Florece Montana rises @ 5:00 am, has a quickie breakfast and shower, then heads out to the Chelmsford Sr. Center to begin her day of volunteer service. Donning an apron and hat she starts out in the kitchen packaging meals for delivery to home-bound seniors by volunteer drivers for Meals on Wheels. When done, she enters the Center's Treasure Shop to spend the rest of her day sorting through newly donated items, pricing them for sale, often taking some home to launder and repair prior to sale, and overseeing at least one other volunteer each day. Florence is an octogenarian with enormous energy and commitment, is alway cheerful and a joy to behold, an independent and caring soul with a strong community spirit and all who spend time with her cannot but feel energized by her enthusiasm and lust for life.

I see so many people doing things every day to help out each other, It's tough to single out any of them. For me, a good place to start is to acknowledge all the folks that have supported the Chelmsford Dog Association-particularly the Board of Directors, the fundrasing committee, and everyone who has ever attended a meeting or event, and helped out at both. The list of names is very long-thank you to all of you! I'd also like to acknowledge the Tyngsboro Animal Control Officer and everyone who's stepped in while Erik, the Chelmsford ACO makes his recovery.

Paul Cohen and former Selectman Phil Eliopolous are doing wonders for the town. Between the two of them taxes are down, there is less traffic, everyone's quality of life is high, there is more open space than ever! Oh, wait...

I can't reccomend just one person. I have to respect to Sadie and the Sadie Council who have been handing out "Sadie Awards" in recognition of the everyday people who do extrodinary things! The Sadie Awards are a non profit organization who have been active in Chelmsford for over a year now. All costs to present the awards are footed by the council members and include the actual awards, photography and man power. While this new "Count us In partnership with Harvard Pilgrim is nice if the Patch really wanted to shedd light on the everyday heroes they would have teamed up with the Sadie awards and the other no corporate organizations like them across the state.