The Antrim Grange presented their annual Community Awards to four Antrim residents who have gone above and beyond to serve their town, their community and their fellow residents Wednesday night at the Antrim Town Hall.
First honored was Great Brook Middle School science teacher Siobhan LeClerc. LeClerc’s colleague, Patrick Cogan, presented the award along with Arthur and Beth Merrill and Gloria Davis of the Antrim Grange.
“I met Siobhan 15 years ago, and from that very first day, one thing was abundantly clear to me: her heart belonged to her students,” Cogan said. “For 24 years, Siobhan has poured her time, energy, and love into the Great Brook community, whether she is volunteering for rollerskating events, NHDI, chaperoning school dances, guiding student leadership events, or capturing memories for the yearbook. She is always there and giving it her all. Siobhan is the logistical wizard who runs every school assembly, making sure every event runs perfectly. She still shows up every single day with the exact same positive energy and radiant smile, which has inspired a generation of students.”
Several friends and co-workers from Great Brook School spoke on behalf of LeClerc.
Colleague Cassie Anderson said that LeClerc is “enthusiastic, kind, caring, hardworking, devoted, talented, persevering, determined, fun, and genuine.”
“I grew up in Antrim, and I just love giving back to the community and to my students,” LeClerc said.
Next honored was recently retired Town Clerk Diane Chauncey. Arthur Merrill, who has served as Antrim’s Town Moderator for 14 years, spoke about Chauncey’s long service to the town of Antrim.
“It was a pleasure working with you all those years, through all those elections,” Merrill said.
Merrill praised Chauncey’s “energy, persistence, and ability to solve problems.”
“Diane, for your many years of exemplary problem-solving and dedicated service to the Town of Antrim, as both town clerk and tax collector, we present you with this award, and we include a quote: Most people spend more time and energy going around problems than trying to solve them. That was not you,” Arthur Merrill said.
Former Town Administrator Donna Hansen, who worked with Chauncey for decades in the town offices, said she and Chauncey had been “best friends from day one, and have remained so to this day.”
The final volunteers honored were Bill and Helene Newbold.
“Every year, we receive suggestions for Citizens of the Year, but this time, we came up with it ourselves,” Beth Merrill said. “It seemed like every time I turned around last year, whatever I was participating in, there was Helene, doing the real work.”
In her role as chair of the Antrim Community Board, Newbold helped organize the Garden Club of Antrim and spearheaded the efforts to donate the Brown Church to the Antrim Historical Society. The Newbolds have been members of the Antrim Presbyterian Church for over 40 years, where Helene has served many roles, including Treasurer.
“Sometimes we say, should we give it to the couple? Or just the volunteer? And this year, we decided to give the award to both Bill and Helene Newbold for their many contributions to the community,” Beth Merrill said.
Many residents mentioned Helene Newbold’s role in helping the Antrim Historical Society acquire the historic “Brown Church.”
“I’ve worked with Helene on multiple projects, and it is amazing to see the amount of foresight, energy, and leadership Helen brings to everything she does,” said George Caughey.
Select Board member Bob Edwards spoke on behalf of the Newbolds’ long service to the Antrim Presbyterian Church.
“Helene gave her math skills, and she helped balance the books, and Bill has been the guy we could rely on with handyman skills to take care of the church. We are very grateful for their service all these years,” Edwards said.
Helene Newbold became teary-eyed as she accepted the award on behalf of herself and her husband.
“We just love this community,” she said. “This is why we live here.”
The Antrim Grange, founded in 1785, is one of the oldest chapters of the Grange in the United States. For more information, go to the Grange website, grange.org/antrimnh98 or the Antrim Grange #98 Facebook page.