Nominees named for Martin Luther King award

OCEANSIDE — The city of Oceanside has announced the names of the nominees for the 2011 city of Oceanside – Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award.
This award is given annually to a resident of Oceanside or Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, who exemplifies the philosophy and ideals of the late Dr. King and other leaders who have worked to improve community life, develop positive relationships in the community and promote volunteer service to enhance the lives of individuals. The 2011 award recipient will be announced at the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday celebration at 4 p.m. Jan. 15, at the MiraCosta College Theatre. The public is welcome to attend this free event, which is hosted by the North San Diego County Branch of the NAACP.
Nominations for the award come from members of the community; the nominees for the 2011 award are:
— Zondra Greene, a long-time volunteer for the North County Retired Military Association and at Second Missionary Baptist Church in Oceanside;
— Danielly Grijalva, who has advocated for improved safety and security for foreign exchange students coming to the USA;
— Thelma Hendrix, a community volunteer for the Faith-Based Credit Union, North County African-American Women’s Association and Brother Benno’s Auxiliary;
— Lois “Lee” Littlefield, a community volunteer in the equestrian program at the Ivey Ranch Park Association;
— Colleen O’Harra, former City Councilmember, founder of the Women’s Resource Center and volunteer for the Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside Charitable Foundation, Hospice of the North Coast and leader in the successful Oceanside Unified School Board bond campaign in 2008;
— Kay Parker, chairwoman of the Oceanside Housing Commission and long-time advocate for fair housing in the city and the development of safe, decent, affordable housing for low-income residents of the city including the Marisol Apartments, Oak Grove Apartments and Lil Jackson Senior Housing;
— Maria Russell, a leader of the Eastside Neighborhood association and community advocate to improve safety and security in that neighborhood and to provide the same social and physical conditions for Eastside residents as are enjoyed by residents in any other part of the city;
— Marcus Sneed, a retired USMC officer who devoted volunteer time and energy throughout his military career to local Boy Scouts of America units as an adult leader and has volunteered for the past 12 years as Scoutmaster of Troop 790 and Cub Scout Pack 790 for youth living aboard Camp Pendleton.