Pride of Workmanship
The club celebrated six individuals during its 2026 Pride of Workmanship Awards luncheon last Thursday at Five Points Public House and Events Center on Columbia Street in Utica. The annual awards recognize employees who consistently go above and beyond in their work, demonstrating exceptional dedication, professionalism, and a commitment to their organizations.
This year's honorees exemplified the awards' motto, "Where Pride Meets Performance," through their strong work ethic, commitment to excellence, and positive impact on their workplaces and the broader community. The recipients were:
Zenobia Cole, Office Assistant at Mohawk Valley Community Action Agency
Patrick Garrett, eighth-grade Social Studies teacher at Senator James H. Donovan Middle School
Lt. Brendan Kain, 20-year veteran of the Utica Fire Department
Dan Ianno, Director of Admissions at Mohawk Valley Community College
Christopher Lenahan, Correction Officer with the Oneida County Sheriff's Office
Karen Nole, Note Teller at Bank of Utica
Urban Tree Planting Project
The club also continued its Urban Tree Planting Project, planting 31 trees along Blandina Street in East Utica. Now in its sixth year, the collaborative initiative brings together the Rotary Club of Utica, the City of Utica, and the Climate Action Team of the Utica Universalist Unitarian Church. With this year's planting, the project has helped bring the total number of trees planted throughout the city to 184.
Utica Rotarian David Jones once again chaired the tree planting effort, with assistance from students at Proctor High School.
Together, these October projects reflect the Rotary Club of Utica's ongoing commitment to recognizing people who make a difference, strengthening local partnerships, and creating a lasting, positive impact throughout the community.
