In March of 2010, the Board of Directors of  Museum on Main announced a new program called the Heritage Awards. These awards are designed to recognize excellence in the preservation of our community’s history. The Board felt that recognizing people for their often unsung work done in taking care of and promoting our community history is a central part of our mission. Over the past few months, the Museum solicited nominations from the general public and then reviewed those nominations with history and preservation professionals along with members of the Board of Directors.  The awards are presented  at the Museum’s annual fundraiser Brothels, Bar Rooms and Bandits.  Each year awards are given in six categories. They are: 

Historic Preservation - Commercial:  The building should demonstrate excellence in the adaptive reuse of an historic structure maintaining the historical integrity of the exterior while renovating the interior space to a use other than that which was originally intended. Alternatively, it may demonstrate excellence in the preservation of the original character of the building, grounds, and/or outbuildings on the exterior.                           
2010--Bud Cornet, Kolln Hardware Building                             
2011--Valley Plumbing 

Historic Preservation - Residential: Same criteria as above plus it should be a primary residence.                              
2010--Teri and John Banholzer                             
2011--Diana and Cyril Bonanno 

Historic Business: The business should demonstrate excellence in the preservation of historic structure that has always been a business or commercial property, maintaining as much of the original character of the structure as possible. Alternatively, a business with noteworthy longevity in the community may be eligible, even if it no longer occupies its original location. The business must be currently in operation.                              
2010--Christesen's                               
2011--Meadowlark Dairy

Historic Organization: The honored group should have made significant contributions to maintaining the history and/or historic character of our community, either through preservation of a structure, creation of incentives for preservation, or work in recording the community’s history; OR it may be  a group that has had a significant impact on the history of our community.                            
2010--Alameda County Fairgrounds                            
 2011--City of Pleasanton 

Educator: The honoree should be an educator in the Pleasanton Unified School District who has shown exceptional support for and dedication to formal or informal education programs, particularly in the area of history, civic engagement or the social sciences.                            
2010--Nicole Dalesio                            
2011--Carol Boster

Phoebe Apperson Hearst Award: The honoree should have made significant and lasting contributions to the field of history and/or historic preservation in our community. The honoree should have had a lasting or sustainable impact within our community.                          
2010--Bill Apperson                          
2011--Verna Garabaldi, Barbara Wolfenberger