Page 4 - OCT 2024

Page 4
Community
By Donna rhoDes
BRISTOL – On August 24, Bristol’s Old Home Day began with special acknowledgments of two community members who have made the Newfound Area a very special and safe place to live and raise a family.
Heading up the first recog- nition at the pavilion in Kelley Park last Saturday morning was Annie Learner of the Bris- tol Events Committee. She was pleased to announce that the an- nual Community Spirit Award for 2024 was being bestowed upon an individual who gives freely of their time and talents, approaches community service with an open mind, and steps in to help wherever help is needed; someone who has strengthened the community and has provided inspiration to others.
“Please join me in congratu- lating this year’s nominee, Les (Leslie) Dion,” Learner said.
She then read a lengthy list of Dion’s contributions to the New-
NEWFOUNDLAKELIFE.COM October 2024
Bristol Old Home Day
Honoring Local Heroes and Celebrating Community Spirit
found Area. While Dion is well known as the Executive Director of Tapply-Thompson Commu- nity Center, her lengthy and im- pressive resume includes so much more.
Over the years, Dion has been involved with the Bristol Cham- ber of Commerce and the Kel- ley Park Commission. She was elected to the local school board, which she also chaired at one time, and has been a member of the Bristol Board of Selectmen.
However, Learned said, her service to the community doesn’t end there.
Dion has also been instrumen- tal in her contributions to the Community Events Committee, Old Home Day, Bristol Rotary, the Lions Club, and much more. There isn’t much that happens in the Newfound Region that Leslie Dion has not been a part of over the years, and that also includes her volunteerism in helping to make the internationally popu- lar New Hampshire Marathon, which will take place again this
Bristol Police Officer Nick Kelley and his K9 partner Arro listened as Rob Glassett, chair of the Bristol Board of Selectmen, paid tribute to their eight years of service as a vital and much loved resource in not only Bristol but the many surrounding communities. Photo by Donna Rhodes
change but is also someone who really wants to be at the forefront of that transformation.”
As Dion accepted the award, she couldn’t help but laugh over how, as a part of the committee selecting the annual honoree, her fellow committee members waited to discuss it at a time when she was not in attendance, telling her later that they had se- lected a different recipient.
“Well played,” she said with a sly smile.
Dion took a moment to ac- cept the award to acknowledge all who have worked alongside her throughout the years, putting together programs, fundraisers, activities and special events. She thanked each for their dedication and commitment to the team- work that makes things happen, concluding her thanks by humbly confessing, “The only reason I do all of this is because I don’t know how to say no.”
While Dion’s Community Spirit award was met with loud cheers and applause, Rob Glas-
year on Oct. 5, 2024, a success. Learned concluded by say- ing, “She’s just simply an amaz-
ing force in the community. She is someone who not only has the motivation to affect positive
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