Luis Navarro, owner of Lola’s on 4th St. was recognized at Monday’s Stewards of the Second District program. Photo by Sarah Bennett.

For the fifth year in a row, Second District Councilmember Suja Lowenthal hosted an event Monday night where she recognized more than 50 local residents, businesses, organizations and city staffers as “Stewards of the Second District,” a program she began to call out those improving the quality of life within her district.

At a small ceremony in the lobby of the Terrace Theatre, Lowenthal read the names and descriptions of this year’s 56 “stewards,” including: Jan van Dijs of JRVD Builders and Developers; the City’s Animal Care Services department; Hot Java owner Ken Davis; and the AOC7 community organization.

In attendance were individuals and representatives of organizations and businesses being recognized as well as several of the more than 300 previous Stewards, a term she says she chose to represent those who “embody the definition of a person or entity that provides ongoing care and guidance.”

To come up with this year’s list, Lowenthal’s office not only pooled from their own suggestions (many of the recognized City staffers and departments were ones that she says have helped her and her employees tremendously) but also reached out to all of the Second District’s neighborhood associations asking for nominations. Recognized were many who had been nominated by the Ocean Residents Community Association, the Promenade Area Residents Association, the East Village Association, the North Alamitos Beach Association, the Craftsman Village Historic District and the AOC7.

“It’s important for our community to pause for a moment and recognize the valuable contributions being made by these individuals and groups–hopefully, they will inspire others to get involved,” said Lowenthal.

Founding members of the AOC7 community organization were recognized as a group. Andre Beasley (left) and Mary Simmons (right) were also recognized individually for their efforts.