 |
| Aroostook Republican photo/Barb Scott Doug Hunter, owner of Lancaster/Morgan Funeral Home was the recipient of the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award, presented by Caribou resident Barbara Souther. The award was made during the May 4 annual chamber recognition and awards dinner held at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center. |
By Barbara Scott
Staff Writer
The annual dinner and awards evening, sponsored by the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce was held at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center on May 4, at which time several community members and business owners were recognized for their strong commitment and services to the city of Caribou and its citizens.
Receiving the Citizen of the Year Award was Douglas Hunter, owner of Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home.
Barbara Souther (speaking in proxy for her daughter Bethany Zell, who nominated Hunter for the award), stated, “The funeral business is often overlooked because people may not often think about the grace and love that is required in helping people deal with the death and loss of a loved one. Doug is so perfectly fit for this line of work because of his great compassion for people.”
“As a citizen I have seen Doug plow driveways and carry groceries for neighbors, help people move, lend out cars to people and help jumpstart vehicles. He says that he will pray for you, I have not a single doubt that he does. He is unafraid to be a testimony of his faith in this small community that so desperately needs it. His love for God is contagious. He is willing to go to any length to share his love of God with others. It has even taken him to foreign countries as a missionary.”
 |
| Aroostook Republican photo/ Barb Scott Recognized for their relentless volunteer services in maintaining local snowmobile trails, Marvin Hedstrom, left, and Dwight Stickles were honored with the Spirit of Caribou Award during the May 4 annual dinner and awards evening, sponsored by the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce. Kathy Mazzuchelli presented the award. |
 |
| Aroostook Republican photo/ Barb Scott Peggy Smith presented the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Caribou Award to Rob Kieffer at the annual dinner and recognition event held on May 4 at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center. |
 |
| Aroostook Republican photo/ Barb Scott Carol Pierson, right, was honored with the Caribou Area Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Achievement Award presented by Kathryn Olmstead during the May 4 annual dinner and recognition event. |
“In general, people aren’t knocking down doors to specialize in mortuary science,” stated Souther, “it is most definitely a calling that God has placed on Doug’s life and you can see it in how perfectly he handles every detail of the funeral preparation. The creation of his monthly biblical grief seminars shows how much he cares for the people in our community and those that he serves.
“As a father, he is role model, not only for his twin boys, Caleb and David, but for the other kids in our neighborhood. Friendly and outgoing with everyone, Doug truly embodies the spirit of Caribou in the way that he is humble and giving,” said Souther. “He would do anything in his power to help another person. Isn’t that what this town needs — role models of outstanding citizenship for our young people to emulate?”
Spirit of Caribou Award — Rob Kieffer
Rob Kieffer, one of three recipients of the Spirit of Caribou Award has been a longtime active community member.
Described as an individual who has attracted and grabbed the attention of area youth, making them life-long skiing enthusiasts, Kieffer recently retired as the Caribou Middle School ski coach, a position he held for 10 years, sending them on to be successful state champions for the Caribou High School. During his tenure as coach the program saw an increase of members grow from approximately 12 skiers to the more than 60 who participated this past year.
Kieffer is a two-time past president of the Cary Medical Center Board, past president of the Caribou Rotary, past president of the Northern Skiers Club, and has served as president of the Caribou Athletic Boosters Organization since 2009. President/Owner of Kieffer Insurance and partner in Re/Max Central Real Estate, Kieffer has been a registered Maine Master Guide since 1980, and his community involvement and volunteer activities have and continue to include participation on numerous school/community and recreation committees.
Kieffer and his wife Lehrle, have been married for 32 years and have three grown children.
Also receiving the Spirit of Caribou award were Dwight Stickles and Marvin Hedstrom. Kathy Mazzuchelli, who nominated the pair for the award, stated she had known both Stickles and Hedstrom for 35 years via Caribou’s snowmobile trail program. They have served all that time on the Caribou Snowmobile Advisory Committee, guiding the growth of snowmobiling in Caribou, preserving and enhancing the city’s reputation as the hub of snowmobiling in Aroostook.
“For nearly five decades these two gentlemen have done everything from organizing events to grooming trails to making literally thousands of field markers to place on hundreds of miles of trail to ensure snowmobilers safety,” stated Mazzuchelli. “They have worked tirelessly on behalf of Caribou for nothing more than a simple thank you at the end of the season.”
“Now in their 70s, these two gentlemen continue to play an integral role in the success of the snowmobile program in Caribou,” said Mazzuchelli. “Never missing a beat, they are at meetings and of course on the trail and in the shop volunteering to make Caribou’s program one of the best around,” she added.
“This community service over the years has been outstanding and I believe they deserve to be recognized for their contributions. They are very humble and virtually hate any recognition, but in all honesty, if anyone deserves this award, it is these two gentlemen,” said Mazzuchelli.
Carol Pierson was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award by Kathryn Olmstead who described Pierson by stating, “It’s not only because she serves the people of this city in so many ways, but also because of the manner in which she serves.”
Olmstead, speaking on behalf of an entire group who had nominated Pierson for the award stated, “Carol takes enormous delight in making other people happy and in helping them live more fulfilling lives. It is her spirit that makes her contribution exemplary — the spirit of Carol.”
“Carol, with her late husband High, has parented 16 foster sons and is still in contact with many of them,” said Olmstead. “To this day, she is encouraging them to see their own worth in the world, guidance unknown to many foster children,” she added.
“Carol not only teaches math at Caribou High School, but offers private tutoring after school, often bartering her services for tasks the kids or their parents can perform, often tasks that help her maintain her home,” Olmstead said, “it is clear when she talks about tutoring that she blends “life skills” with academic guidance, making the lessons relevant to the student’s life.” “Carol is a tutor to the whole child. She doesn’t see them as kids who aren’t doing well in school, but as individuals worthy of her warm respect, the kind regard often reserved only for adults in our society,” she added.
Among the many volunteer services Pierson provides including being the pianist for the Unitarian/Universalist church services as well as at the Lancaster-Morgan Funeral Home (owned by her son Doug Hunter) she is also a strong animal advocate, an Upward Bound volunteer and is secretary of the Caribou Chapter of the American Association of University Women.
“Carol is a tireless manager of cheerleader for the Unitarian/Universalist Thrift Shop,” said Olmstead, “luring volunteer helpers with regular e-mails about the wonderful bargains available to those with a few hours to sort, price or tend the store. No guilt trips in Carol’s messages — they are all about the fun you’ll be missing if you can’t make it.”
“Carol is always willing to lend a hand, from filling in as a clerk at Second hand Rose to making an anonymous donation to help a woman battling cancer overcome financial difficulties,” said Olmstead. “As one friend observed, ‘Carol shies away from any recognition of her generosity. It’s not about Carol, it’s about a woman’s medical struggle, it’s about kids who the state doesn’t want to deal with, it’s about the kid who needs someone to say I know you can do this and most important — let me help you.’”
