Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — The Limestone Snow Hawks are solely responsible for the maintenance and grooming of 30 miles of the Interconnected Trail System and 15 miles of club trails; for their efforts the Greater Limestone Chamber of Commerce (GLCC) recognized the organization with the award of 2009 Citizen of the Year during the 68th annual Recognition Banquet sponsored by the GLCC and the Limestone Rotary Club on April 15 at the Loring Job Corps Center Ballroom.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
President of the Greater Limestone Chamber of Commerce Scott Caldwell, right, presents Phil St. Peter, president of the Limestone Snow Hawks, with the Citizen of the Year award. St. Peter received the award on behalf of the organization that last year spent approximately 200 hours grooming the Limestone snowmobile trails.
The club was praised for working excellently with landowners, reopening the Border Trail, and building community-connecting snowmobile bridges that allow for trails to be opened even before bodies of water freeze. The club also created a clubhouse and an additional building to house the trail groomer and other necessary equipment. The Limestone Snow Hawks currently have 22 members, nine of which are businesses.
Also receiving recognition during the banquet were Larry Tardy, Paul Haines, and Joan and Roger Thompson.
Joan and her brother Roger Thompson were the recipients of the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Award for their life-long commitment to business development in Limestone. Joan, the first female appointed as a “Mark Mainer” by Gov. Kenneth Curtis and the recipient of the 1986 Citizen of the Year Award, began her first Limestone business in 1953 and after a impressive series of businesses, decided to retire in November of 2009 and closed down her Bridge Street business.
Joan and Roger started working together in 1974 as co-owners of Thompson’s Value Market, and opened two new stores together (both called Thompson’s Yankee grocer) in 1985. One year later, they received the Associated Grocer of Maine Outstanding Retailer of the Year award.
1970 founder of Haines Insurance Agency in Limestone, Paul Haines received the Business of the Year Award. Haines was previously awarded the 1979 Outstanding Citizen Award by the GLCC and was deemed an honorary citizen of Limestone 1979 by the Limestone Board of Selectpeople.
Larry Tardy received the 2009 Volunteer of the Year award for his extensive involvement with the Robert Frost Memorial Library. Because of budget cuts, the Limestone library had to drastically reduce the expansion project. One facet of the library project that was cut was $18,882 for the interior painting. Tardy, a newly appointed library trustee at the time, volunteered his time to paint the entire interior of the library even after breaking his knee while hunting this past fall.
Approximately 80 people attended the banquet.
Larry Tardy, center, was recognized by the Greater Limestone Chamber of Commerce (GLCC) as the 2009 Volunteer of the Year. Present for the award presentation included Scott Caldwell, GLCC president; Rea Caldwell, Limestone librarian; Joe Lapierre, GLCC vice president; and Donna Bernier, Limestone town manager.
Founder of Haines Insurance of Limestone, now United Insurance Haines Agency of Caribou, Paul Haines, center, received the distinction of Business of the Year from the Greater Limestone Chamber of Commerce. Employees celebrating the award were Kris Collier, account manager; Billi Blanchard, account manager; Marilyn Gardner, account manager; founder Paul Haines; Chris Berube, account manager; Penny Johnston, account manager; and E.J. Dorsey, manager.
