EAST DIXFIELD – Mystic Valley Grange Lecturer Dot White prepared a special program recently to present Larry Wright of Jay with the Grange’s annual Community Citizen Award.

Ten members of the Country Bandits, of which Wright is a member, crowded the stage and entertained with music. Nearly 50 attended to honor Wright.

Family, friends and co-workers were called on to remark on Wright’s service to the community. They also made quite a few jokes at his expense, but Wright took it in stride.

Jay Town Manager Ruth Marden commented on the many services Wright provides to the town and when White began to read off all his responsibilities, the list seemed endless. He has been sexton of the town’s 10 cemeteries for 35 years.

He provides mowing service to Dow Field, the Jay Town Office and the downstairs of the Jay Community Building, takes care of the veterans’ monument area at Monument Square and the mini-park on Church Street. He has also served as Jay’s animal control officer for the last 20 years.

Wright plays drums for the Bandits. They’ve played at the Auburn Mall, Oxford Fair Littlefield Beaches, the Bethel Inn, the Jay-Livermore Falls Apple Pumpkin Festival, the Barbara Bush Foundation, Wal-Mart and North Jay Grange. They play every Friday night at the VFW.