Previous Award Recipients 2007

Olivero Plumbing Company
Olivero Plumbing Company was founded in 1951 by John A. and Marie Olivero when they purchased the Soldavini Hardware Store in El Cerrito. In 1951 John Olivero also obtained his plumbing license to complement the hardware store business. In 1965, the Olivero's built the building that they are currently located in at 11360 San Pablo Avenue. The company is now run by John andJerry Olivero, sons of the founders. For fifty five years, Olivero Plumbing Company has been doing new plumbing as well as service/repair work in the community. The firm has always assisted local schools, churches and service organizations with their needs. The company currently has 9 employees and has been a long-standing member of the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce.

Olivero Plumbing Company was recognized for industry achievement, longevity in the City of El Cerrito and contribution to the community.

Honda of El Cerrito
Honda of El Cerrito has been an established Honda dealer in the Bay Area for over 35 years. They were one of the first Honda dealerships to open in the entire country. They pride themselves on the long-term relationships that they have established with their many customers over the years, and know that customers are the reason they exist. In 1993, Honda of El Cerrito became a member of the Hendricks Automotive Group. Hendricks Automotive has over 60 locations throughout the country and several located in the Bay Area.

Honda of El Cerrito was recognized for industry achievement and significant contribution of sales tax and employment.

Contra Costa Civic Theatre
Contra Costa Civic Theatre is a nonprofit community theater and one of only three live performing arts organizations with permanent homes in West Contra Costa County. The theatre opened in 1971 and is now celebrating its 35 year anniversary in the City of El Cerrito. Their mission is to provide affordable, high quality entertainment to residents throughout the East Bay and provide training in live performing arts for children and adults. Live at CCCT, the theater's youth program, features drama and musical theater classes, vocal training, summer drama camp and an after-school program. What started out as a small local theatre has grown into a source of pride for the county of Contra Costa and the entire East Bay. CCCT hopes to continue fulfilling its mission in new and creative ways for generations to come.

Contra Costa Civic Theatre is being recognized for longevity in the City of El Cerrito, industry achievement and contribution to the community.

Windrush School
Windrush School was established in 1976 and has just finished their 30th anniversary in El Cerrito. Although the school's enrollment has increased steadily since its early years, Windrush's philosophy has not changed. In 1992 when the school community developed a mission statement, included were the ideas of maximizing academic potential, building self-confidence, encouraging a love of learning, instilling a sense of responsibility for others, and developing respect for individuals and for the diversity of the world. The schools goals include providing a supportive yet academically challenging program that meets the needs of all students. The Windrush of today retains the attention to individuals so important at its inception.

Not only is Windrush an exemplary educational institution that serves El Cerrito families, but it also contributes to the community and other institutions. After a nationwide search, they recently appointed Ilana Kaufman as the new Head of School and are moving through the City approval process for a master plan that will cover school growth for the next 20 years to come.

Windrush School was recognized for industry achievement, longevity in the City of El Cerrito and contribution to the community.

Fat Apple's Restaurant & Bakery
For over 20 years Fat Apples has been a local tradition in El Cerrito. Fat Apple patrons come from all around for their favorite breakfast, lunch or dinner items. As good as the restaurant items are, others come to Fat Apple's for the baked goods and deserts. The on-site bakery, which also supplies the Berkeley Fat Apples restaurant, serves up delicious pies, cakes, cookies, cheese puffs, and all sorts of other baked items fresh from the oven. The El Cerrito Fat Apples is located in a converted grocery store space, which won a prize for its deconstructed interior, and the focal point of the restaurant is the huge, red bakery oven sitting in the center of an open kitchen.

Fat Apple's was recognized for industry achievement, longevity in the City of El Cerrito and contribution to the community.

Music Works
Duane and Joanne Wong have been the owners and operators of Music Works since 1980. Music Works celebrity customers have included John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival, Taj Mahal, John Lee Hooker, The Grateful Dead, Fleetwood Mac, and Green Day. In addition to selling musical instruments and accessories, Music Works operates an in store lessons program from band instruments to drums to guitar, bass guitar and ukulele, offering private and group music instruction to students of all ages. The store also does sound system sales and installations, and for the past six seasons, has run the sound system for the Cal Bears Football festivities, before each home game.

Music Works has been a member of the El Cerrito Chamber of Commerce for over 20 years, and is active in the local music scene. Every year, Music Works donates the sound system for the annual 4th of July celebration at the El Cerrito Community Center, and actively supports school music programs in the El Cerrito area.

Music Works was recognized for longevity in the City of El Cerrito, industry achievement and contribution to the community.