BUENA PARK
Twenty years ago, resident Ruth Walp started the Buena Park Youth Theatre. For almost all of that time, she volunteered and directed numerous plays, sometimes helping to launch her young proteges’ careers.
Last year, she underwent brain surgery and had to stop directing, but the community did not forget her.
Mayor Jack W. Mauller recognized her dedication to children and the community with an essay detailing what she had done as a fine arts commissioner, elementary school teacher for almost 40 years and local thespian. Walp was chosen out of 300 community volunteers as a Staples Community Star and awarded $1,000 last week to donate to a nonprofit organization of her choice.
Walp, who chose the theater as the recipient, hopes the money will be used to buy body microphones, which can cost as much as $500 each.
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