By Khalida Sarwari
Having a five-letter name starting with an “S” is not the only thing that Susan Blake and Sally Howe have in common. On Tuesday night, the two Campbell women were recognized by the mayor and city council as this year’s “Women of Distinction.”
Before presenting them with their awards, Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager described Howe and Blake as “two women who really put in many, many years, dedicated hours away from their families and their friends to make Campbell really one of the best cities that we have.”
The “Women of Distinction” event, now in its third year, was started in 2010 by Vice Mayor Evan Low to honor girls and women who have made a positive contribution to the Campbell community. The winners are chosen for their ability to exhibit excellence by striving for equality and peace. Each woman of distinction is also one who pursues justice, acts with unusual kindness and displays courage in daily life or perseverance in overcoming challenges.
The two women who were selected based on those qualities this year were Howe, the owner, editor and columnist of the Campbell Express, the longest running area newspaper, and Blake, a member of the Campbell Neighborhood Association, and of Campbell’s Historic Preservation Board since January 1999.
“I feel proud, and I feel like you’re saying ‘thank you,'” said Blake. “I do love this city and I want to take good care of it for as long as I can. Thank you for honoring me with this.”
Howe, a popular figure in the city for her involvement in such events as the annual “Bunnies and Bonnets Parade” and the “Carol of Lights,” received a warm round of applause when she announced that her son, Matthew, was there to mark the occasion.
“My son and my grandchildren are residents of Campbell,” Howe said. “I am so thrilled.”
As part of their award, Blake and Howe will be taken out to lunch by Yeager, Low and Mayor Mike Kotowski.
The Women of Distinction awards are handed out every March during Women’s History Month, in conjunction with the county’s Office of Women’s Policy. The intent, Low said, is to “honor the pioneering women who have come before us” and to recognize “those who will come after us.”
“This month, we recommit to erasing the remaining inequities facing women in our day,” said Low. “This day reminds us that while enormous progress has been made, there’s still more to be done for women to achieve true equality and parity.”
Last year’s women of distinction winners were Laura Champion, Joan Goddard, Adrienne Grey, Charlene Silva and Linda Ankeny.
Blake, Howe are named ‘Women of Distinction’ by Campbell City Council
