The Tiverton Lions Club recently recognized 12 Tiverton and Little Compton public servants for the contributions they have made to their communities this past year.

The club’s 2023 Recognition Night, held March 11 at White’s of Westport, brought together 170 community members, including the honored guests, their family members, friends, and co-workers, as well as state and local officials.

Honorees received state citations from Rep. John G. “Jay” Edwards (D-District 70) and Senator Walter S. Felag Jr. (D-District 10) and Lions Club plaques from club president Rosemary Bowers and vice president Dawn Cabral Quimby.

This was the Tiverton Lions Club 10th annual awards celebration. Cabral-Quimby said the club asks municipal and school leaders each year for nominations, and recommendations also come from both inside the club and community members.

Honored this year were:

•Joe Perry, the 2023 Heart of a Lion recipient, was recognized for his longstanding commitment to the Town of Tiverton, including 53 years of volunteer work serving as a mentor and guide to young athletes through his work with the Tiverton Youth Basketball League. Perry is a retired Tiverton firefighter who initially joined the fire department as a volunteer and then served as a full-time employee for more than 30 years. Currently he is in his fourth consecutive term as a member of the Tiverton Town Council.

•Judith Ferreira was named 2023 Citizen of the Year in recognition of her dedication to the community and to the Tiverton Fire Department, where she has worked for nearly 23 years. Ferreira is the administrative assistant to both the fire chief and the fire marshal and serves as personnel resources assistant to the entire department. She has been actively involved in fund-raising, fire department open houses, and public safety days and played a critical role in the operation of multiple COVID clinics for the town during the pandemic.

•Jonathan Bednarz, a member of the Little Compton Fire Department since May 2020, and Little Compton Police Sgt. Ryan LeClaire, were named the Little Compton Firefighter and Police Officer of the Year, respectively.

•Lt. Christopher Dyson was named Tiverton Police Officer of the Year. Dyson who has worked in law enforcement for 30 years, joined the Tiverton force in 2014.

•Kim Smith and Carla Woodhouse of the Wilbur & McMahon School, were named Little Compton Educators of the Year.

•Christine Kraus of Fort Barton Elementary School, Samatha Reimels of the Ranger Elementary School, Jill Godbout of Pocasset Elementary, Shana Roper of Tiverton Middle School and Lee Cusumano of Tiverton High School, were named Tiverton Educators of the Year.