Mom wins makeover
Daughter's letter of appreciation wins over judges

PAMPERING MOM- 10-year-old Tina Tagliaferri, left, watches as her mom, Maria Tagliaferri, is treated to a recent haircut and styling by Stacy Hinkle of Willem Hair Designs at the Las Posas Plaza in Camarillo. Tagliaferri was named Mother of the Year by the plaza's merchants association thanks to Tina's winning essay about her mom and why she deserved the award. Tagliaferri also has a son, Anthony, 8. The family lives in Camarillo.

For 25 years, the Las Posas Plaza merchants have sponsored the Camarillo Mother of the Year Awards- an event which brings the families, schools and Camarillo community together.

Local elementary school students write letters telling why their mother should be the next Camarillo Mother of the Year.

The merchants select one child's letter to win the award and several other runnerup letters are chosen to be sponsored by the plaza's merchants.

Maria Ta g l i a f e r r i , the 2007 Mother of the Year, was nominated by her daughter Tina Tagliaferri.

Tina said her mother "deserves to be Camarillo Mother of the Year because . . . she makes a difference every day."

Tagliaferri spent a day being pampered at the Las Posas Plaza. Willem Hair Design's Stacy Hinkle gave Tagliaferri a new hairstyle. Hair & Body Essentials treated Tagliaferri to a pedicure, manicure and facial. The owners of Sassy's Boutique gave Tagliaferri a new dress, including alterations.

On Mother's Day, the Tagliaferri family will be taken by limousine to the Spanish Hills Country Club for brunch. The day will also include other gifts from the plaza's merchants.

In honor of the 25th anniversary of this event, the merchants association will host an awards ceremony at 11 a.m. Sat., May 12 at the Las Posas Plaza.

Tagliaferri will arrive by limousine to be recognized and receive her gifts. Tina and her teacher will also be honored for their participation and receive gifts.

In addition, each of the students who wrote runnerup letters, along with their teachers, will receive gifts from the sponsoring merchants.