Grafton Star Awards

2004 Community Citizen Award

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Jonathan and Katie Chaffee

 

The Jonathan and Katie Chaffee are well known in the Upper Valley and even beyond for their extensive involvement in the community.  They have 3 grown children who live outside of the area.

Presently, Katie works with Rehab Votech as a liaison to the high schools. Her ability to work with and assist people of all ages qualifies her to work with these young people efficiently. 

Jon is Manager of Lebanon Housing Authority from his office in Romano Circle in West Lebanon, where he leads a staff of nine people.   Like Katie, John is at ease with all ages.  Romano Circle is home to several low-income young families with dire needs and problems.   At Rogers House and The Towers in Lebanon and Maple Manor in West Lebanon, Jon’s presence is so prevalent that he is like a father figure.

Jon not only manages these different sites.  He makes each resident feel comfortable and important..  Jon is credited with:

  1. toting beds and other furniture to new residents who have no furniture or are in the process of getting them. 

  2. writing grants to buy kitchen units, pay for an exercise program at 3  facilities, the Visiting Nurse program etc.

  3. installing handrails in the stair wells

  4. installing new easy to clean  windows which make the apartments warmer

  5. bringing the fire company to train the residents proper instructions in case of fire or other emergencies.

  6. replacing outdated kitchens at Romano Circle

  7. installing a first class kitchen at Rogers House for serving of hearty meals for seniors

  8. installing convenient electrical outlets for safe TV and air conditioners

  9. installing high rise toilets for residents with handicaps  

  10. bringing physicians and other trained persons to meet with residents to give them instructions about taking prescribed medicines, and meeting other health issues.

  11. providing help with housekeeping problems for handicapped residents

  12. being open to ways to improve the living of his resident clients

13. attending other matters too numerous to mention

One can be certain that Katie is a steady contact and advisory person working not behind but beside her husband.  Much of their volunteering is never known beyond those receiving their benefits.

Under the umbrella of various Upper Valley charitable organizations, Jon and Katie have many more volunteer hats. This couple was instrumental in the founding of The Haven, a shelter, in Hartford, VT.  Folks who are recuperating from illness, fire, a broken home, job loss, death or loss of a main provider, etc. may seek shelter and other needs at The Haven.  The Haven also helps these people to find work, transportation and/or a place to live.

The Haven promotes programs to help people in meeting challenges of life.  Dick and Betty Abbott were welcomed there to teach people who had problems obeying the law, rearing children, and facing other problems of life there.  The Abbotts received free space including the kitchen and schoolroom to teach their program.  Katie Chaffee was employed by The Haven at that time and was instrumental in making space available for the Abbotts to teach the Thresholds & Decisions program. The Abbotts taught there for 3 years. 

The growing  needs of The Haven have brought about the present construction of a huge building next to the present building.  We are happy to say that Grafton Star Grange is a long time contributor to The Haven.

For a long time, the Chaffees gave many volunteer hours to Habitat for Humanity, which built several homes for low-income people in the Upper Valley.  This involved not only leadership, but, lots of elbow grease.  Jon also found time from his busy schedule to attend special Habitat For Humanity planning meetings and his suggestions were always worthy and well explained.

Together Katie and Jon managed a discount food store for low-income people in White River Jct. called  ‘The Food Station’.  Over and over, Jon drove his vehicle with a trailer attached transporting these discount groceries  to White River.  The Chafees worked hard and long hours to keep this store for needy people.

This couple founded the Holiday Basket program in the Norwich–Hartford area.  Presently  the Chaffees are volunteers at the community meals program on Wednesdays at the Methodist Church in White River Jct.  It was difficult for them to come tonight as they served these meals today.  However, Jon said it was an honor to come to our meeting and speak about Lebanon Housing Authority’s program and made an outstanding effort to be here.

Jon and Katie are typical Human Services workers who are so devoted that they could never be paid enough for their hard work.  This charming and loving couple finds extra time to attend special events at their facilities.  There they are lively participants in special gatherings. They are quick to get up and dance, sing along and/or sit and chat with the residents.  They are always there and the resident population relies on them night and day.  When a snag appears, Jon shares it with the residents and includes their suggestions for resolving the problem.  Jon and Katie are definitely part of the Lebanon Housing Authority family with a listening and interested ear.

The staff that works with Jon at Romano Circle is well selected and always ready to assist

him.  Dede Mackie is his right arm.  Donna takes all the pleasant and cranky phone calls cheerfully and finds answers.  Steve, works silently in the ranks doing whatever, whenever called upon.  The custodians, Dana, Mike, Jodi and Gary run to the aid of all of the residents with a smile.  The newest employee, Tim Conrad, is no exception.  This crew makes Lebanon Housing Authority an ideal all American Production.  All the staff is reliable and it is not surprising with a man of steel like Jon Chaffee as their trusted and firm leader.

Grafton Star Grange #60 is proud to present the 2004 Community Citizen Award to Jon and Katie Chaffee.  Their multiple friends would quickly agree that they both deserve much more. 

 

ORFORDVILLE GRANGER HONORED [By: Betty Abbott, Lecturer Grafton Star Grange #60]

Mr. James Hennigan, Hanover Center, born in 1851, was the original recipient of the Grafton star Grange # 60 cane. Since then it has been passed to the oldest living member of this Grange to hold for his/her lifetime.

The present holder of the cane is 98 year-old Theda Pease. Theda Pease and her husband past Master Glen Pease joined Wentworth Grange as teenagers. After they married they transferred to Mt. Cube Grange, Orfordville. When Mt. Cube closed, Theda, then widowed, transferred to Morning Star Grange, Lyme. When Morning Star Grange closed, she transferred to Grafton Star Grange.

Glen and Theda raised 4 children and were married 61 years when he passed away. They farmed the Orfordville Pease family homestead where Theda still lives with her son. When Dick Abbott and I presented her with the cane in February, we found her quilting. She has made countless quilts and has two in progress at this time. She makes them on the old peddle sewing machine that was in her family when she was a child.

Another talent of this lady is the ability to cook in quantity as well as in quality. She used to make hundreds of donuts for Gov. Thomson, her neighbor, whenever he had gatherings at his home. She baked for Grange sales and other town functions. Until her son stopped farming after his father’s death, Theda preserved fruits, vegetables, meats, butter, lard, etc. from crops and animals they raised on the family farm. She cooked all of these things on the same wood-burning stove that faces the black iron sink in her kitchen today. She says when she is gone they can modernize if they want. It is home to her this way.

Chatting again with Theda Pease, a long friend of this writer, was relaxing and invigorating. She is amazing and witty. Born and raised on Atwell Hill, between Wentworth and Orfordville, she is a walking history book of the area. She is always ready for adventure. While in her late 80’s she enjoyed her first airborne trip to visit her grandson in Germany for two weeks. She stayed for a month and toured several European countries before flying home. Turning 98 in April 2004, she says she feels wonderful and doesn’t use a cane.

Two hours with her spun by but were more fun and entertaining than four weeks of movies. Her contagious smile, as she followed us into the windy porch without a jacket when we left, still warms me. I suggested she might get chilled standing there and she informed me that she does that all the time. She said it was all in what one is used to that makes the difference. One difference I am certain Theda Pease won’t get used to using the Golden Age cane. To her, the cane is an article of honor not of use.

Other Awards

Also Edna Daniels received her 70th year membership seal.

Elizabeth Abbot received her 60 year membership seal.