PUTNAM — Commander Norman Beaupre and Auxiliary President Lorraine LaCroix of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Albert J. Breault Post 1523, announced the kick-off of this year’s VFW’s Voice of Democracy scholarship competition. Local high school students in public, private, parochial schools or being home-schooled have the opportunity to compete for thousands of dollars in scholarships and a trip to Washington, D.C.
Deadline for student entries is Oct. 31 and interested students should contact their schools office and teachers. For more information contact the Voice of Democracy Chairman Lisa Salisbury by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Students must write and record a three-to-five-minute essay on the selected theme using an audio CD or flash drive and present their recording, typed essay and completed entry form to their local VFW Post by Oct. 31.
The 2017-2018 theme selected is “American History: Our Hope for the Future.” Students begin by competing at the local Post level. Post winners compete at the District level with the winner advancing to the state competition.
All state first-place winners receive an all-expense paid trip to Washington, D.C. to tour the city, be honored by the VFW and its Auxiliary and receive their portion of $154,000 in national awards, the top scholarship being $30,000.
TEEG needs
'weekend' food
“TEEG is the conduit for a new program that will provide supplemental weekend food to families who are currently receiving free or reduced school lunches.
The seed has been planted and is beginning to grow. Currently, Woodstock has a program up and running called Caring Continues. This program is supported by F.R.E.S.H at Woodstock Academy, the First Congregational Church of Woodstock, the Evangelical Covenant Church and the South Woodstock Church in Woodstock.
Talks are in also in place with the Thompson Business Association, as well as with the Pomfret School to get similar programs up and running in each of these towns.
The goal is to get these programs started, and then continue to nourish them through local community support and connections. Items being sought for donation are individual cereal boxes, canned tuna fish, pasta, canned pasta sauce, boxed macaroni and cheese, and single-serve peanut butter.
While the program launches, monetary donations are also greatly appreciated.
If you have further questions about how to donate, or would like to get involved, please contact Anne Miller at 860-923-3458, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .”
On list
NEWTON, Mass. — Two local students were named to the Lasell College Dean’s List for the Spring 2017 semester: Amanda Bennett of N. Grosvenordale and Briana Wrubleski of Quinebaug.
DAYVILLE — Nicole Masciarelli, MS, CCC-SLP of Griswold recently joined the Westview Health Care Center’s professionals in the facility’s Sports Medicine Department.
Masciarelli is a 2010 graduate of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, N.Y., where she obtained both her bachelor’s and master’s degree in speech language pathology. She comes to Westview with more than seven years of clinical experience working with medically complex children as well as hospital-based inpatient and outpatient care.
“Ms. Masciarelli’s knowledge base and prior experience is an asset to our Sports Medicine Department,” said Alex Williams, Westview’s Sports Medicine director. “Having highly trained staff capable of assessing and treating neurological conditions, as well as concussion management, is an invaluable resource as we continue to gain further insight into concussions and cognitive impairments.”
Masciarelli said, “I love the field of speech language pathology. Every one of my patients has their own unique journey and I enjoy helping them achieve their goals while being their guide on this sometimes bumpy road.”