Liz and Phil Weaver accepting the Valley Springs Area Business Association's annual Citizen of the Year Award Saturday evening.

   The couple instrumental in working behind the scenes organizing the annual Christmas Parade will be close to the beginning of the entourage at next year’s event in the grand marshal car as Liz and Phil Weaver have been named the Valley Springs Area Business Association’s Citizens of the Year.

   Liz, among her many civic duties has been the parade’s chairwoman, and Phil does the heavy lifting.

   The Weavers own Sheng Chi Kung Fu Training Center and have an internet business, BreakPal.com, a workplace wellness enterprise.

   Phil has lived in Calaveras County for 20 years and Liz for nearly 12. Phil has been in the martial arts business for 15 years and seven years ago the couple opened Sheng Chi, which is located at 139 Main St.

   In addition, the couple can be found in the kitchen cooking for the Valley Springs Friends of the Library’s annual melodrama, and their business sponsors the annual Kid’s Day celebration. 

   Phil is also a director for the Society for the Preservation of West Calaveras History, while Liz has been a board member for the Calaveras Unified School District’s Education Foundation the past six years, is an advisory member on the ABA board, and is a member of the Rotary Club of West Calaveras.

   The couple also started the Sheng Chi Foundation, which provides funding for the area’s returning veterans, at-risk and special needs children to receive martial arts instruction and enjoy its mental and physical benefits. The foundation is looking at the possibility of expanding the program next year to serve the area’s senior citizens.

   “We were very surprised, especially after hearing who else was under consideration,” Liz said. “We’re in very good company.”