Amenia’s Aaron Howard Jr. Named 2024 Citizen of the Year

AMENIA — During a traditional event at Fountain Square that occurs just before the annual Parade of Lights, the Citizen of the Year award for 2024 was presented by Town Supervisor Leo Blackman on Sunday, Dec. 1, to Aaron Howard Jr.

While residents awaited the presentation and endured a frigid breeze, a contingent from the Webutuck high School Band, led by Band Director Eric Weiner, performed a program of holiday-themed music. Freshtown volunteers were distributing hot beverages.

The new Silo Bakery, slated to open around mid-February, opened its doors to distribute freshly baked cookies to passers-by. By all accounts, the cookie effort was successful and the cookies received great reviews.

Key to the selection of former Fire Chief Aaron Howard was the breadth of his volunteerism detailed by Town Supervisor Leo Blackman who said that it was difficult to keep track of the myriad ways in which Howard has served his community as a lifelong resident. Upon graduation from Webutuck High School in 1999, Howard served in the U.S. Marines in the Middle East for seven years.

Since high school, Howard has been a member of the Amenia Fire Company, serving as Chief from 2017 to 2022. He presently serves as vice-president of the Fire Company Board and is a member of the Fire Advisory Board. He has also served in a variety of leadership roles within the Dutchess County Chiefs Council.

His memberships include the Lions’ Club and both local VFW posts, and he remains active in local and area youth activities, coaching youth soccer and baseball, along with teaching 6th grade catechism at Immaculate Conception Church.

At Webutuck High School Howard is a technology and career teacher, one of the programs that helps students to look ahead to their years after high school.

Howard and his wife, Kathleen, married soon after his service in the Marines and have two children, Nolan and Elaina.