Corwin, Martin & Bloom Honored by Chappaqua Rotary

Saturday was the 30th-annual Charter Night for the Rotary Club of Chappaqua, which means that it has been 30 years since the chapter was founded.

The night was not only the club's birthday, but a chance to honor three of the Chappaqua area's accomplished citizens, whether they have made their mark for decades or have only started to do so. Joan Corwin, president of Chappaqua Transportation, Horace Greeley High School senior Tim Bloom and long-time Rotarian Manton Martin were this year's honorees. Each was honored at the diner, held at Crabtree's Kittle House.

Joan Corwin

Joan Corwin, a 4-decade fixture in Chappaqua, was given a community award. Her resume is long, and includes having been a Chappaqua Rotarian, a Pleasantville Rotarian, a member of the Chappaqua Volunteer Ambulance Corps and a volunteer EMT for Northern Westchester Hospital.

Her longevity in town is noteworthy. Corwin, who inherited the bus company from her father-in-law and helped save it early in her tenure when the Chappaqua school board considered switching, talked to Patch about her time in Chappaqua. It has included pushing for a state ban on driving while using a cell phone, which then-Gov. George Pataki signed into law; Corwin has signing pen and a photo of her with the governor framed in her office. Her company has also bused multiple generations of the same family, while she has served food to first responders.

"It's been my life," Corwin said about how much she loves Chappaqua.

Corwin also had nothing but support for Chappaqua's Rotary.

"I love it so much. I love it so much," she said.

Corwin, who has several of her children working at the bus company, was joined by her family, both at the table and on stage. She not only accepted the community award, but also received certificates or letters of support from Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino and Westchester County Legislator Mike Kaplowitz, who gave her a proclaimation and declared that Feb. 11, 2013 is "Joan Corwin Day."

Timothy Bloom

Bloom received the Jill Goodman Service Award because of his volunteer work in the Chappaqua Fire Department.

"It's an honor to be selected," Bloom said.

New Castle Town Councilman John Buckley, a Rotarian and a fellow Chappaqua firefighter, noted the difference between training and responded to a real call, saying that "your heart beat goes a million miles a minute." 

Bloom's resume at Greeley has included being president of the student council and a member of the varsity football team. He is heading to the University of Pennsylvania next fall, where he is interested in studying international relations.

Bloom's mother, Emily, reacted to the honor and said "it makes me very proud."

The award was one of several honors given to Bloom, as he also received written thanks from Lowey, Astorino and Kaplowitz. The county legislator, in his proclaimation, noted that Feb. 12 will be "Timothy Bloom Day."

Manton Martin

Martin was given the Paul Harris Award, named for a founder of what would become Rotary International.

Martin, whose career included running an export company in New York City for 38 years, was also a Rotarian in one of the city's chapters for 23 years. He has been a Chappaqua Rotarian for 21 years. His background has also included going into real estate, serving on the board of the affordable housing group A-HOME and helping with FISH, a Mount Kisco-based service that helps drive senior citizens to medical appointments. He has also been involved with the Presbyterian Church of Mount Kisco.

"It's a very unique feeling for me," Martin said in his acceptance of the award.

Martin was also given a proclaimation from Kaplowitz (with Sunday having been "Maton Martin Day"), along with letters of appreciation from Lowey and Astorino.