The Marrowstone Island Community Association has named Barcy Fisher and Patti Buckland as its two Citizens of the Year for 2024, for their “passionate vision and tireless efforts” of behalf of the Nordland General store.

For more than four years, the Nordland General Store was shuttered due to a fire, and a number of efforts to reopen it met with little success.

A statement from the Marrowstone Island Community Association credited Fisher and Buckland with stepping forward, roughly a year and a half ago, with ideas on how to reopen the store, and contributing “countless hours” toward making those ideas a reality.

The community association noted that the process involved Fisher and Buckland in reinventing the store as a community cooperative, raising needed funds, completing the required permitting work and meeting government regulations, followed by the actual work of getting the store set up and shelves stocked.

“They never faltered,” the community association’s statement read. “The effort from each of them was tireless. Their leadership was inspiring. Very likely, our community store would still be closed today, if not for their resolve and dedication.”

The Marrowstone Island Community Association described the Nordland General Store as “the heartbeat of our island,” and now that it’s back, “we can gather with our neighbors, and shop for most of our needs without leaving our community.”

The community associated deemed this “an immeasurable gift” that Fisher and Buckland have given the island, which they asserted will “nourish and enrich” the island’s natives and visitors alike.

“Many reminisced on how vital the store was to our community, and how much it was missed,” the community association’s statement read. “The people of Marrowstone are so very proud of their newly opened store, and invite everyone to come and visit what they consider to be a lovely gem on their island.”

Annually since 1973, the residents of Marrowstone Island have recognized an individual or couple who have made a lasting or significant difference to the quality of life on Marrowstone, or in Jefferson County, throughtheir volunteerism, activism and leadership.

Each December, the residents of the island have an opportunity to nominate a person or a couple for this honor, and in January, a selection committee composed of prior Citizens of the Year review the nominations and determine the winner.

Fisher and Buckland were chosen by unanimous decision of the committee for 2024.