During each Spring since 1977, the Friends of the Hamden Library and the Hamden Library Board have recognized several "Hamden Notables" for their distinguished volunteer service to the community. The Hamden Notables Committee has selected seven outstanding Hamden residents to receive the Hamden Notables Awards for 2007. They are: Helen Blitzer, Robert E. Johnson, Commander Fred McCarthy, Kelly McCarthy, Craig and Mary Reynolds, and Gail Traester.
A brief summary of the honorees' accomplishments follows:
Helen Blitzer makes a difference in the lives of elders and is a "cheerleader" for elders in our community; not only does she write the Senior Spotlight column in the Hamden Chronicle, but she entertains at nursing homes, playing guitar and piano and conducting sing-alongs and taking her puppets along for added entertainment. Ms. Blitzer is also a volunteer "ombudsman" for many seniors, writing letter for individuals to various organizations to obtain services for them.
Robert E. Johnson, now in his 90's, had a distinguished career as a swimming coach and volunteer water safety instructor; he organized and conducted the Water Safety Program at the very active Hamden branch of the South Central CT Chapter of the American Red Cross. Mr. Johnson was Chairman of the Hamden Board of Education's Transportation Committee from 1950-52, and was instrumental in the building of Ridge Hill, Shepard Glen, and Dunbar Hill Elementary Schools.
Commander Fred McCarthy, is a tireless advocate for veterans in the Hamden community, driving them to medical appointments, helping them get the benefits they deserve, and working with the State Legislature on bills protecting their rights. A former Vice Chair of the Hamden Veterans' Commission, he serves as Associate Vice Commander of the 2nd District American Legion. He recently became the driving force to bring a portable replica of the Vietnam Veterans' Memorial on the Mall in Washington, DC to Hamden this June.
Kelly McCarthy is in her second year serving as Chair and her fourth year as a member of Hamden's Clean & Green Commission, where she's been busy organizing quarterly clean-ups, writing and implementing grant applications, and designing and producing educational materials such as Integrated Pest Management brochures; Kelly also serves on the Steering Committee of the Hamden Alliance for Responsible Taxation (HART), and has been active in the Whitneyville Civic Association, where she chairs the Traffic Committee.
Craig and Mary Reynolds worked together with numerous individuals, businesses, and organizations, all volunteers, to rebuild a home (everything but the foundation) recently for a Hamden family that had fallen on hard times financially and health-wise. This took many months of planning and then the actual construction took over one year. During that time, Mary Reynolds gave the family a place to stay and provided refreshments to the workers involved.
Gail Traester has been involved and remains active in many volunteer activities in Hamden, including the West Woods School Library and the Hamden High School After Prom Committee; she was also active with the Hamden Cub Scouts. She and her family are very involved in the Friends of Brooksvale Park organization and their various public functions. Ms. Traester continually monitors proposed land usage changes in Northern Hamden. She was instrumental in seeing that the recent gravel pit proposal was defeated.
These outstanding Hamden Notables for 2007 will be honored in a ceremony at Thornton Wilder Auditorium in the Miller Library and Cultural Center on Thursday, May 3, 2007 at 7:30 PM. A reception hosted by the Friends of the Hamden Library will follow, and all are invited to join the celebration and learn more about the accomplishments of these honorees who give so generously of their time and energy to enhance the quality of life for all in Hamden.