Rotary Honors Everyday Heroes
By Sally Applegate/ Correspondent
Thursday, June 23, 2005
They're the people you overlook every day as they quietly serve their communities. The Greater Georgetown Rotary Club decided to honor them at this year's Rotary Roundup, held at the Perley School playground on a pleasant Sunday afternoon. It turned out to be an ideal venue for the event.
The large concrete parking area behind the school filled with fire engines and the large traveling SAFE house that fills with fake smoke as firefighters show children how to escape during a fire. As children played on Perley's nearby playground equipment, they could also hear the voice of Sparky the Firedog broadcasting hints on escaping a house fire.
There was plenty of room on the playground for the Essex County Sheriff's Department's police dogs to put on an obedience and attack demonstration, and lots of convenient trees for them at the far end of the playground's sports fields.
Several large canopies shielded picnic tables from the possibility of rain or sun, and people gathered at them to enjoy a large picnic catered by American Barbecue of Rowley as the Three Amigos band entertained the crowd.
The Georgetown Fire Department showed off its new rescue truck, with all the doors and drawers open for public viewing. Georgetown Fire Chief John Durkee called the rescue truck "user friendly."
"It is a lot easier to get access to the tools we need," said Durkee. "The command light has been good at lighting up accident scenes on I-95. The rescue truck has been in service a little over a year and has made over 400 calls."
Nearby, Erie 4's new Engine 4 was also on display. The 1996 E1 engine with a 6-man crew cab, originally manufactured in Florida, was purchased from a fire department in Rotterdam and replaces the old Erie 4, which was sold to a fire department in Argentina.
Georgetown Detective Tom DeJoy and Newbury Officer Aaron Wojtkowski handed out bicycle helmets, key chains and safety pamphlets.
Later in the afternoon the skies turned blue and sunshine reflected off the Georgetown Police Department's gleaming vehicles as the Three Amigos played the Kinks tune "A Sunny Afternoon."
Everyday heroes
Looking like a little-boy version of his dad, Timothy Sullivan kept running over to give him hugs as they waited for the award ceremony to begin and mom Anne Marie smiled. Dennis Sullivan of the Georgetown Police Department was honored for 18 years of service on uniform patrol. In 2004 he caught a suspect breaking into a local business. He has also caught many local speeders in radar traps he sets up in neighborhoods. A certified motorcycle officer, Sullivan operates the department's Harley Davidson and shows it off to local children.
Georgetown Police Chief James Mulligan nominated Sullivan for the Everyday Hero award because of the community policing he uses every day, and the extra care he shows with children, including coaching them in hockey, and his visits to local shut-ins.
Sullivan and the other honorees were presented with a large gift bag containing a bottle of Moet champagne, a rose, truffles, a flash camera, and gift certificates to Georgetown Therapeutic Massage, the Chocolate Cellar, Golden Grounds, Georgetown Photo and a boat trip in Maine.
The Everyday Hero certificate is awarded for "outstanding citizenship and valor in service to their community."
Another Georgetown honoree was Fire Lt. Brian Gosse, who has taken over the training of members of the fire department. He is firefighter 1 and 2 certified, and an E.M.T.
From the Georgetown School Department, school support staff worker and aide Sylvia George was nominated for "giving 100 percent, 100 percent of the time, and always with a smile." George, who was raised and educated in Georgetown, supervises school meals and delivers mail.
Georgetown resident Pat Woodbury was nominated by the Pentucket Regional School for service as the high school's job coach, primarily working with children who have significant handicaps. She is described as going above and beyond the call of duty to ensure her students have the skills and work experience they need.
Honorees from other towns were Rowley Police Officer Thomas M. Hill, Rowley Firefighter James R. Merry, Triton School Grounds and Facilities Manager Christopher Walsh, Newbury Police Officer Aaron Wojtkowski, Byfield Firefighter Kenneth Rogers, and Groveland Police Detective Corporal Jeff Gillian.
After reading the impressive backgrounds of all the honorees, Rotary President Mary Ann Phillips said she was touched.
"We don't give a lot of thought to these people," said Phillips. "They're there for us every day, giving tirelessly."
When Georgetown resident Pat Woodbury came up to Phillips after the ceremony, there was this brief exchange that seemed to sum it all up.
"Thank you for giving me this honor," said Woodbury.
"No. Thank you, for everything you do," said Phillips.
 
This article originally appeared in the Georgetown Record on Thursday, June 23, 2005 , By Sally Applegate.
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