NORTH FORK – Nearly 200 people gathered at the North Fork Town Hall on Saturday evening, Feb. 1, to honor the community’s new Citizen of the Year.
Mark Logee, retired Director of the Chawanakee School District Maintenance, Building and Transportation department, was chosen by a vote of those who have held the position in the past.
Logee, who has been nominated in previous years, accepted the award from last year’s honoree Hansel Kern, and District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler.
Logee was recruited for his position with the school district by then Chawanakee School Board Member Tom Wheeler some 21 years ago, and said he has never regretted the decision to move to North Fork.
“I moved here from San Diego 21 years ago, but I grew up in East Woodstock, Connecticut,” said Logee. “You may think North Fork is small, but my hometown makes this place look like Gotham.”
The new head citizen also noted that he was not alone in accepting this honor.
“Hansel knows. You’ve got your whole family behind you, and for me it’s my best friend and partner Kathy,” he said.
As for Hansel and his family, they were all busy in the kitchen preparing a feast of farm-fresh food for all the guests who attended the evening’s festivities. It is, in fact, one of the responsibilities of the winner to orchestrate the dinner for next year’s event. Mark was already concerned about living up to expectations in that regard, after the fantastic spread laid out by the Kern family.
Other nominees for Citizen of the Year were Roger Robinette, Janet Wheeler, Dave and Donna Fisher, Zelda Whitener, and late entries Richard & Jenny Pearson.
Those who nominate their favorite community members remain anonymous, but here is what the winning submission had to say about Mark Logee:
“Mark has served the past 13 years at the Logger’s Jamboree gate, has been the announcer at this event and has volunteered numerous hours doing maintenance on Town Hall and the Recreation Center. Mark has worked the Jamboree 4th of July Parade for more years then he would want to count, collecting the parade applications, lining up the contestants, providing the entries a number for the judges, making up a history of the entries for the announcers and in general putting on a great parade.
He has supported most of the local organizations and events by buying tickets and crafts, supporting the Fire Dept. Auxiliary B.B.Q., Mono Museum Thanksgiving Dinner, the Chili Cook Off; and pancake breakfasts, just to name a few.
Mark has been known to prepare the grounds at Town Hall for the Women’s Club Fall Festival Yard and Craft Sales without being asked. His friendly attitude, jolly personality, helpful ways, giving spirit, and countless hours of volunteer work help our community to be a better place.”
Providing the soundtrack for the evening was local favorite “Good Medicine,” and dinner was topped off with desserts from Juliet Thrapp’s Wildflour Cottage Bakery, served up by mom Roz.
Raffle prizes were provided by Jen McMillan, new owner of Old Town (renamed Bandit Town) and local realtor Janet Wheeler.
The event, including the no-host bar, was sponsored by the North Fork Boosters.
Couldn’t imagine a better person to be honored as citizen of the year!