SOUTH PARIS — The Progress Center of Norway recently held a combined employer recognition night and board of directors annual dinner at Tuscany Hall. Approximately 80 people attended the event that featured awards to employers, recognition of volunteers and the announcement of the co-winners of the 2009 Employee of the Year.

After dining on a buffet dinner, Deb Anthony, executive director of the Progress Center, addressed the group thanking everyone for their hard work and dedication to the individuals served by the center. She also said that although times are tough, with careful planning, cooperation and focusing on the task at hand they will be able to achieve their mission and vision for those they serve now and in the future.

Ron Raymond, chairman of the board of directors, also spoke to those assembled expressing the thanks and gratitude from the board to the staff and especially to Deb Anthony for her leadership.

Anthony announced that this year there was a tie when tabulating the ballots for Employee of the Year. Framed certificates were presented to the co-winners of the 2009 Employees of the Year, Liz Blaquiere and Fred Cummings.

Blaquiere, a 10-year employee, has a long history of going far above and beyond what is asked of her. She freely gives of her time without being asked and her devotion and dedication to the Progress Center and the individuals she works with is very evident to all.

She also recognized a need in the area to provide free or low-cost meals to the Oxford Hills community and helped create Help Hands – Community Kitchen. The community dinners, with the help of individuals served by the Progress Center, now serve approximately 115 to 120 meals twice monthly.

Cummings came to the Progress Center almost three years ago with a desire to help people and to make a difference. He already had a long history of working with Special Olympics as he accepted a personal invitation to help set up one Special Olympics program in Massachusetts.

Cummings, a DSP and job coach, soon demonstrated his interest in woodworking and is responsible for the creation of Tree Works, a division of the center that makes and markets handcrafted wooden items. The items are produced in the wood shop at the Progress Center with the individuals working with Cummings doing approximately 70 percent of the work themselves.

Both were voted Employees of the Year by their peers.

Individuals recognized for volunteering their time and effort to the Progress Center included Tina Ruhland and Becky Toothaker from Norway Savings Bank. They have been actively involved in the Helping Hand – Community Kitchen project for more than a year by volunteering their time to help with the final preparation and serving of these community meals.

Jean Record was recognized for her countless volunteer hours in the administration office. She also serves as a member of the board of directors.

Certificates of Recognition for their help during the Day of Giving were presented to New Balance and the Androscoggin Learning and Transition Center of Lewiston. Both New Balance and ALTC volunteers arrive each year to help make the dream of the Matthew Record Memorial Park and Trail a reality.

Recognition was also extended to David Mortimer and David Fields. They are both master cabinetmakers who open their Lewiston work shop to the individuals of Tree Works and take the time to work directly with them to further enhance their woodworking skills.

Tiffany Haskell-Leigh accepted the 2009 Employer of the Year award on behalf of The Margaret Murphy Center of Lewiston. The award is presented annually to one of the many employers who have chosen to look past the ‘dis’ in disability and focus on the ‘ability’ of the individuals served in the Employment Services program of the Progress Center.

Employer Recognition Awards were also presented to Chalmers Insurance of Bridgton, Bon Appetite Dining of Standish and Lt. Edward Quinn of the Oxford County Sheriff’s office.

The end of the awards ceremony marked the beginning of the entertainment part of the program. The audience was entertained by the magic of Phil Smith from Abracadabra Productions. He performed magic tricks then worked his way through the tables producing coins from behind the ears of some while doing card tricks with others. Smith also called Ron Raymond out of the audience and then proceeded to saw him in half. Much to the relief of Raymond, he was reassembled without incident.