Stewart honored as Valley Grange Community Citizen of the Year
GUILFORD — Last October news broke that the Piscataquis Regional YMCA on Park Street in Dover-Foxcroft would be closing in the immediate future with financial reasons being cited for the closure of the facility that had been in operation since 1988.
Very soon after a local group has begun organizing in Piscataquis County with the intention of reopening the building as a community center. This group was led by then PRYMCA Branch Manager Manda Stewart and now the efforts have resulted in the Piscataquis Area Community Center with Stewart serving as executive director.
For these efforts and more, Stewart was chosen as the Valley Grange’s 2025 Community Citizen of the Year. She was presented with the honor on May 16 at the Grange Hall with family and friends in attendance.
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR — Piscataquis Area Community Center Executive Director Manda Stewart is the Valley Grange’s 2025 Community Citizen of the Year. She was honored at the Grange on May 16 along with her husband Travis and their children Trent and Aspen.
In making the announcement the Valley Grange said Stewart, a resident of St. Albans, is an active community leader and dedicated mother of two, whose children enjoy swimming, golf and dance. She has a passion for water skiing, boating and reading, and she devotes much of her time to volunteering. Stewart serves as the president of the Ridge View Community School Boosters in Dexter, is a Kiwanis member and partners with the Dexter Development Association to support local initiatives.
Valley Grange Program Director Walter Boomsma said Stewart was a unanimous selection as this year’s Community Citizen of the Year as he gave her with a certificate.
Rep. Chad Perkins, R-Dover-Foxcroft then presented Stewart with a Legislative Sentiment from the 132nd Legislature. He also had a Challenge Coin to give to Stewart, saying these are given out by members of the Legislature to recognize community service and are traditionally handed off via a handshake before doing so with Stewart.
Stewart and her family, husband Travis and children Trent and Aspen, were set to be recognized in Augusta on Tuesday, May 20. “I’ll get up and give a nice little speech and we are very proud of her,” Perkins said.
LEGISLATIVE SENTIMENT — Rep. Chad Perkins, R-Dover-Foxcroft presented Piscataquis Area Community Center Executive Director Manda Stewart with a Legislative Sentiment congratulating her as the 2025 Valley Grange Community Citizen of the Year.
Sen. Stacey Guerin, R-Glenburn was unable to attend the award presentation but her predecessor and current Piscataquis County Commissioner Paul Davis, R-Sangerville read a letter from Guerin aloud.
“What you’ve done with the Piscataquis Area Community Center is remarkable — not just the physical transformation of a building, but the creation of a space that brings people together and supports families, kids and neighbors in so many ways,” Guerin wrote. “That kind of leadership matters. It builds stronger communities and makes life better for everyone around you.”
Mentioning Stewart’s community involvement, Guerin wrote, “You give your time and energy generously, without fanfare. You’ve shown what it means to be truly invested in your community, and to lead not just with action, but with heart.
I also want to thank you for the example you set — not just for your children, but for all of us. You remind us that community is something we build every day, with small acts of service, with kindness, and with determination.”
U.S. Sen Susan Collins, R-Maine also sent in a letter congratulating Stewart as the Community Citizen of the Year.
“I do what I do because I’m very passionate about it,” Stewart said in thanking attendees for their kind words and the award from the Valley Grange. She also credited the team she works with at the Piscataquis Area Community Center for getting the facility up and running.
She added that if everyone helps one another then it would make a huge difference.
Previous recipients of the Valley Grange Community Citizen Award are 2007, John and Jim Wentworth; 2008, Edie Hussey; 2009, John McKusick; 2010, the Guilford Primary School; 2011, Dodie Curtis; 2012, Brian Woodworth; 2013, the Piscataquis Observer and WABI-TV; 2014, Julie Orton; 2015, Matt Hackett; 2016, Sherry French; 2017, Will and Melissa Wedge; 2018, Jamie Kane; 2019, Judy Raymond and Barbara Austin; 2021, employees of RSU 68, SAD 4, SAD 41 and SAD 46; 2022, everyone in the area in honor of the spirit that held communities together for the previous two years; 2023, the late Roger Ricker; and 2024, the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office emergency dispatch team.