AC5 District 3 commissioner Petural ‘PJ' Shelton introduced Master of Ceremonies, County Supervisor Gayle Uilkema, who delighted the audience with her personal story of the creative process she undertook when redesigning her back yard, resulting in moving 2800 pavers in and out of the space three times!

The awards, hand-blown glass sculptures by bay area artist Marty Appel, were presented to the honorees by this year's Arts Recognition Awards judges Carrie Brewster, Director, Hearst Art Gallery at St. Mary's College; Celeste Evans, Chair, Danville Arts Commission; Susan Snyder, Head of Public Services, Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley. The fourth judge, Angene Feves, Dance Historian, Writer, and Instructor, was unable to attend.

The 2008 Honorees:

• Jerrold Hatchett of Richmond, an arts enthusiast and volunteer;
• Joan Landis of Pinole, arts volunteer and President of the Pinole Artisans Foundation
• Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff of Pleasant Hill, a writer, teacher, and youth program organizer
• Oscar Reynolds of Walnut Creek, composer and performer of Bolivian music
• Richmond Art Center, which for over 70 years, has provided world class gallery exhibitions and arts classes to the community.

The honorees also received recognitions from the Board of Supervisors, the State Senate and the State Assembly. The Arts Recognition Award is AC5's way each year of thanking some of the many individuals and groups who give their all to keep arts and culture alive in our communities.  This year's honorees exemplify what it means to give from the heart.

In a thank-you note, recipient Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff warmly expressed: "I believe what you do inspires artists, but it does more than that.  It inspires those who normally would not contribute, attend or participate or even think the arts were important and vital in any way to our society and culture.  I believe this is the true invaluable gift you present to the community.  It inspires more involvement and excitement in the arts."

From left: Arts Recognition Awards (ARA) Judge Celeste Evans, Honoree Joan Landis, ARA Judge Carrie Brewster, Honoree Oscar Reynolds, and ARA Judge Susan Snyder

Honorees Elizabeth Koehler-Pentacoff and Oscar Reynolds