Fitchburg man named Citizen of the Year.

COLUMN: NEIGHBORS

The Mount Wachusett Community College Foundation will honor Fitchburg businessman J. Paul Gauvin as the 2009 Harold E. Drake Jr. Citizen of the Year at its annual Foundation Dinner on Nov. 4 at the Colonial Hotel, Gardner.

"I'm very humbled and proud to be considered for this prestigious award," Mr. Gauvin said. "Community service has been a big part of my life. I really was inspired by my father, who was involved in a lot of charitable giving. It's inspiring to help other people. By getting involved, I've had the opportunity to try to make a positive change in our community."

Mr. Gauvin is the president of Henri Enterprises, a business started by his father, Henry J. Gauvin, in 1950 that now comprises the Henri School of Hair Design and W.S. Beauty Supply, a wholesale beauty supply distributor for licensed professionals, serving customers throughout New England. Mr. Gauvin joined the family business in 1972 after graduating from Nichols College.

This year will mark the 20th year Mr. Gauvin and his children have volunteered to deliver holiday dinners to seniors and shut-ins on Christmas morning through the Salvation Army's Meals on Wheels program. A member of the Montachusett Chapter of the Salvation Army for the past 20 years, he has served as chairman of the board of directors for the past 10 years. The main funding source of the program, the holiday kettle drive, raises $90,000 annually. The chapter also sponsors an annual auction on FATV and WPKZ 1280 to benefit the organization.

Mr. Gauvin also serves as chairman of the board of directors of the Center for Well-Being, and serves on the boards of the Crocker Field Restoration Committee, the North Central Chamber of Commerce, Workers' Credit Union and the Thayer Symphony Orchestra. He has been a member of the Rotary Club of Fitchburg for 35 years and has been honored as the Rotarian of the Year and Paul Harris Fellow award several times. He also serves on the finance committee of Sacred Heart Parish in West Fitchburg, where he is also a Eucharistic minister.

Mr. Gauvin and his wife, Patricia, live in Fitchburg. They have four grown children, Bryan, Alicia, Jonathan and Melissa, and their first grandchild is due in October.

The Harold E. Drake Jr. Citizen of the Year Award is presented in memory of Harold E. Drake, treasurer and former president of Royal Steam Heater Co. and Lynde Hardware & Supply, Inc. The award recognizes community members who exemplify Mr. Drake's extraordinary commitment to the North Central Massachusetts region.

Tickets to the Annual Foundation Dinner are $100. A social hour will begin at 5 p.m. followed by dinner at 6 p.m.

Reservations are required and may be made by calling Jessica Connors at [phone] or [e-mail].

Judy DeNault of Leominster has been enrolled in an Autism Spectrum Disorder Certificate program at Antioch University New England, Keene, N.H. Ms. DeNault, a speech language pathologist, earned her master's degree at Worcester State College.

YWCA/Battered Women's Resources in Leominster presented its Aralia Community Service Award to Dr. Bruce J. Man, a pediatrician with Medical Associates Pediatrics, at its annual fundraiser on Sept. 25 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Fitchburg.

The Aralia Award is given to a community member or agency that has made outstanding contributions to the victims of domestic violence. It is named after the Aralia plant, considered symbolic of battered women who find strength and courage to thrive when confronted with harsh environmental conditions and circumstances.

"The Aralia Award is very special and I was quite surprised to be selected to receive it this year. I am an avid supporter of BWR and all the phenomenal work that they do for the women most in need in our communities" said Dr. Man when he was notified about the award.

Dr. Man received his M.D. from the University of Miami in 1984 and a master's degree in medical management from Carnegie Mellon University/American College of Physician Executives in 2001. He has worked at Medical Associates Pediatrics in Leominster since 1992 and has held the position of both president and vice president. He lives in Lunenburg with his wife, Dr. Lynne Man, and two sons, Jarrett and Bryan.

Fidelity Bank recently hired Thomas R. Rossi as vice president, home loan specialist, financial designer. Mr. Rossi will serve Fidelity at its Fitchburg and Leominster office. He is a graduate of University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Mr. Rossi resides in Fitchburg with his wife, Julie.

Michael Carpenito, a 2006 Leominster High graduate entering his senior year at Salem State College, was named to the 2008-2009 Little East Conference and Massachusetts State College Athletic Conference All Academic Teams.

To earn a spot on the all-academic teams student-athletes must have a grade-point average of 3.2 and be a full-time member of a varsity team.

Mr. Carpenito has earned dean's list honors at Salem State while starting all three years at the longstick midfielder position. Brandon Cali, Mr. Carpenito's lacrosse teammate at Leominster and Salem State, was also named to both All-Academic Teams.

Bill Ward of Fitchburg was recently hired by the National Football League and assigned to its officiating scouting bureau. He is the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference Supervisor of Football Officials and responsible for game assignments for 90 colleges throughout the Northeast and Virginia.

Brenda L. Gagne of Leominster was the grand prize winner of a 2010 Toyota Prius in the Harr Motors Car Giveaway Sept. 12, sponsored by the Harr Motor Group and WXLO-FM. During June, July and August, customers who test-drove a vehicle were eligible to win a free car.

The grand prize was the winner's choice of a 2010 Toyota Prius or a 2009 Jeep Wrangler. Ms. Gagne said she will give the car to her sister, who had a heart attack a few years ago and does not have her own vehicle.

Brian and Linda Belliveau will open Fitchburg's first bed-and-breakfast, The Howarth House, 81 Ross St., with a wine and hors d'oeuvres reception from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 5. To RSVP, call [phone] or e-mail [e-mail].

Fitchburg State College English Professor Michael Hoberman has received a Fulbright Lecturing Award and will be teaching two courses next spring in the Netherlands.

Mr. Hoberman will teach at Utrecht University in the Netherlands from February through June 2010.

He will be on leave from Fitchburg State College during his Fulbright fellowship in Europe. At Utrecht University, most of his students will be Dutch but about 25 percent of them will be international.

The professor was on a leave of absence from the college last year, researching a book on Jews in colonial America, when the Fulbright opportunity became available.

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) Mr. Gauvin (2) Dr. Man (3) Mr. Rossi