Unsung heroes

Several Milpitas community leaders were among the 27 Unsung Heroes of state Assembly District 24 honored at an April 11 awards ceremony in Fremont. Assemblymember Alex Lee recognized the honorees for their dedication to making the district a better place.

Shelly Jones helped launch Troop 2170 to provide girls the opportunity to join the Scouts. Her leadership has encouraged Milpitas and North San Jose Scouts to undertake community beautification projects, toy drives and school landscaping improvements.

Sudhir Mandal has served as a member of the Milpitas Planning Commission and Milpitas Community Advisory Commission. He was nominated by Niranjan Gupta, who said, “His leadership on these commissions has helped create a thriving, safe and sustainable Milpitas.” Sudhir has also worked to beautify local schools and helped organize local creek cleanups.

Hasmukh Patel is a volunteer for the Jain Center in Milpitas, which serves more than 5,000 Jains across the Bay Area. At the Jain Center, Patel helps prepare meals for hundreds of people during community events and gatherings.

Rhoda and Eric Shapiro are the founders and operators of The Milpitas Beat. Under their leadership, the community-based print and online newspaper’s local news coverage “helps Milpitas residents stay informed and engaged in their neighborhoods and city,” said Dina Nadler-Serber, who nominated the Shapiros.

Mark Varner is a volunteer for the Milpitas Sunday Mobile Service Center. He has provided leadership for the center’s high school volunteers for the past four years. His efforts have enabled the Sunday Mobile Service Center to expand its operations and better serve its clients.