Prime Shine founder Porges named American Legion’s Citizen of the Year

American Legion Post 74 honored Norm Porges as its 2016 Citizen of the Year at a banquet in Modesto this past week.

Porges in 1991 founded the successful Prime Shine Express car wash chain, expanding it to 16 locations. He has been deeply involved in the community, serving on the boards of the Gallo Center for the Arts and the Rotary (Modesto east), and was grand marshal of Modesto’s Fourth of July parade in 2011. He’s also been involved with the Modesto Symphony Orchestra, the State Theatre, the Family Justice Center, the Center for Human Services and other nonprofits. He has a lengthy list of honors for himself and Prime Shine, and was honored by Gov. Pete Wilson for raising $10,000 for American Red Cross flood relief in 1997.

Stone to lead Veterans Foundation board

Patty Stone has been named chairwoman of the board of the Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County. Stone in 2002 founded the Stanislaus Community Foundation and later led the Doctors Medical Center Foundation. She now brings her experience and leadership skills to the Veterans Foundation, which improves the well-being of veterans and their families in Stanislaus County. For more information regarding the Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County, call 209-343-6292.

Oakdale High wins Academic Decathlon for 16th year

Oakdale High captured its 16th consecutive win at the Stanislaus County Academic Decathlon, a streak that started in 2001. Students studied all year for the multipart decathlon, finishing up with a high-energy Super Quiz held Feb. 6 at Davis High School. This year’s runner-up was Hughson High. Ceres High captured third. Winner of the Super Quiz was Oakdale. Beyer High in Modesto was honored as school club winner and most improved team. Individual first-place awards by division were: varsity champion David Nall, Hughson High; scholastic champion Caitlin Golding, Oakdale High; honors champion Taryn Lane, Oakdale High; alternate team member champion Katherine Pacioni, Enochs High.

American Red Cross looking for a few good heroes

The American Red Cross is seeking nominations for its annual heroes awards to be presented in May. The categories for nominees include adult good Samaritan, given to an ordinary resident 18 or older for an extraordinary act of heroism or courage; youth good Samaritan, for a hero under 18; animal rescue, given to an animal that saved the life of a human or to a person who used lifesaving skills to save an animal’s life; first responder, to a first responder who went above and beyond the call of duty to perform an act of heroism; workplace, to a person or group who acted heroically in the workplace; military, to a member of the armed forces for a lifesaving action (can be given posthumously); and the Red Cross hero, given for an act of heroism performed during a Red Cross mission. To nominate a hero, contact Denise Nordell at (209) 765-6388 or denise.nordell@redcross.org.

This story was originally published February 12, 2016 at 5:04 PM with the headline "Prime Shine founder Porges named American Legion’s Citizen of the Year."