Honoring Tracy’s finest

ACCEPTING THE TRACY AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE DIAMOND AWARD for the “Help Tuck Them In” project at Saturday’s Chamber Banquet were Lori Alf (left) and Joel Buyck. Chamber Director Arika Sanders (center) presented the award. Photos / Per Peterson

During her opening speech at Saturday’s Tracy Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet, new Chamber Director Arika Sanders spoke about her winding path to owning a business in downtown Tracy. But more than that, she reminded the audience that there are plenty of things to love in her hometown.

“For years, we’ve watched our downtown dwindle, heard the complaints, the worries — which is not uncommon around all the United States — but what is different?” she said. “We can sit on the sidelines or we can get involved and make change happen.”

Sanders also made reference to her decision to include children in her design of this year’s banquet program. On the cover, was the image of a young girl with a rocket pack on her back as she pointed upward. On the inside, there was an image of a young boy — again pointing to the sky — donned in a cape. The point was a simple one.