On Friday, April 2 Council Member Dr. G (Dr. Luis S Gonzalez) presented the CITY TALK “Community Impact Award” to long time community volunteer, Frances Weaver, Receptionist at the City of Colton Fire Station #211, the downtown station, located at the corner of 10th Street and E Street.
Since 2009, Frances has operated the phones, received visitors, filed paperwork, and provided public information Monday through Thursday, from 10:00am-3:00pm. She has been a mainstay of the Colton Fire Department, and boasts a tenure longer than any of the firefighter employees.
Born in Hawthorne, Frances and her husband moved to Colton in 1988, because they felt Colton was “a nice place.” Within days, due to her interest in community work, Frances was scoping the city and located the neighborhoods, city facilities, downtown, and shopping areas. "I’ve always been interested in doing volunteer work,” explains Frances. “I enjoy helping where I can, and keeping myself busy,” she adds.
The Fire Department position is actually not the first involvement with the City of Colton. Frances was hired as a receptionist in the Public Works Department in 2001 until she was laid off due to the City cut backs two years later. However, because of a good work record she was hired as a temp for any position needed throughout the city. Then “they just let more people go,” sadly Frances reminisces. It was at that time, Frances’ “community drive” kicked in, and she communicated to the City that she would like to continue working as a volunteer. The rest is history, and Frances has created an impressive legacy of service to our community and to the Colton Fire Department.
“This was my first opportunity to talk with Frances Weaver,” reflects Dr. G, and continues, “I’ve always known she was there, and felt this CITY TALK award would be the perfect way to recognize her years of service, as well as her tenacity for doing volunteer work.” “She simply has a ‘golden heart,’” adds Dr. G. Fire Chief Tim McHargue adds, “Frances has been serving the City of Colton over 20 years, and is a valued member of the Fire Department family,”
In addition to the CFD position, Frances also donates dog oxygen masks, offers clerical help , and is a certified HAM radio operator with CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). “ I actually learned the HAM radio when I was a volunteer in the Colton Police Department,” explains Frances, and adds, “I was part of the first Police Citizen’s Academy.”
The CITY TALK “Community Impact Award” was established in 2020 to recognize the great efforts that people make “behind the scenes” to make our community, the City of Colton, a better place. “I think Frances Weaver is an excellent choice for this recognition, and truly represents the very best, in terms of meeting the intent of this award.” explains Dr. G, a City Council Member and well-known community advocate.
For more information about CITY TALK, volunteer opportunities, community advocacy, the trash clean-up program, or the online live-stream programs, contact Dr. G @ 213-3730. Questions and comments are always welcome.
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