ELMIRA - County Executive Tom Santulli announced today the  Chemung County Department of Aging and Long Term Care is seeking nominations for its “Senior Citizen of the Year Award” and the “Mildred Parfitt Award.”

The “Senior Citizen of the Year Award” is presented to any Chemung County resident who is 60 years of age or older, who stands out in the community for ongoing devotion of time and talent in a variety of areas and who receives no remuneration for such activity.  The nominee need not be a member of a senior citizen club or organization.

The Mildred Parfitt Award, established in 1980, honors a Chemung County individual, group, or agency by recognizing outstanding efforts to improve and serve the lives of older persons without remuneration. The award was established in recognition of Mildred Parfitt, who served as chairman of the Chemung County Office for the Aging Advisory Committee from 1973-1979. She continued as an active member of the Advisory Committee until her death in 1980.

Click here for a copy of the nomination form. Or call the Chemung County Department of Aging and Long Term Care at 737-5520.

The nomination deadline is Monday, April 5, 2010.  All nominees will be honored at an Older Americans Month reception at the Big Flats Community Center on May 3rd at 2:00 p.m.

The 2010 theme for Older Americans Month is Twain 2010. 2010 will mark the 175th anniversary of Samuel Clemens’ (Mark Twain) birth, the Centennial of his death and burial in Elmira and the 125th anniversary of the publishing of Huckleberry Finn.