2011 - Sandown, New Hampshire

SANDOWN PRIDECitizen of the Year – Paula BoninPaula Bonin is this year’s Citizen of the Year. She received heraward early last Saturday at Old Home Days.A longtime volunteer working behind the scenes, Bonin said she justdoes what she knows. Her work follows in her parents’ footsteps – herfather has been Senior Citizen of the Year in Amesbury, Mass. – and inthose of her two daughters, as she became involved in many of hercurrent efforts by supporting them.Bonin was recognized by friends and co-volunteers alike with theaward. “Paula Bonin has quietly been serving the town of Sandown formany years. Her dedication to different organizations in thecommunity is exemplary, and she not only serves as a role model ofservice and dedication to her fellow citizens, but she is also a dedicatedwife, mother and friend,” Bonin’s nomination letter reads. Noted wereBonin’s efforts as a volunteer with the Friends of the Sandown PublicLibrary, where she is vice president; her role as a key player at theSandown Food Pantry; her work with youth in the Timberlane RegionalSchool District as they participate in DesiNation ImagiNation (DI); her athletic and volunteer accomplishmentsrepresenting Sandown as part of the Sandown Rogue Runners; and her all-around desire to help out wherevershe’s needed.“Just Say No’ does not exist in Paula Bonin’s vocabulary!” her nomination letter states.“She believes in being an educated citizen and knows that each person can make a difference. In any givendiscussion, it is clear that Paula loves and cares about Sandown, and she will always tell people that Sandownhas been good to her, so it is important for her to give back,” her nominators say.Bonin said her activities keep her quite busy, but that was a good thing. She added that all the activity wasworth it because she’s met “a lot of wonderful people” by helping out where and when she can.The Citizen of the Year was shocked when she found out from her friend and nomination spear header,Kathy Hamilton, that she was going to receive the award. And though she was a little nervous about having thespotlight on her during Old Home Days, all in all it was an enjoyable time, she said.She said she prefers to be in the background. “I don’t like to be in charge. Just give me a job and I’ll do it,”she said.Old Home Days wasn’t a time that saw her kicking back and enjoying the recognition. She was staying trueto her title by keeping busy Friday afternoon through Saturday afternoon supporting the Sandown Library, fromhelping to build its parade float to setting up its book sale. And she also helped organize and run the Sandown 5Miler.Bonin became involved with many of her pursuits through her kids. She was a soccer coach, madecostumes for the Timberlane Regional High School’s Theater Program, became involved with the food pantrybecause her daughters wanted to build community service resumes for school, and continues to coach DI teamsbecause she’s so impressed with what the program brings to the kids who take part. Both her daughters are nownurses after completing their college educations and Bonin said DI was instrumental in their lives.“I feel that the program benefited them so much,” she said. Bonin added that as a parent, it gave her muchpeace of mind to be involved with her kids’ lives.The one thing she does for herself? Running long distances. She said she loves running and the friends she’smet through it. As a Rogue Runner, she’s competed in the Boston Marathon, New York City Marathon, MarineCorps Marathon and many other full and half marathons, and she’s been part of the Rogue Runners Reach theBeach Relay team for the last 10 years.While Citizen of the Year joked that she probably needs to learn how to say no, for the time being she’shelping out wherever she can.“So you’ve finally landed,” her husband often says to her when she comes home at the end of a day. Butmany in her community are thankful for how busy she is.Photo and Article courtesy of Tri-Town Times51