Citizen, business of year honored this week

By Douglas Farmer
Turley Publications Staff Writer

REGION-More nominations were turned in to the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce (QHCC) this year for the annual “Citizen of the Year” recognition (15 in all) than ever before, said QHCC President Lenny Weake. Therefore, he hopes the community will respond in kind, turning out en masse for the awards ceremony and dinner to be held Saturday, April 24 at the Eagle Hill Cultural Center, 242 Old Petersham Road in Hardwick beginning at 4:30 p.m.
The event is sponsored by Chicopee Savings Bank and Eagle Hill.
In addition to the Citizen of the Year, the Business of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Long-Term Service Award winners will be announced that evening, as well as the $750 scholarship and $750 nonprofit grant. These awards were open to anyone in the Chamber towns of Belchertown, Brimfield, Brookfield, East Brookfield, Hardwick, Holland, Monson, New Braintree, North Brookfield, Palmer, Spencer, Wales, Ware, Warren and West Brookfield.
Weake and Patty Clark, QHCC director of member services, said that an anonymous committee of Chamber members had a difficult time whittling down the nominees, all of whom were deserving, to select a winner.
“I think the fact that so many people were nominated is an indication that this is really catching on,” said Weake. “We’re trying to make this in to a really grand affair, with lights, music and a presentation on stage, not to mention a great dinner, so we can make these people feel really special. And so the more people that turn out, the better they’ll feel about themselves and their community.”
Nomination forms submitted to the Chamber office in Palmer reflected on just how involved citizens can be – everything from setting up church dinners and organizing American Cancer Society Relay for Life fundraisers to visiting soldiers and the elderly and working to preserve community character. Businesses and volunteers were also recognized for going above and beyond their own interests to help others or inspire community spirit in a time of need.
So, who won? Weake and Clark aren’t telling – at least not until April 24.
“Some of the past winners are involved, but generally, we have the nominator handing the award to the nominee,” said Weake, who said winners will not only get their names inscribed on the plaque displayed at various Chamber events, but will also receive a handsome wooden case containing a small clock and plaque. “This will really be a feel-good evening.”
Nominees for Citizen of the Year included from Palmer, Robert and Trudy Canterbury, David Johnson and Peter Pappas; from Monson, Ken Hamel, Edward Harrison and Robert Presho; from Ware, Peter Harder, Cindy Moulton St. George and Debbie Rozzen; from Belchertown, Dawn Kresge, Clifford McCarthy, James Phaneuf, Annie Smith and Christine Shirtcliff; and from Warren, Patty LeBoeuf.
Nominees for Business of the Year included Alvin Rondeau’s Dairy Bar and E. Osterman Propane of Palmer and Ye Olde Tavern of West Brookfield. Volunteer of the Year nominees included Janice Hills of FamilyFirst Bank, Bill Mitchell of Business Communication Systems, Heather Opielowski of Opielowski Appraisals, Pathfinder Superintendent Gerald Paist, Julie Quink of J.M O’Brien & Co. PC, Shelly Regin of Country Bank for Savings, Bill Simonic of Yankee Cricket Bed & Breakfast, and Carolyn Szarlan of Monson Savings Bank.
Long Term Service Award nominations were also turned in for Kanzaki Papers, Sanderson MacLeod, Inc., Wing Memorial Hospital and Ware Cooperative Bank/FamilyFirst.
The cost to attend the April 24 event is $39, and reservations of tables of eight or more people can be requested. To register for the event, contact the Chamber at 413-283-2418 or look online at www.qhcc.biz.