to 1997 and served on the Bay Area Steering Committee planning a weeklong flower, horticulture and ecology show.

Her unwavering commitment and service to our community have been recognized with several volunteer of the year awards from different groups.

Ruth and David are the parents of two children, David Wisnom, III and their late daughter Carol Wisnom Kastner who passed away in 2008. The garden at the Peninsula Service's Child Development Learning Center is named in her memory, ``Carol's Kinder Garden.''

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor an extraordinary human being who epitomizes inexhaustible generosity and kindness. Our community and the world is a better place because of Ruth Wisnom.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Michael Garb for his 20 years of service as the CEO and board member of StarVista, an outstanding non-profit organization in San Mateo County that transforms the lives of children, youths, adults and families. Michael embraces StarVista's philosophy that building strong and healthy communities begins with helping each individual to develop his or her own path to personal growth. The organization serves over 34,000 residents of San Mateo County every year, providing counseling, prevention, early intervention and education resources.

Michael was named Chief Executive Officer of StarVista in May 2008. He served on the board of directors for two decades, long before Youth and Family Assistance and Family and Community Enrichment Services merged in 2003 to become StarVista--a process he oversaw. The merger revitalized the organization, broadened its services, increased awareness of its programs, strengthened its branding, and increased both collaboration with other agencies and revenue. In short, more people now benefit from better services.

Under Michael's leadership the Bridge to Success Initiative was launched to expand programs for early childhood, family and youth. StarVista and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation brought together 20 partners, including school districts, preschools, non-profits, agencies, and the San Mateo County Office of Education, to help children in eight school districts.

The Youth Development Initiative, launched in 2011, has attracted diverse groups of youth and adults who learn to make their voices heard and become strong and contributing members of the community.

Jewish Family and Children's Services incorporated their Early Childhood Mental Health Programs into StarVista's array of services in 2012 to improve childcare and healthy childhood development.

StarVista's Women's Enrichment Center program was the first outside program to be selected to work with the County AOD and Mental Health departments to implement electronic medical records software that will eventually be used throughout the county.

Michael was born in Newark, New Jersey. He earned his BA in accounting from Bloomfield College.

He was on the school board of the Belmont-Redwood Shores School for eight years, two of them as president, on the 2-1-1 Steering Committee, the Community Health Reform Advocacy Committee, the Peninsula Partnership Leadership Council, and the Belle Haven Community School Executive Team.

In his well deserved retirement, Michael is looking forward to spending more time with wife of 44 years, Judy, their daughter Mindy Shelton and son Dave Garb and their four grandchildren.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Michael Garb who has turned StarVista into a smooth-running and highly respected agency that touches young and old lives every day.

San Mateo County is a better place for all of us because of Michael's vision, work and commitment to our community.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Reverend Dr. Larry Wayne Ellis for his 25 years of service and inspiration as senior pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church in San Mateo.

Dr. Ellis understands the power of the written and spoken word. He has authored six books, including Trust, The Congregation Driven Ministry and The Uncommon Book of Prayers. He was also selected to contribute to the Oxford Sermons Volume II. His soothing voice fills his parish and the airwaves of KFAX-AM and KMEL-FM radio on a regular basis. His radio ministry ``Teach the Word'' is broadcast daily on KFAX and the ``Dr. Larry Show'' is broadcast monthly on KMEL.

Dr. Ellis started as the pastor of Pilgrim Baptist Church in September 1987 and has grown and revitalized his congregation ever since. Originally from Clarksville, Tennessee, he earned his bachelor's degree from Austin Peay State University in Tennessee. He moved to California and received his Master of Divinity degree from Golden Gate Theological Seminary and his Masters Degree in Counseling from the College of Notre Dame. In 1995, he topped off his education with a Doctorate of Ministry from the Northern Baptists Theological Seminary in Illinois.

Dr. Ellis continues his lifelong commitment to religious education. He currently serves as vice president and professor at Southern Marin Bible Institute and an adjunct professor at Golden Gate Seminary in Mill Valley. In 1999, he was selected as president of Bay Area Baptist Congress Christian Education and in 2002 served as vice president of the California State Congress of Christian Education. He was president of California State Baptist Congress of Christian Education from 2005 until 2010. He is on the board of directors of The National Baptist Congress of Christian Education.

Members of Dr. Ellis' congregation describe him as a teacher and encourager who lives by example--or as he puts it, ``I am my message. I have to model my ministry.'' A few years ago, a veteran joined the church after some 10 years in the military. She had drifted into a life of drugs and hopelessness. Dr. Ellis encouraged and mentored her to turn her life around. She cleaned up, moved into transitional housing the church had purchased and went to school to earn her BA and Masters degrees. Today she is a double homeowner and mentors children and members of the Pilgrim Baptist congregation.

In addition to preaching, teaching and encouraging, Dr. Ellis is always looking for ways to stay engaged with our community outside the church. He founded C.H.O.I.C.E.S., a drug information and referral nonprofit agency and became president and CEO of the Pilgrim Organization, Inc., a youth through senior nonprofit organization.

Our community has recognized his invaluable contributions. He received the Hero of Health Award from the African American Community Advisory Board, the Pastoral Excellence Award from Samford University, and he was inducted into the San Mateo Library Wall of Fame.

Dr. Ellis is married to Vanderler Hines-Ellis and is the proud father of Tawana, Justin and Austin.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Reverend Dr. Larry W. Ellis who has touched thousands of lives and lifted the spirits of the residents of San Mateo, California and throughout the world.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Police Sergeant Edward Sonny Nakiso for his 29 years of service at the Burlingame Police Department.

Sergeant Nakiso has worked in multiple positions during his long career in law enforcement. He started out as an officer in 1983 and quickly rose through the ranks of the department. He was appointed inspector and responsible for the investigation of juvenile crime. Other duties included patrol, investigations, traffic enforcement and tactical training. From 1989 to 1997 he was an operator with the SWAT team. As the department's first school resource officer, Officer Nakiso taught 3rd-graders about the dangers of gangs and drugs. He was promoted to sergeant in 1997.

Sergeant Nakiso has demonstrated exemplary dedication, loyalty, integrity and work ethic. He is well-liked by citizens from whom he has received hundreds of letters of appreciation for his service. His colleagues describe him as heroic, compassionate, professional, efficient and a problem solver. For example, Sergeant Nakiso was part of a law enforcement contingent that traveled to Tonga to learn about the relationship between the Tongan police and the local residents. He used that experience back here at home to improve the relationship between police and our Tongan community.

Edward Nakiso was born in San Francisco in 1957 and graduated from Crestmoor High School in San Bruno in 1975.

In his well-deserved retirement, he is looking forward to spending more time with his wife Kim and their two sons, Chris and Kevin. He will also enjoy having extra time to play basketball, bowl and ride his motorcycle.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Sergeant Edward Sonny Nakiso--or ``Eddie''--for keeping the residents of Burlingame safe for almost three decades and for making our community a better place.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Lieutenant Michael Brunicardi, who has retired after devoting more than three decades to protecting the citizens of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Lieutenant Brunicardi graduated from San Jose City College Police Academy in 1978. After a brief period working for the San Mateo Police Department, Lieutenant Brunicardi went on to Colma, where he protected the public as a police officer and sergeant for 8 years. He returned to San Mateo in 1987 and served in the San Mateo Police Department for 25 years. He was promoted to Corporal in 1992, Sergeant in 1994 and Lieutenant in 2001.

Throughout his career Lieutenant Brunicardi has gone above and beyond the call of duty, and has dedicated himself to protecting victims and young people. He has put his own life on the line for the safety of others.

Lieutenant Brunicardi has received a multitude of awards and recognitions for his outstanding service. In 1985, he was awarded the Heroism Award from the Peninsula Council of Lion's Clubs for his apprehension of an armed and dangerous suspect. He has received numerous commendations from the District Attorney's Office for his investigative skills in a variety of crimes, including child molestation cases. The Downtown San Mateo Association presented him with an award for ``Outstanding Dedication'' to the development of the family-friendly safety program in a new downtown theater project. In Lieutenant Brunicardi's 25-year career with the City of San Mateo he amassed more than 100 letters of acknowledgement and thanks from the public and city staff because of his integrity and professionalism.

Community policing involves building lasting relationships and lines of communication between police officers and the public. Lieutenant Brunicardi has dedicated his career to this type of important police work, particularly in areas facing gang violence and other criminal activities. He has implemented several neighborhood safety partnership programs in cooperation with neighborhood association groups.

At age 55, Lieutenant Brunicardi is a proud husband and father. He has been married to his wife, Valerie, for 20 years and has five children: Anthony, Steven, Andrew, Justin and Nicole, who range in age from 11 to 27.

Lieutenant Brunicardi loves working with young adults and children and has coached baseball for 25 years. For 10 years he contributed as a board member of the Burlingame Youth Baseball Association, and serves as that association's president.

Although Lieutenant Brunicardi is retiring from a long and meaningful career as a law enforcement officer, he will continue to play a vital role in our community as an associate professor at the College of San Mateo. In September, Lieutenant Brunicardi began teaching Criminal Justice, Juvenile Justice and Criminal Investigation in this role. While Lieutenant Brunicardi feels blessed to be able to work with young people in this capacity, his students will benefit most from his dynamic personality, his passion for the profession and his expertise in the field.

Mr. Speaker, Lieutenant Brunicardi has devoted his time, energy and passion to serving as a leader and a role model in our community. I ask that the House of Representatives join me in commending him for his extraordinary selflessness and service.

Madam Speaker, today American women win. Congress has finally done something right. No more copays for contraception. No more copays for mammograms. No more copays for well-women visits. No more copays for diabetes screening, DV counseling, HPV DNA testing, or HIV screening.

So what does that mean to women in America?

Women in America today are saving money. For contraception alone, they'll save $400 to $600 a year. For all women in this country, it's a billion dollars worth of savings because the Affordable Care Act was passed by Congress and signed by the President of the United States.

Yes, President Obama does care. And yes, American women win.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor Ann Kathleen Sims who helped shape the lives of thousands of young children in the Bay Area. After providing quality and affordable child care for 35 years, Ann is retiring as the founder and director of Bayshore Child Care Services.

Ann built the five day care centers in Daly City with endless passion and dedication offering children a place to learn, be fed, hugged and loved while offering their parents the freedom to work and provide for their families.

Ann grew up near London and received her teaching diploma from Philippa Fawcett College, an affiliate of London University. She

started her career as a teacher in the Inner London primary schools. In 1968, Ann immigrated to the United States. She taught first-grade students at Kalamazoo School in Lansing, Michigan and then moved to San Francisco to become the head teacher at Jack and Jill Nursery School.

After Ann had her first child, Frankie, she set up her own day care school in Berkeley. From there she moved across the Bay and became director of the Daly City Community of Children's Services. She established the first local state-funded childcare in the basement of a church in the Bayshore neighborhood in 1978--the birthplace of Bayshore Child Care Services. Never afraid to take on big projects, Ann moved into a dilapidated Navy school built in 1943 and started renovating the new home of her growing child care center. The renovations have been ongoing and even now, a community kitchen is being built in the Midway Center.

The Midway Center became the flagship of Bayshore Child Care Services and Ann won numerous contracts to expand her services to more families in San Mateo County to include the Parkview Center and the 87th Street Center. I had the pleasure to work with Ann when she partnered with the David and Lucile Packard Foundation to build the Mission Center, a custom-designed center that serves infants and toddlers.

Helping parents has always been the priority for Ann. She is a tireless and innovative advocate for families and has embraced father friendly programs, special needs programs, and coordinated services for families. She and the Peninsula community built another custom design, parent friendly preschool and resource center, the Price Street Center or Our Second Home.

Ann has turned a single classroom day care center into five centers serving over 250 children every day and employing 50 individuals, primarily teachers.

As Ann has reached her well-deserved retirement, Bayshore Child Care Services will join forces with Peninsula Family Services. The combined organization will continue the mission of supporting families on limited resources and providing their children with safe and nurturing environments in which to learn and explore.

Ann can now look forward to spending more time with her family including her husband of 29 years, Mike Sims, and their daughter, Frankie S. Crawford.

Mr. Speaker, I ask the House of Representatives to rise with me to honor Ann Kathleen Sims, a dear friend, an outstanding teacher and a powerful family advocate. She has made San Mateo County a better place to live and work for all of us.