NEWMAN – The rural West Side is a world removed from Bombay, India, where Manish Thakkar lived until coming to the United States 20 years ago.

But Newman has become his new home – and Thakkar and the community have in many ways adopted one another.

Thakkar, who owns Newman Mini-Mart (Shell/Subway), was honored Saturday as the 2008 recipient of the John T. Silveira Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Newman Chamber of Commerce.

His was one of many honors presented at the chamber’s annual dinner, held at the L.J. Newman Memorial Building. The chamber also named Jim Jasper its agriculturalist of the year, a new honor created by the business organization, and recognized leading FFA and 4-H members.

Thakkar opened Newman-Mini Mart 10 years ago. He had lived briefly in New Jersey and was a resident of the Los Angeles area for about 10 years before moving to Newman.

“I had family in the Bay Area who urged me to come up and have a business instead of working in Los Angeles,” he recalled. “I had an opportunity to have a business here. This is my first business, and if God permits I want to retire here.”

Thakkar said he tries to return the support that the community has shown him through the years, whether through youth baseball sponsorships, Fall Festival sponsorships and support of projects such as a recent crab feed to support the Newman Police Department K-9 program.

“I try to do whatever I can. The more you give, the more you get,” he said. “It is for my town, so it is worth doing it.”

Thakkar said he is deeply appreciative of the reception he and his family have received in Newman.

“I get a lot of love from this town, and I try to give back as much as I can. I love Newman,” he declared. “I am very lucky, and I feel very honored to receive an award like this.”

He also expresses his gratitude for the support of his wife Nisha. “She is behind me on any project,” Thakkar explained.

Agriculturalist of the Year

Jasper was the recipient of the chamber’s first-ever award honoring the area’s agricultural leaders.

He and his son Jason Jasper operate Stewart & Jasper, which was started by Jasper’s father Lee Jasper in partnership with Romain Stewart 60 years ago.

The farming partnership was one of the first in the area to plant almonds, which are now Stewart & Jasper’s primary commodity.

Through the years, Stewart & Jasper has added hulling and shelling, processing, marketing and retail sales.

“We still think of ourselves as farmers, but we also think it is important to do a good job in processing and marketing the crops you grow,” Jasper commented. “We have evolved from one thing to another, and have grown with the almond industry.”

Stewart & Jasper employs 30-40 people on a full-time basis, and up to 150 during peak seasons.

“We’ve had a lot of good fortune and good employees, which is critical,” Jasper reflected. “We are very fortune to have such dedicated employees. They are our most valuable asset.”

Jasper said he was humbled by the chamber honor.

“There are a lot of people in the area as deserving if not more deserving then myself,” he commented. “Hopefully the chamber continues to acknowledge the ag leaders in this area, because we have so many good ones and ag is such an important part of the area and California in general.”

Youth awards

The chamber also honored leading FFA and 4-H members.

Those recognized included Newman FFA member Carlee Sterling and Newman 4-H Club members Anthony Drumonde, Mikaela Tosta, Katrina Schmidt, Jocelyn Schmidt and Maxwell Sciarini.

Beautification awards

Chamber beautification awards were presented to David Keller for restoration of the Knights of Pythias building and to County Bank for the economic development of the same building.

The chamber’s John T. Silveira Award has been presented to business community leaders for many years. Thakkar joins a distinguished list of past recipients which includes John T. Silveira (in memorium), Manuel DeOliveira Jr., the late George Wortman, the late Shirley Tabar, Bill Mattos, Marge Carvalho, Ray Krieger, the late Alfred “Bush” Rose Jr., Bob Novoa, Susan Mattos, Phill Mulkey, the late Tom Yancey, Tom DiMare, Ed Faria, Carol Stephens, Mel Souza, Doug Stephens, the late Jim Silveira, Barbara Powell, David and Farris Larsen, Patty Novoa, the late Janet Carlsen, Doug Mutoza, Kern Hunewill, David Reed, Eleanor Beach, Mindy Silveira, John Fantazia and Paul Wallace.