Pillars of the community feted through awards

By Ginna Young

Each year, the Cornell Area Betterment Association (CABA) asks for help from residents, to express their opinions on who they think should be recognized for making the Cornell and Holcombe communities a good place to call home. Anyone can submit a nomination form about an individual, business or organization, who goes above and beyond to help their community.

The nominations are then tabulated and voted on by CABA members, with awards presented at a dinner. This year, the awards dinner took place March 26, at Sam’s Place in Cornell.

For the sixth year in a row, nominations poured in, showing that people notice what takes place, many times, behind the scenes. Because of the efforts put in, the two communities are a great place to live, filled with great people.

New Venture of the Year

Laurel’s Little Lions

Laurel Normand first began working in the nursing field, but her true passion was working with animals, so she had an opportunity and became a dog groomer, eventually starting her own business, first in Cadott, and now in Cornell. As part of that, she works with Saving Grace Animal Rescue, to give animals a second chance at life.

Her other passion is making the community a better place for everyone and promoting it whenever she can.

“I’m just hoping we can all kind of work together to build up Cornell, because I have big plans…I’d like for everybody to rise up, too,” said Normand.

Business of the Year

Chippewa Valley Mechanical

As a family-owned company, Chippewa Valley Mechanical aims to be the go-to choice for all HVAC needs. It employs all locals, who work hard at all times, to ensure no one has to wait for heating or cooling.

With the management’s families living in the area for over 100 years, they know the value of taking good care of customers.

“It’s something that we can hopefully continue to do,” said Travis Tainter, “and serve the local communities and surrounding communities, for sure.”

Volunteer of the Year

Gretchen Grape

Grape is not always at the forefront of each event in the community, but if you look close, you’ll probably spot her, as she quietly gives of her time, helping where needed. Whenever someone is planning something, she volunteers her time to make sure it goes off without a hitch.

Perhaps her biggest project, was collecting plastic film wrap for recycling, which earns benches to place somewhere in the community. Although it was a huge undertaking, until she recently passed it off to another organization, Grape doesn’t regret it.

“It was a well-worthwhile project,” she said.

Civic Organization of the Year

Support the Troops

As part of the Cornell and Lake Holcombe Camaraderie Club, the Support the Troops project passes on the blessing of a bit of home, by mailing out care packages overseas. Bi-monthly, the group packs up chips, nuts, magazines, jerky and other things, then sends to deployed soldiers with ties to the area.

As mailing and provision costs continue to rise, the group is grateful for funding coming in from their annual thrift sale each summer.

“It’s a big financial thing, but we love doing it, we’re not going to stop,” said Camaraderie Club leader Kristine Hemenway.

Community Leader of the Year

Lisa Martino

Anyone who knows Lisa Martino, can see the love she has for her hometown in everything she does. Whether it’s attending community events, or going above and beyond for her customers at Lisa’s Beauty Salon, Martino is a shining example of what small town living looks like.

“I’ve always been taught, treat people the way you want to be treated and that’s something that I live by,” she said.

Legacy Award

Gerald “Pork” and Mary Roth

As lifelong residents, committed to service, the Roths are part of the fabric that binds the community together, in the past and looking toward the future, all while raising their family, that continues to branch out.

For Pork, he’s served on the fire department and ambulance squad, on-call (when not a snowbird), and was a huge asset to the gun range and with hunter’s safety. However, it’s not just about what the couple has done, as Pork well knows.

“…We would never have been able to it without the support of so many people,” he said.

As for Mary, she was involved in the conception and construction of the Mill Yard Park area, as well as her now tireless efforts at the Cornell Cemetery, in honor of her father, who was the caretaker there for 40 years.

“Having lived in Cornell our entire lives, we felt we just did what needed to be done for the good of the community,” she said.