Mill Valley honors volunteers, crowns Pam Keon volunteer all-star and installs 2025 time capsule

Mill Valley City Council on Monday recognized local volunteers and recapped the city's 120th-anniversary events, presenting a Volunteer All-Star award to long-time community volunteer Pam Keon and highlighting completion steps for the 2025 time capsule.

Ashley Howe, Mill Valley's arts and recreation director, told the council the volunteer steering committee, co-chaired by Pam Keon and Joan Murray, led a three-year effort producing events including an Old Mill roof dedication, historical walking tours, concerts and a downtown parade. "It was a volunteer steering committee," Howe said. "The volunteer steering committee dedicated more than 3 years towards this planning." The staff report lists the time capsule contents and attachments; Howe said final plaque procurement and physical installation will follow.

The council also acknowledged youth service: Eagle Scout Nate Lee described his Eagle Scout project, a partnership with Mill Valley Little League to repair the third-base dugout at Alto Baseball Field behind Edna McGuire Elementary. "For my Eagle project ... I partnered with the Mill Valley Little League to repair the third base dugout," Nate said, describing replacement of a rotted back wall and roof section, new plywood, paint and waterproofing.

Mayor Steven Burke praised the range of volunteer activities that made the weeklong civic celebrations possible and thanked staff for coordinating logistics. The council read a proclamation enumerating Keon's roles, including the Mill Valley Historical Society, the Threshold Choir and emergency-preparedness contributions.

Council members and community speakers described the 120th events as broadly engaging and lasting in legacy: the Old Mill restoration, a heritage-home plaque program, digitization of the 1953 time capsule contents, and a Labor Day weekend lineup of dedications, concerts and tours. Howe said images and a detailed staff report, including a list of the time capsule contents, are available as attachments in the staff report.

The council scheduled follow-up administrative steps to complete the time-capsule installation and plaque procurement.

The meeting moved on after applause and a photo opportunity with honorees; the council later approved the consent calendar.