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Contact:
Cisco DeVries
(510) 981-7103 |
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2003
MAYOR BATES INAUGURATES ‘BERKELEY HERO’ AWARD
Mayor Tom Bates names first ‘Berkeley heroes’ – Lori Gitter, for
saving an elderly couple from a fire and ‘Friends of Greg,” a group
that rebuilt the house of a recently disabled man.
Berkeley, CA –Mayor Tom Bates
today announced the creation of a “Berkeley Hero” award to honor
heroes in the community. The
first recipients of the award are a group of citizens who rebuilt the home
of a recently paralyzed Berkeley resident and a woman who saved the lives
of her elderly neighbors when she rescued them from a fire.
The “Hero” award will be given
periodically to honor people who make extraordinary efforts to help the
Berkeley community and its citizens.
Mayor Bates will provide honorees with a “Berkeley Hero”
certificate and will invite them to be recognized publicly at the
beginning of the next City Council meeting.
“I believe these first honorees
are wonderful examples of people in this community looking out for one
another,” said Mayor Bates. “By
bringing a little attention to the example set by people in our community,
I hope to inspire all of us to be better neighbors and better citizens.”
Information on today’s honorees:
- Lori
Gitter. On January 25th,
Ms. Gitter saved the lives of two elderly neighbors during a fire in
their home on Oregon Street.
- ‘Friends
of Greg’. After
Berkeley resident Greg Ticehurst was paralyzed in a motorcycle
accident late last year, hundreds of people joined together to help
complete rebuilding his home. Under
the leadership of Bay Area contractor Greg Sieben – who formed the
group “Friends of Greg” – money and materials were donated, and
dozens of volunteers completed the construction.
Ticehurst, who is paralyzed from the waist down, was recently
released from the hospital and has moved into his new home.
Mayor Bates is asking members
of the community to nominate “Berkeley Heroes” by calling his office
at (510) 981-7100 or sending an email to mayor@ci.berkeley.ca.us.
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