Citizen of the Year named
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
ARTWORK FOR AN ARTIST — A framed reproduction of local artist Lisa Desjardins’ work depicting downtown Presque Isle — a scene not far from the current home of Wintergreen Arts Center on State Street — was presented to Lara Cannon, at left, by Miles Williams, president of the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce, on Cannon’s being named the 2010 Citizen of the Year during the PIACC’s annual event, held Feb. 24. Cannon has been instrumental in recent years in expanding interest in artistic activities in the Star City.
PRESQUE ISLE — The 2010 Citizen of the Year award was presented to Lara Cannon, director of the Wintergreen Arts Center, during the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual event, held at the Crow’s Nest. Miles Williams, president of the PIACC, served as the evening’s emcee, explaining the reasons Cannon was nominated by Ginny Joles to receive the honor.
“The Presque Isle area owes a great debt to the recipient of the Citizen of the Year award,” said Williams, noting this year’s recipient is “a talented artist with a young family, who moved to Presque Isle and realized that there needed to be an opportunity for young and old to enjoy art and have opportunities for creative fun.”
Williams explained how, with the guidance of Cannon, Wintergreen Arts Center opened in 2006 at the Aroostook Centre Mall, “with the objective of providing artistic enjoyment and creative fun for children, teens and adults.”
Four years later, Wintergreen made its way downtown — a move made possible through Cannon’s determination to make art a part of the community.
“In 2010, after moving to a downtown location, Lara worked with the Presque Isle Parks and Recreation Department to develop an after-school program that offers an accessible, high-quality and affordable opportunity for children to learn and experiment with art and music,” he said.
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
LARA CANNON, at left, was the recipient of a legislative sentiment, presented by Rep. Mike Willette (R-Presque Isle) Feb. 24 at the Crow’s Nest, in recognition of being named the Presque Isle Area Chamber of Commerce’s 2010 Citizen of the Year.
Williams said Cannon has dedicated herself, and often her family, to the growth of the Wintergreen Arts Center.
“Her dedication and commitment has brought Presque Isle and all of Aroostook County a wonderful opportunity for people to participate in artistic activities, from classes to events such as the Artful Egg and Gingerbread House Festival,” said Williams. “We are pleased to present Lara Cannon with the 2010 Citizen of the Year Award, in recognition of her dedication to the arts and the Presque Isle area.”
