HARWINTON OUTSTANDING CITIZEN
2008 Honoree

DALE CAGENELLO

Dale Cagenello has been selected as the 2008 recipient of the annual Harwinton Outstanding Citizen Award, formerly the Arthur B. Poole Award.

I'm not usually speechless, Cagenello said upon learning of her selection. I was not expecting this. I am very surprised and very excited.

Cagenello is a longtime resident of Harwinton and her service on the town's behalf covers many bases, according to a statement released by the awards committee. She is an active member of the Harwinton Congregational Church, having served as a deacon and on the nominating and stewardship committees. She also organized the Knitting Ministry for church members in need of prayers and chaired two auctions, which are major fund-raisers for the church.

As a member of the Harwinton Women's Club, she coordinated and chaired a formal fashion show in with two other organizations for the benefit of the new sports fields raising $10,000, the statement said. She also helped recruit new members, worked blood drives, sewed quilt patches, been responsible for the float in the annual Memorial Day parade and helped raise awareness of Harwinton service men and women by initiating and updating the Post Office bulletin board.

Cagenello has knitted outfits for premature babies at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital and donated stuffed animals to the emergency room for entering children.

Cagnello also adopted a senior citizen, helping her acquire a reverse mortgage and fuel assistance, assisting her with mediations, doctor visits and extensive paperwork and included her in holiday celebrations so she wouldn’t be alone, the statement said.

Cagenello has always viewed herself as a problem solver, she said Wednesday night before leaving for a Women's Club meeting.

When I see something that needs to be fixed, I fix it, she said.

Cagenello has lived in Harwinton more than 30 years and has no plans to leave the area, she said.

I like giving back to Harwinton, Cagenello said.

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