Publication Date: Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Standing tall
Standing tall
(February 02, 2005) Former mayor, restaurant owner and architect honored with 26th annual Tall Tree awards
by Sue Dremann
A former Palo Alto mayor; an architect, a nonprofit dedicated to helping teenagers; and the owners of a local bar and grill will be honored as winners of the 26th Annual Tall Tree award. The awards are given annually to four citizens who have worked quietly and steadily to make an outstanding impact on the community.
This year's honors will go to former Palo Alto Mayor Mike Cobb, architect Tony Carrasco, Compadres Bar and Grill owners Rick and Scott Enos and the nonprofit Adolescent Counseling Services.
Mike Cobb, a graphics designer and former city council member, will be honored as outstanding citizen/volunteer. Cobb has coached girls' softball teams for 30 years.
He was also key in acquiring Cubberley Community Center, so that the city could retain its playing fields for youth sports, and arts groups could have a space in the community. Recently, he convinced the City Council to negotiate with Stanford for playing fields at the Mayfield site.
"No one is more humble about his contributions to the community," City Councilman Jack Morton, who nominated Cobb, said. "He makes time in his life to contribute to his community."
"I'm very honored. It's made me speechless, which I'm not usually," Cobb said regarding the award.
Coaching girls' softball is immensely satisfying, but securing venues such as Cubberley Community Center and keeping Winter Lodge open top his list of civic achievements, because they give people places to gather as a community, he said.
One of the beneficiaries of Cobb's work at Cubberley, Adolescent Counseling Services, is also a Tall Tree recipient for outstanding nonprofit. Adolescent Counseling Services provides counseling and crisis support to teens and their families.
Two thousand kids receive counseling there annually, including free on-campus counseling at secondary schools; a place of refuge at Caravan House for neglected and abused teenage girls; and a comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment program. State Sen. Joe Simitian and Stanford Professor of Child and Adolescent Development wrote letters in support of the award to the nonprofit.
"This couldn't have come at a better time. We are celebrating our 30th anniversary, so winning this award will help to inform the community to know what we do to save lives," Executive Director Philippe Rey said.
Acts of community commitment and kindness also extend to the business community. Architect Tony Carrasco and business owners Rick and Scott Enos of Compadres Bar and Grill will also be honored for their civic dedication.
Carrasco, a longtime Palo Alto architect, will be honored as outstanding professional for his 20 years of service through a variety of community organizations, including the Dream Team, coaching students in training at Stanford. He has played significant roles in the business community through the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce, as its board chair.
He is self-effacing about his achievements.
"It all came very naturally. I've not done something extraordinary. I've lived my life the way I've wanted to live it," he said. "It's heartwarming that Palo Alto would embrace an immigrant who came with seven dollars in his pocket."
Compadres Bar and Grill has been heavily involved in dozens of community fundraising events for years, from delivering monthly meals to Ronald McDonald House to providing gift certificates for fundraising events.
The bar/restaurant will be honored for outstanding business.
"I feel pride in realizing we've been recognized. We don't ever ask for anything in return, but we honestly hope people will remember us," Scott Enos, Compadres general manager, said.
The Tall Tree awards are sponsored by the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce and the Palo Alto Weekly. The awards, represented by Palo Alto's iconic tree, El Palo Alto, will be presented at a gala dinner on April 7 at the Crown Plaza Cabana.
E-mail Staff Writer Sue Dremann at sdremann@paweekly.com.
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