HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton Lodge of Elks was the setting for the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce’s annual dinner and awards ceremony. Each year individuals as well as an organization and a business are selected to receive these coveted awards; awards that have been nominated by one’s peers.
Hostess for the evening was Jane Torres, executive director of the chamber, with a special welcome to those in attendance by Outgoing President Ben Adams.
This year’s awards were presented to the following: Terry Wade of Monticello, Lifetime Achievement Award; Lori Weston of Houlton, Community Spirit Award; Katahdin Trust Company, Business of the Year and Houlton Masonic Lodge 96, Community Service Award.
Torres and volunteers from the Chamber board along with Ernie and Lynn Wheeler of Bangor transformed the first floor of the Elks Lodge into an elegant dining experience with shades of blue, white and silver accents. The tables were covered with navy and white designed tablecloths and white covered chairs. Daniels Florist provided the centerpieces. Decorative lighted paper lanterns filled the area above the tables and in the hallways to set the scene for the occasion. Several Houlton High School seniors served as waiters and waitresses to earn money from tips for Project Graduation. Music was provided during the social hour by David Wells and Jonathan Goodine. Anne Callnan, Jane Torres, Jimmy Lincoln and their crew catered the event.
Wade, the head of the selectmen for his community is president of the Southern Aroostook Development Corporation and a consultant for Smith and Wesson where he was the plant supervisor for more than 35 years.
Upon accepting the award he noted how as a young man growing up in Aroostook County he was influenced by the people around him, especially his parents. They instilled in him that life was a team effort and hard work paid off. He worked on local farms as a kid and his first real job was a long haul truck driver for a neighboring farmer.
After a few years on the road he joined the Smith and Wesson Company, which at the time was housed in part of Barlock’s Auto Body Garage on the Bangor Road. That was back in 1972. Wade was 28 at the time. John T. Fitzpatrick managed the business here and he and Wade developed a close relationship.
Wade said, “John was my mentor. He taught me the need to always stay positive, to respond to an anticipated project with enthusiasm and then figure out how to get it done.”
In 1979, the plant expanded and moved to the Industrial Park at the Houlton Airport. Wade was promoted to plant superintendent and responsible for the daily operations on the production floor. When Fitzpatrick passed away unexpectedly, Wade was selected to fill his position.
Wade was well experienced, since he had started out on the floor working on locks and handcuffs as a 28-year-old. He could break down and fix any machine in the plant along with managing a crew and promoting the business.
Upon his retirement, he was quoted as saying, “I can never remember a day here at work when I looked at the clock and wondered when I was going home.”
Over the years, Wade has been very generous in supporting a variety of local fundraisers and organizations. He has been an annual fixture at the Wellington School Valentine Social and Dessert Auctions, the County Open, local car shows and hospital events, a lways giving back to the community.
Wade retired from Smith & Wesson in 2010. He and his wife, Karen enjoy wintering in Florida now, but made a special trip back to Houlton to attend the Chamber event.
Community Development Director, Lori Weston received the Community Spirit Award. Weston also spent her young life in Monticello before moving to Houlton in third grade. She graduated from Houlton High School in 1975. Just after high school Weston married her husband, Jimmy and worked in social services while continuing her education.
She has been involved with Special Olympics, the Houlton Agricultural Fair and the Salvation Army. Weston and her husband managed the Irving Oil home heating business for several years. After its closing, Weston managed a retail store and then took on the directorship of the Houlton Chamber of Commerce until she was named to her current position.
Weston is vice president of the Houlton Rotary Club and the Community Market. She is a director on the boards of Community Living Association, Aroostook County Tourism and the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce. Weston is also an advisor for the Maine Community Foundation and an ex-officio member of the Pine Tree Division of the American Red Cross and Southern Aroostook Development Corporation.
“Brought up saying, ‘if you don’t do it, who will’ engrained in her being, Weston learned at an early age that life is really about making every encounter special and that just one pair of extra hands does make a difference and that paying it forward transforms who we are and who we can be.”
Weston has been labeled a cheerleader for the greater Houlton community and the Community Spirit Award is very fitting for the enthusiasm she has generated for the community. As director of the Houlton Chamber of Commerce she was a catalyst in promoting a multitude of events centering around Houlton.
Bruce Folsom, past master of the Houlton Lodge of Masons accepted the Community Service Award on behalf of the members of Lodge 96. The Masons have been devoted to donating time and energy to the community in which they live and work.
One of their major interests is the Community Betterment Program. Members do a variety of projects which have included, painting the pool at the Just For Kids playground, painting and varnishing at the Gentle Memorial Building and placing signs by local brooks, streams and rivers. Each of the signs gives the meaning of the name attributed to each waterway.
Another project they sponsor is the statewide child identification program. This provides parents with the best possible tools to share with the police if their child should ever go missing. They also provide bikes for students from Monticello to Dyer Brook who participate in the “Bikes for Books” reading program. This year 30 students will have a new bike to ride if their name is selected from a drawing held at local schools.
Another popular project at Christmas is for the senior citizens. Members deliver food baskets to their retired members who have limited ability to attend meetings. This is especially appreciated by many elderly who may be alone during the holidays.
According to the Masonic literature, the Masonic organization is one of the oldest secular fraternal societies in the United States. It is a society of men concerned with moral and spiritual values. Its members are taught the precepts by a series of ritual dramas which follow ancient forms and use stonemasons’ customs and tools as allegorical guides. Or to put it simply, “We make good men better.”
Following the dinner and awards, the Chamber held their annual auction. A variety of items including clothing, gift certificates, tickets and services were donated by area businesses and individuals. The auction brought in several thousand dollars to be used for a variety of projects throughout the year.
As Adams concluded his presidency he welcomed Susan McAfee as the incoming president and announced that the Chamber would be taking on the annual Meduxnekeag Canoe Race in May and the first annual Wings and Wheels Fly In/Cruise in June. This will give the organization a special event for every month except December.
Torres and her committee were thrilled with the event. She said that without the collaborative effort of many volunteers and businesses it would not have been the success it was.
See Section B of the Houlton Pioneer Times for Business of the Year story and photos.
