By Corey Morris
Vidette Editor
In Montesano, the Friends of the W. H. Abel Memorial Library make sure good deeds are rewarded and acknowledged every year.
The Margaret Downey Memorial Community Service Award is given to a community member who reflects “love of learning, strength in faith and respect for nature.” The annual award was presented to Steve Poler last month.
“It’s a great honor,” Poler said. “I was shocked when they told me, and then I went to the ceremony and they started listing the names of all of the people who won before me. I’m really humbled to be joining them on the list.”
Letters of recommendation are submitted to the organization each year listing why the winner should be selected.
Roger Lauckhart of the Montesano Kiwanis club highlighted Poler’s involvement in their organization.
“Steve has been very active in the Kiwanis — serving as president of the club, flipping burgers at Festival of Lights and the car shows and serving spaghetti at the Homecoming spaghetti feed,” Lauckhart wrote. He also noted Poler’s involvement with the Lion’s club and his work toward the school levy campaign.
Marlene Vahl noted the same, and added information about Poler’s efforts with the schools.
“He was elected to serve on the Montesano School Board. He was a supporter of the High School Turf Project. He has volunteered at the Simpson School after school program. Steve has also been known to visit Beacon School to read stories on Dr. Seuss Day,” Vahl wrote. “Youth sports have found him coaching Montesano Girls Softball, Montesano Youth Soccer and Little League Baseball.”
Helen Hepp, a past-president of the Friends of the Library, highlighted Poler’s work with the library, specifically his work with the library’s efforts to preserve the stories of World War II veterans.
“At least two of those interviews were successfully recorded and are actually archived in the United States Library of Congress,” Hepp wrote. “I think we can be very proud to say we honor someone today who honored our distinguished veterans of yesterday by capturing their experiences of the war…”
Former mayor Dick Stone also touted Poler’s efforts with local schools.
“Steve has given most freely of that most precious commodity, his time, to make Montesano a better place for our children,” Stone wrote. “He is most deserving of the Margaret Downey Award.”
The award is named in memory of the late Margaret Downey, a longtime Montesano resident and an active community member. She was an avid supporter of the library and is remembered for her recipes at Cornucopia Deli. Shortly after Downey’s death, the award was created.
The first recipient in 1996 was Faye McCracken, followed by Dr. James Moore, Nadine Sargent, Pat Clemons, Bertha Gronberg, Pat Ronholt, Alice Hutchinson, Anne Moisanen, Margaret Nevills, Jane Schloz, John Tennefoss, Roger Lauckhart, Helen Hepp, Ron Bennett, Dick Stone, Eileen Raykowski, Debbie Hornback, Corby Varness and Shirley McQuaid. Last year, Janine Stone received the award.
