John Luker Named Chatsworth's 'Citizen of the Year'

John Luker, an organizer of the volunteer docent program for the Santa Susana Susana Pass State Historic Park, a vice president of the Santa Susana Mountain Park Assn., a representative on the Toxic Substance Control Participation Group involved in the cleanup of Rocketdyne's Santa Susana Field Lab, and a trained archaeological site steward, is Chatsworth's Citizen of the Year.

The award was presented Friday night at the 50th anniversary banquet of the Chatsworth Community Coordinating Council.

Jessica Bercow, a 15-year-old Chatsworth High School student who volunteers for the Chatsworth Historical Society, works with service clubs collecting jeans for homeless teens, delivers holiday toys to hospitalized children and raises funds for AIDS and Parkinson's disease research was named Youth of the Year.

The Coordinating Council is a "non-profit group of representatives from clubs, organizations, agencies, schools and religious bodies plus interested citizens from the Chatsworth area."

The Council, also provides scholarships to graduating Chatsworth High School seniors.  On Friday, the Council awarded $250 to assist the Chatsworth Junior Baseball League.  The League does not turn away young players, even if they can't afford membership and uniform fees.

Other Citizen of the Year nominees were: Clif Cartland of the St. Stephen Presbyterian Church, Judith Daniels of the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, Ann Vincent of the Chatsworth Historical Society and Friends of the Library, and Ray Vincent of the Chatsworth Historical Society and Friends of the Library.

Other Youth of the Year nominees were: Alexandra Aviv of Sierra Canyon School and Ryle Eskander nominated by Mary Kaufman.

Volunteer Service Honorees were: Connie Ager of the Chatsworth Historical Society, Lee Hawkins of the Chatsworth Historical Society, Jodi Hotchkiss of the Chatsworth Junior Baseball League, Carol Lucas of the Chatsworth Neighborhood Council, Marylee Pena of the Chatsworth Historical Society, Dawn Pessin of the Chatsworth Junior Baseball League, Gracie Rogers of the Chatsworth Junior Baseball League, Warren R. Stone of the Santa Susana Mountain Park Assn., Catharina van der Heiden of Friends of the Library, and Clara Woll of Friends of the Library.