Community awards reflect good works done in area

By Ginna Young

Many people who give their all in the place they live, don’t like recognition for what they do. However, the Cornell Area Betterment Association (CABA) Community-Leader Awards seek to recognize those efforts.

Through the Community-Leader Awards, in Cornell, Holcombe and the surrounding areas, community members nominate who they think is deserving of the awards, then CABA votes on those nominations.

Under CABA’s coordination, the awards are then presented at a banquet. This year’s event took place Nov. 11, at Eastbay Lodge in Holcombe, where award winners were honored for their work in the community.

Chosen as the 2021 New-Venture Venture of the Year, Rocque Ridge Guides and Outfitters in Holcombe, sells live bait, hunting, fishing and trapping supplies. Owner Tom Rocque, as well as his sister, Anna, also donates to community projects, supports veterans and gives of time at events.

“I got this crazy idea, probably less than a year ago, and to have come this far, has been really incredible,” said T. Rocque. “I couldn’t be happier to be here…to be welcomed by the community this way, it’s incredible.”

As the Business of the Year, Sam’s Place & Diner hosted carnival days and created an outdoor eating area to give people something to do during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Owners Sam and Flip Beighley also donate to community projects, and give food to responders when there’s a structure fire.

S. Beighley said they have great staff to help them every day, and that they couldn’t exist without the community support.

“We appreciate it,” said S. Beighley. Winning the Civic-Organization Organization of the Year, is the Lake Holcombe Lions Club, which was established in 1972. The club is active in fundraising for community projects, including scholarships and support for youth sports programs.

They also oversee a medical lending closet and were instrumental in getting a new building for the food pantry.

“We couldn’t do all this without the community supporting us,” said Lions president Rick Mitchell.

This year’s Volunteer of the Year, went to Ashley Carothers, for her many endeavors in the area. From serving meals when school is out, to dropping off gifts to cheer people, Carothers is always on call and looking for a way to help out those in need.

“I often get asked why I volunteer so much time to organizations,” said Carothers. “I truly believe that this is what people were meant to do. We were meant to love one another and do things for each other.”

Carothers says there have been times she’s emotionally and physically exhausted, but it wasn’t until an elementary school-aged child thanked her for their meal, that it hit her.

“I have a purpose,” said Carothers. “I always wonder if I did enough or if I made any kind of impact on someone’s life. I always hope that what I do will open the door to someone else wanting to volunteer to make a difference.”

Two names were at the forefront for Community-Leader Leader of the Year, and when a tie occurs, those two people receive the award.

One recipient, is Lake Holcombe School employee Shelley Lee, who coordinates Homecoming events, Veterans Day programs and ordering, stocking and scheduling of concessions stands for games. She also drives bus and heads ups many community events for youth fundraisers, making sure to hold fund drives for families who have lost a loved one or lost their home in a fire.

It’s standard to hear, ‘Ask Shelley, she’ll know.’ Those who nominated Lee, know how much she loves the area kids and takes time to be there for them.

Lee said she is very honored to be recognized, even if she doesn’t think it’s just a one-person thing.

“There are so many people that make all these things happen, so I don’t like to take away from them,” said Lee.

The other recipient, is Pat Sime, owner of Tom’s Sales & Service in Cornell, who quietly goes about his business, but donates to many fundraisers in the community and his church. Those who know him, knows he goes above and beyond, for his services to the elderly and disabled.

“I couldn’t do this without our family and all the nice people around here,” said Sime.

Although most of the CABA awards can be won multiple times, after a five-year timeline, the Legacy Award is a once-in-alifetime award, which went to Pat and Julie Kosher. The Koshers have dedicated their lives to service and invested themselves in the community.

P. Kosher served as a teacher in Cornell, among other leadership positions, while J. Kosher was an active member in the PTA and wrote the original Community-Leader Learning Centers grant to bring the after-school program to the area.

“It’s always been important to give back to community, in any way we can,” said P. Kosher.

CABA president Kristine Hemenway invited everyone to keep their eyes open and ears tuned for those they think should be nominated next year.

“We can all be a part of making this area that we call home, a better place,” she said. “We can work together, even if we do have different zip codes.”