George Annino-Nonprofit volunteer. Every year, George Annino and his army of volunteer supporters reach out to the community and organize the Santa Comes to Agoura Food Drive, a sort of mini-Marshall Plan for the area's needy. A tireless volunteer with dedication beyond measure, gracious George helps bring joy to the multitudes each holiday season. Wish there were more like him.

Our communities make us proud. From Thousand Oaks to Hidden Hills and all points in between, we enjoy a beautiful environment, have excellent schools and benefit from strong businesses. Very few people who live here will tell you they'd rather be somewhere else. Today, The Acorn presents the Top 25 People of 2005, our inaugural tribute to the local men and women who help makeour community special. What these leaders share is a desire to build and maintain a high quality of life. Volunteers, business people, educators and politicians-congratulations all. You're in the Top 25.

Scroll down to read about all 25.

Ed and Lynn Hogan-Hogan Family Foundation. Few offer more to the community in the way of educational and civic-minded programs than the Hogans. Since its beginning in 1998, the foundation has invested more than $40 million in charitable operations. Gardens of the World, Hogan Angel Flight Program, and the family's newest venture on behalf of neglected horses, 15 Hands Rescue Sanctuary, are just a few. Lynn Hogan was named the Ventura County Red Cross 2005 Humanitarian of the Year. Ed is a former commercial pilot. Rabbi Moshe Bryski-Executive Director, Chabad of the Conejo. For more than 20 years, Rabbi Bryski has been taking his message of unity to the community. The Chabad's open-door philosophy comes as a breath of fresh air in today's troubled world. The Chabad houses from Calabasas to Westlake encourage all members of the community to explore their cultural roots and celebrate life. Bryski serves as the driving force behind the organization's many outreach programs, including Friendship Circle, an opportunity that allows local teens to pair up and assist special needs children. Family and education are the twin pillars of the Chabad message. Bryski brings it on. Larry Janss-CEO of the Lawrence Janss Company. Founder of the Alliance for the Arts and chair of the Major Gifts committee, Janss played a key role in gathering funds to build the Civic Arts Plaza. And as a founder of the Gold Coast Performing Arts Association, Janss provided a formal footing for many of the performing arts groups that appear regularly at the Countrywide Performing Arts Center. There are givers and there are takers; Larry Janss is the former. Was named the Ventura County Philanthropist of the Year for 2004. Suzanne Cominski-Thousand Oaks High School student. Excellent schools are what bind our community, and students such as Suzanne are a big part of the equation. The T.O. senior not only excels on the varsity softball team, but also maintains a 3.5 grade point average and will attend Harvard University in the fall, where she plans to study economics. Suzanne is a National Honor Society member and off campus she's active in the T.O. Christian Church youth group where she participates in programs that help needy children. Suzanne also has been a volunteer for the American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life" project in Newbury Park. Youth, be proud. Cal Johnston-Chairman, Boys & Girls Clubs of Conejo/Las Virgenes and proponent of the new Thousand Oaks Improvement Business District. Some communities objected to having Boys & Girls Clubs locally because of the inner-city stigma they carry. Undaunted, Johnston helped open a club at Los Cerritos Middle School in Thousand Oaks and plans on building others. Put one in my backyard, please, these clubs are good for kids and good for the community. Cal Johnston's vision never faltered. Joe Edmiston-Director, Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. The charismatic Edmiston and his minions have spent more than two decades acquiring thousands of acres of open space in Los Angeles and Ventura counties, including the much sought after Ahmanson Ranch parkland north of Calabasas. Although Edmiston's star dimmed last year when a Department of Finance audit cited him for questionable use of public funds, Edmiston remains a key player in the quest for open space and an influential force in the management of large chunks of publicly owned land. Take a hike in the mountains and chances are you're walking on Joe's turf. Patricia Jones-President and Executive Director of Alliance for the Arts, the official fundraising organization for the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. When Jones works the room, Alliance fundraising comes alive. Under her leadership the Alliance secured a $4.25-million title sponsorship from Countrywide Financial and a $3-million donation from singer Richard Carpenter. The arts require money and Jones knows how to get it. Recently, she popularized a Kids and the Arts program which buses in underserved children to see the Civic Arts performances. Robert Fraisse-Conejo Valley Unified School District Superintendent of Schools. Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Westlake schools, like many others, were slammed by state budget cutbacks last year and this year, but Fraisse's careful leadership has allowed the district to navigate treacherous waters and continue to provide quality education programs. Fraisse, his wife Deborah, and two sons have been Conejo Valley residents for more than 30 years. Here's hoping for another 30. Tony Knight-Oak Park Unified School District Superintendent of Schools. His rise to power began as a continuation high school and an elementary school principal where he gained a reputation as a thoughtful and sensitive educator, open to the needs of children and their parents. Creative and daring, Knight has helped make Oak Park a shining example of how public education can work, despite the many obstacles. Barry Groveman-Calabasas City Council member. Hit Calabasas like a lightning rod in 2003 with promises to reduce the nightmarish traffic around schools, promote cooperation among bickering city council members, and stanch the city's bleeding with regard to legal fees, which grew exponentially during the fight against Ahmanson Ranch. Successful on almost every front, Groveman has positioned himself as a leading candidate for Fran Pavley's Assembly seat in 2006. Calabasas today, Sacramento tomorrow. Janet Levett-President, Thousand Oaks/Westlake Chamber of Commerce. With 16 years of Chamber experience under her belt, Levett is best known for her ready smile and ability to make a project work. Her community involvement includes the Women's Club, the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, the Boys & Girls Clubs, and the Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks Rotary clubs. Also recognized in the International Directory of Distinguished Leaders. Heavy company indeed, but Levett knows how to keep it light. Fran Pavley-State Assemblymember for the 41st District (Calabasas, Agoura Hills and Westlake Village). Pavley made her mark in the '80s and '90s as an environmental leader who helped save Agoura's hills. The city's founder and former mayor later took her act to Sacramento, where she's been a beacon for education and a proponent of cleaner automobile emissions. SUV manufacturers despise her; the environment loves her. A run for Sheila Kuehl's Senate seat in 2008 is said to be in the works. Ed Masry-Lawyer, Thousand Oaks City Council Member. No nonsense and crusty to the core, Masry's only special allegiance is to the people of Thousand Oaks. Very few deals at city hall are done without him. Despite his struggling health, Masry won reelection by a landslide last November. He's helped save Thousand Oaks politics, and his new company, Save the World Air, has even bigger aspirations. Linda Parks-Ventura County Supervisor representing Thousand Oaks and Oak Park. Parks cut her teeth in T.O. politics and, much to the disdain of developers, fought vehemently to protect the environment while building the city's open space inventory. Lost a battle last November to tax county residents for open space purchases, but still remains the area's leading slow-growth politician. Track record shows she's an advocate for fiscal responsibility and public safety improvements, too. Mary Sue Maurer-Calabasas City Council member. Pulled one of the biggest upsets in local election history by soundly defeating Calabasas matriarch Lesley Devine and fellow incumbent Michael Harrison in the March 8 ballot. Voters loved that Maurer promised to bring civil behavior back to the council chambers and to get the ball rolling on a new civic center that has been dogged by cost overruns and long delays. Diminutive but strong, Maurer gives Calabasas politics a fresh start. Alex Soteras-Agoura/Oak Park/Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce. Has turned leadership of the once moribund, now highly successful Chamber of Commerce over to Louis Masry, the current president, but still remains a top mover and shaker among area business leaders. Although he ran unsuccessfully in the 2003 Agoura Hills City Council election, Soteras gave local businesses new life in a city that often pays more attention to its oak trees than the success of its mom and pops. SIster Lisa Megaffin-President of the Board, Many Mansions. Local politicians talk frequently about affordable housing, but who's delivering? Sister Lisa and the nonprofit Many Mansions organization last year celebrated 25 years of providing affordable homes in the Conejo Valley. In 2005 the group will open 25 new units at Hacienda de Feliz and acquire 72 units at Bella Vista. Sister Lisa, the Many Mansions inspirational leader, is proof that when it comes to providing homes for the needy, actions always speak louder than words. Steve Spector-Senior Vice President, Macerich Co. Although this nationwide real estate investment firm is based in Santa Monica, Spector lives in Oak Park and has a direct stake in the outcome of the company's $100- million expansion of The Oaks mall. Macerich wants to add another 500,000 square feet to the T.O. shopping center, making it the largest in Ventura County, but a recent change in mall department store ownership has knocked the project off kilter. So what if somebody threw a curveball; Spector's always been good at the plate. When completed, The Oaks should be a hit. Vance Moran-Owner, Whizin's Shopping Center, Agoura Hills. Other commercial real estate owners carry more juice, but none give us a link to the past like octogenarian Vance Moran. Some of his ideas regarding development have bombed, like the time he wanted to run a cable car to the top of Ladyface Mountain, but take a step inside the Whizin's center and you immediately get a feel for life in the area the way it used to be. Fifty years later, Moran's Old West shopping center still survives. Lance Sterling-Owner, The Canyon. Philanthropic community resident and engaging club promoter who took Agoura Hills-the entire area for that matter-out of the entertainment backwater and put it on the rock 'n' roll map with a weekly boogie nights extravaganza and frequent visits by famous musicians, albeit some past their prime. We don't care. Before The Canyon there was darkness, now there is light. David Murdock-Chairman, CEO and owner of Dole Food Company, Inc., Westlake Village. Unquestionably the wealthiest of our Top 25, the billionaire Murdock has been a private investor for more than 40 years and currently owns a variety of planned master communities that dot the West Coast and Hawaii, includingLake Sherwood Country Club near Westlake. The owner of Ventura Farms, Murdock has bred more than 200 prized Arabian horses and boasts an orchid collection of some 16,000 plants. An avid art and antique furniture collector, connoisseur of life in general, Murdock also gives back to the community with his prodigious philanthropic efforts. Tony Strickland-State Assemblyman termed out last November after representing Ventura and Los Angeles counties for six years. The youngest member ever to become a California legislator is now chairman of the Club for Growth in California, a pro-business, anti-tax political advocacy group. Not much happens in local Republican circles without Strickland's approval. He is to the GOP what Fran Pavley is to the Democrats: a voice to be reckoned with. Wife Audra also gaining power. Howie Neftin-Owner, Neftin Volvo/Volkswagon in the Thousand Oaks Auto Mall. Very few local business leaders are plugged into the community the way Neftin is. A longtime volunteer coach in youth sports, Neftin also reaches out to the kids through his involvement in the Great Race of Agoura. He was a founding sponsor of the 20-year-old event, which supports elementary schools throughout Agoura Hills and Oak Park. He's also an avid supporter of the local high schools. A big man on campus with an equally big heart, Neftin the car guy helps drive the community. Donald Zimring-Las Virgenes Unified School District Interim Superintendent of Schools. Take the interim title away, please. For more than a decade, Zimring, the deputy superintendent, has been the real brains behind the brawn, operating this award-winning school district with remarkable efficiency and superior aplomb in the face of crumbling budgets. Sometimes spends more than he has to, but always gets it right in the end. None sharper than Dr. Z.