2019 Les Tupper Awards

Lynne Thompson, Kelly Carney, Wes and Jennifer Seastrom, Joe Puglia, Tom Reynolds, Barbie Eland, and Bent Hansen

BARBIE ELAND

Barbie has an amazing record of service in La Canada Flintridge. Starting out with supporting her three children, she was on the Board of St. Francis Mother’s Guild from 1993 – 2005 and became President after serving in many other positions. She also took on the chairmanship of POSH, the St. Francis fundraiser, earning over $400,000.

Barbie then moved to getting involved in service to the community.  She has been a member of the Kiwanis LaCanada/La Crescenta club for 10 years and had served as Publicity Chairman, Vice President and President.  She delivers food from Ralphs markets to the Salvation Army on Sundays and just received the “Distinguished Service Award”.  One Saturday a month she helps weed the ACH/210 freeway corner and through that became a member of La Canada Valley Beautiful where she served as a judge, project manager and now has been President for 3 years.

She is a board member of the LCF Tournament of Roses and publicity chairman.  She has been the publicity chairman for the LCF Coordinating Council for several years and is also a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, receiving a 3rd place award for the number of hours served.

Barbie has been a member of the Assistance League’s Canada Auxiliary of Professionals (CAP) for 6 years serving as membership, publicity, historian and fundraising chairman.

LYNNE THOMPSON

Lynne has been an active volunteer in La Canada since moving here in 1975.  She has been a member of the Orthopedic Guild, Delta Kappa Gamma (a professional society for women educators), La Canada Valley Beautiful and plays Mrs. Santa at the Chamber of Commerce’s Festival of Lights.

Her dedication to education is heartfelt as a former teacher.  She was a classroom volunteer and member of the PTA at Paradise Canyon while her 3 children were enrolled. After retiring from teaching she then tutored many students in La Canada.  She joined the Scholarship League and was Auction Chairman one year.  Lynne was also president of her P.E.O. chapter (Philanthropic Education Organization) from 1999 – 2001 and again from 2017-2019.

As a member of DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) Don Jose Chapter she has served as Chaplain, Good Citizen Scholarship Chairman, and Regent (President of the Chapter) from 2014 – 2016.

At La Canada Presbyterian Church Lynne served as a Deacon, Sunday School teacher and Voyager Board member.

After joining the Assistance League of Flintridge in 1994 she has served Hospitality chairman, Community Cultural Awareness chairman, Summer School Personnel chairman, Membership chairman, Youth Employment Service chairman, Strategic Planning chairman, Historian and ultimately President from 2012-2013.

Jennifer and Wes Seastrom

Wes was born and raised in La Canada and Jennifer moved here with her family in 1960.  They were married in 1977 and together bought a home in La Canada.

Wes and Jennifer volunteered in PTA and the Spartan Booster Club.  Wes served as President for 2 years.  He was also on the Educational Foundation Board.  Besides his many years as a Director of the LCF Chamber of Commerce, Wes was a founding member of the Business Support and Development Committee which he chaired in 2012 and 2013. He has also served on the city’s Public Safety Committee for 5 years and is currently the chairman.

Wes has served as a member of the Community Prevention Council and the Foothill Blvd. Master Plan Steering Committee.  He served 9 years on the YMCA Board of Directors.  He was a board member of the LCF Coordinating Council for 2 years.

Wes believes his proudest contribution to the city was leading the petition drive that brought the public sewer system to the northeast portion of the community in 1998 and resulted in the public approval and construction of the sewer system that now serves all of LCF north of Foothill Blvd.

Jennifer maintains an intentionally low profile but has made great contributions to our city. She served as the co-chairman of the Chamber of Commerce’s Centennial spearheading a year long celebration.  She created a time capsule that is buried in Memorial Park and will be opened in 2062.  She has worked with the Chamber and the city to redesign the Fiesta Days banners and coordinated the design to create a new identifiable brand for the Chamber.

Jennifer also sits on the Board of the LCF Trails Council serving as membership chairman. Wes serves as treasurer.  Together they have hiked the trails documenting and mapping them.  Jennifer worked closely with the City and the Trails Council to create a map and the logo for “The Trails of La Canada” which is now in its 3rd printing.  She has also created signage for the trails working with the Boy Scouts.

Tom Reynolds and Bent Hansen

In 2002, Los Gringos Locos restaurant and the Misplaced priorities band teamed up to offer a fundraising partnership with the restaurant’s taco truck and music from the Misplaced Priorities band. Now going by the nickname “Tacos and Tunes” they have raised over $950,000 for over 30 worthy local causes.

Forged from teenage friendships Misplaced Priorities has grown to be the band for many non-profits as well as city functions such as Fiesta Days and Music in the Park.  At any given event the band will consist of two to eleven members playing classic rock, country western, blues and folk music adapting to the needs of the charity.

Los Gringos Locos opened as a family restaurant in 1996 and became so successful they had to move down the street to a larger location.  Owner Bent Hansen sends out at least 5-10 donations a week to local charities and schools, never turning down a request to help.

Joe Puglia

Joe was chosen for the Special Service Community Award for his chairmanship of the Memorial Day Ceremony in Memorial Park dedicated to the soldiers, current and fallen, the true reason for celebrating Memorial Day. He has been in charge of the ceremony for over 10 years.  He organizes the ceremony contacting the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, ROTC, and the La Canada High School Band to assist and also contacts our community veterans to attend.  He reserves the bandstand, sees that chairs are set up for the audience and all matters to make this event so special. Joe prepares the agenda and also is the Master of Ceremonies.

Dr. Joe, as he is known, provides humble support and mentoring for all the students involved and those who have participated understand the sacrifice so many have given to our country which will remain in their hearts and minds for many years.

The many veterans who are honored on stage feel a pride in what they have given to our country and are grateful that La Canada honors them every year.  Under his leadership the Memorial Service has grown from a dozen or two attendees to nearly 100!

Joe gives to this community in many other ways.  Many of you know Joe through his humorous and inspirational columns in the Valley Sun newspaper. What you may not know is Dr. Joe was a Girl Scout leader for 16 years guiding them to receive their Gold Award.  His girls even performed the flag ceremony at the Les Tupper Awards one year.

KELLY CARNEY

Kelly is a senior at Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and a resident of La Canada Flintridge.  She has demonstrated consistency, dependability, responsibility and creativity.

At Sacred Heart she is President of the Theater Club, a member of the Campus Ministry Leadership Team. Plays Varsity Volleyball and is Captain of the Track and Field teams. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the California Scholarship Foundation and maintains over a 4.0 grade point average.

Kelly is working on her Girl Scout Gold Award by renovating the counseling office at Door of Hope.  She has also helped set up for the One City, One Book event at the La Canada Library.  She has tutored children at Santa Teresita Elementary school for several years.  As a member of the Assistance League Assisteens she works in the Bargain Box, assembled goody bags for children at Union Station Homeless Shelter, helped set up and interact with the homeless at the Pasadena Bad Weather Shelter, made baby blankets for mothers in need and packed Birthday Bags for students at Harambee Preparatory School in Pasadena.