[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 123 (Tuesday, September 16, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1762]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                  KEEPING THE ARTS ALIVE IN THE CONEJO

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BRAD SHERMAN

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 16, 1997

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to rise today to pay tribute 
to those who preserve the dream of the arts and delivering artistic 
entertainment to local people of our community. It is therefore with 
great pleasure that I honor the Twilight Award honorees, Rob O'Neill, 
Ann Hammerslag, Bob Lewis, Alex Fiore, and our Special Achievement 
Award recipients, the Medders family, for their dedication to the arts. 
These individuals have given their souls to promoting the performing 
arts in our community.
  The Twilight Awards ceremony provides the Gold Coast Performing Arts 
Association an opportunity to honor and thank several individuals each 
year who, in their own way, have promoted and encouraged the success of 
the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza and the realization of our 
collective dream of bringing the performing arts to the Conejo. The 
gathering also gives Gold Coast and its subsidiary groups, Cabrillo 
Music Theatre, Santa Susana Repertory Co., Young Artists Ensemble, and 
the Gold Coast Theatre Conservatory a public occasion to display its 
successes.
  Rob O'Neill is a member of board of directors of Alliance for the 
Arts and member of the board of directors for the Cabrillo Music 
Theater, the preeminent theater company presenting full seasons of 
Broadway musicals at the Probst Center for the Performing Arts. As an 
active member of these associations Rob has dedicated his own musical 
and production expertise to the production of ``Pump Boys and 
Dinettes'' and next year's musical, ``A Little Night Music.'' These 
musicals provide local performers the opportunity to show off their 
skills and also allow local audiences to enjoy popular musical 
productions. I thank Rob for his great work.
  Ann Hammserslag is commonly known as the brains and the heartbeat of 
the theaters department. She has managed the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts 
Plaza's business since before the plaza opened. As executive secretary 
of the threaters department of the city of Thousand Oaks, Ann has the 
experience and motivation to make the Gold Coast Performing Arts Center 
the success that it is.
  Bob Lewis, the former mayor of Thousand Oaks is now chairman of the 
Alliance for the Arts. As chairman he oversees the management and 
growth of an endowment for local arts-related programs and education 
outreach. His contributions keep arts alive in the Conejo.
  Alex Fiore is considered the individual most instrumental in bringing 
the dream of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza to reality during his 
30-plus years on the city council. Today, Alex guides the arts plaza's 
progress from his seat on the board of governors of the Civic Arts 
Plaza.
  This year, the Twlight Awards gathering presents its first annual 
Special Achievement Award to the Medders family, who represent the 
highest tenet of volunteerism. Mardy is active on numerous boards of 
directors, including the Gold Coast Performing Arts Association, 
Alliance for the Arts, and the New West Symphony Guild. John is a 
physician and administrator for Kaiser Permanente, who is also active 
in our community. Their children, Lyndsey, Brian, Emily, and Brett, 
follow in their mother's footsteps in assisting in every Gold Coast 
Performing Arts Center Association production and event. The Medders 
family is truly a gift to the arts in the Conejo.
  Mr. Speaker, distinguished colleagues, please join me in honoring 
these individuals for their dedication to the arts in our community. I 
stand proud to recognize Ann Hammnerslag, Alex Fiore, Bob Lewis, Rob 
O'Neill, and the Medders family for their dedication. It is an honor to 
have the Gold Coast Performing Arts Association in my district.

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