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Thursday, May 31, 2012

Scholarships Awarded to 3 Outstanding Students by Southington Knights of Columbus

Knights of Columbus Presents Scholarships to Three Southington High School Students

As published in the Southington Citizen
June 1, 2012

L. to R. Danielle Macioci, Nicholas Frega
and Amanda Snow receive scholarships.
On May 9, 2012, three Southington High School students were recognized for their scholastic accomplishments at a ceremony at Mary Our Queen Church Hall.

The Isabella Council of the Southington Knights of Columbus honored the three gifted and giving students, Danielle Macioci, Nicholas Frega and Amanda Snow who received a $500.00 scholarship in the presence of their parents.
 

Amanda, the daughter of James and Diane Snow, has a brother, Thomas, who is a college sophomore. Amanda’s school activities have included SHS Cross Country and Indoor & Outdoor Track, the Best Buddies Program and the Unified Sports Program. Snow ranked 13 in her class of 461. Amanda’s church service at St. Thomas included altar server, lector, Food Basket Ministry, St. Thomas Passion Play and the Children’s Music Program. She plans to attend the College of Holy Cross and is interested in becoming a medical doctor or a physician’s assistant. Snow’s interests include the study of cognitive science and international relations. She is thinking about selfless service to others in the model of Mother Theresa, possibly in the Peace Corps.
Scholarship Chairman, Craig Jones and
Dennis Kelly, Grand Knights of Isabella Council,
present check to each scholar. In this photo
the awardee is Danielle Macioci
Danielle is the youngest daughter of Michael and Joanne Macioci. Her sisters are Christine and Nicole. Macioci’s school activities included the Symphonic Band, SHS Field Hockey Team, the Key Club and the Best Buddies Program. Danielle also served St. Dominic Church as an altar server, religious education instructor and Vacation Bible School volunteer. She also participated in the St. Thomas Passion Play. Danielle plans to be a teacher and will attend Framingham State University with a major in Education with Special Education as a focal interest. 

Nick, Danielle and Amanda with K of C
Chaplain, Fr. A. Waine Kargul, center,
and Scholarship Chairman,Craig Jones, right.
Nicholas is the son of Peter and Marianne Frega. He has a sister, Ali, who is in college. Frega’s activities included: President of the National Honor Society, SHS Marching Band and the Best Buddies Program. Nick has served his church community at Mary Our Queen as an altar server, religious education instructor, Youth Ministry member and youth representative on the Parish Council.Nick also became an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America in January 2012. Frega will attend Fairfield University and plans to major in politics and religion. Nick is interested in studying political socialization and how a person’s behavior is influenced by their life experience. 

Chairman of the K of C Scholarship program, Craig Jones, said: “The Knights of Columbus believes in and recognizes young people who have achieved scholastic excellence while actively participating in other school activities and have given service to their church communities.”  Grand Knight, Dennis Kelly, congratulated the recipients of this year’s awards and commended their parents for encouraging and fostering family support of their children.


Danielle Macioci, Nicholas Frega and Amanda Snow
getting to cut the cake and share it with all.






Saturday, May 19, 2012

Lingering Economic Woes Trigger Targeted Action by Southington Community Services and Food Pantry

Food items in dire need for the hungry:
cereals, tuna fish, peanut butter and jelly,
macaroni & cheese and pasta products.
Hunger has no boundaries!

But credit communities like Southington CT for creative ways of focusing on specific needs of the hungry and impoverished. Yes, there are agencies in our midst expressly for the purpose of making life more bearable for those in economic duress. 

With the extended woes of our fragile economy, the number of families in need has risen significantly, putting greater stress on agencies providing relief to the hungry.

Janet Mellon, Director of Southington Community Services, said: “We buy food from Food Share, a great source for non-profits feeding the hungry. Their genuinely modest costs allow us to stretch dollar donations generously contributed by private individuals, church and faith congregations, businesses and professional groups as well as civic and service organizations as well as food donations from those sources.”

The ongoing increased demand for food brought Mellon and her team of volunteers to the idea of identifiying specific food items that are chronically in short supply. To help balance the supply and demand, they are making a focused appeal this month for donations of the following staple items in the family diet: (1) Cereals, (2) Tuna Fish, (3) Peanut Butter and Jelly, (4) Macaroni & Cheese and (5) Pasta products. Not only are these itnes in high demand but their availability from Food Share and other sources and their higher cost result in frequent low inventories by most of the non-profit suppliers.  

Deliver donations of food to
Southington Community Services
and Food Pantry at 91 Norton Street
in Plantsville, CT.
Now, there’s an urgent need and increased emphasis calling for these foods . The hope is that with this appeal Southington Community Services may "catch up” or close the gap between supply and demand.

“The goal is to enlist the support of our townspeople by Memorial Day, Monday, May 28th”, Mellon said, “as we honor those who’ve made the supreme sacrifice for our country and those who continue to put their lives on the line every day.”

Donations may be delivered to the Southington Food Pantry at 91 Norton Street (entrance on S. Main St.), Plantsville, CT, Monday thru Friday, 8:30 am to Noon and 1:00 pm to 4:30 pm. Advance calls to 860-628-3761will help to ensure a quick and easy giving experience.

Rosemary Champagne honored by Knights of Columbus for years of service to Southington Relay for Life


Rosemary & Jim Champagne Honored at Benefit
for Southington Relay for Life
May 18, 2012

The notable local works of charity of the Southington Knights of Columbus was at the top of its game last Friday in bringing 125 people together for a fabulous dinner-dance at the Elks Lodge honoring the years of dedicated service to Southington Relay for Life of Rosemary and Jim Champagne. 

With a delightful buffet by Carmela Marie and the lively dancing to the music of “Nick & Nancy, After All”, a frolicsome crowd dined, rocked and rollicke through an evening that reached an emotional peak with the moving tributes to the courage and strength of Rosemary Champagne who provided those in attendance an inspiring sense of her spirit of faith, hope and confidence through twenty-eight years as a survivor of Cancer.  

Event chairman, Bill Shatas, spoke of Champagne’s strength and character as she turned her illness into a road to healing mentoring, bringing hope to others as well as working through her own personal survival.  Shatas pointed out Champagne’s service to our local Relay for Life since 1998 and her leadership for almost a decade, while also authoring a book: “My Detour On Life’s Highway”.  

Jim Champagne, spoke of the non-stop energy, courage and fortitude of his wife in her personal journey of more than a quarter century including her shared journey with countless numbers of other cancer survivors. He also pointed out that over one million dollars had been raised by Southington Relay for Life since its inception.

L to R. Bill Shatas, Benefit Chairman and
George Jorgensen of K of C present
flowers and large donation to Relay for Life
in honor of Rosemary & Jim Champagne
 
Past Grand Knight of Isabella Council 15 and Faithful Navigator of Fourth Degree Assembly 0122, George Jorgensen, whose wife Linda was diagnosed with a rare cancer last fall, also spoke briefly as he presented a sizeable donation to Relay for Life in Champagne’s honor. The benefit raised over $3,000 and we’re still counting”, Shatas said.  He also made a surprising revelation for almost everyone when he all who were Cancer survivors to stand and then all those who had a family member who was a survivor or victim of cancer to join them in standing.   The overwhelming majority of the people in the room standing was astounding!
Grand Knight Dennis Kelly presents bouquets
to Mary DeCroce, 2011 Relay for Life
chair, Rosemary Champagne and
2012 Chairperson, Joyce McAloon
Grand Dennis J. Kelly, said: “The Knights of Columbus supports a long list of local charities and we are honored to include our support of Relay for Life.”
What became clear to those who were not aware was how much one person of singular purpose can do to inspire a town and the vital role she played in leading a town in raising over a million dollars for the American Cancer Society since the start of Relay for Life in Southington.

Photography by Deborah Mikan

Friday, May 4, 2012

Southington, CT residents return record numbers of unwanted Rx Drugs at 'take-back" event

As published in the Southington Citizen May 4, 2012

Town Councilman, Chris Palmieri and pharmacist
Cynthia Enright greet arriving motorist.
On Saturday, April 28th, local citizens of Southington, CT and surrounding towns responded in record numbers to the Medical Return Program’s call for expired and no longer needed drugs. The scene at the Southington Water Department was a steady stream of cars from 10 am to 2 pm as 483 cars stopped by to drop off outdated prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The primary purpose of the  program is to dispose of drugs and chemicals in a manner that prevents contamination of our water supply when using our everyday trash disposal systems. However, it is important to note that the medical return program also removes such no longer needed drugs from homes where they might fall into the hands of children and others who might use them abusively. 

The water departments of Bristol and Southington combined efforts in this 4th annual collection alongside the Southington Police Department, faculty members, students and professionals of the Connecticut College of Pharmacy who were also assisted by several local registered pharmacists.  
Fifty-one participating volunteers included members of Community Emergency Response Team who handled traffic control smoothly while others, notably members of STEPS, (Southington’s Town-wide Efforts to Promote Success), served as greeters who also documented the responses of those driving through to a few brief questions,.  They collected packages and worked as runners delivering the return materials collected to a team of pharmacists who examined, identified, classified, separated, counted and recorded the details of the collection. 

John Dobbins verifies and signs off
documentation of drugs collected
John Dobbins, R.Ph, reported that the collection resulted in nine 55-gallon drums of caps/tabs, liquids and creams/ointments.  There also were five smaller containers of inhalers, aerosols, chemicals and other flammable items collected.  Controlled substances, e.g. narcotics, were handled by another team under strict security. In total, there were 810 prescriptions of controlled substances, according to Dobbins, including 15,969 caps/tabs/patches and 5,614 mls of liquid substances.
In accordance with state and federal law, controlled substances are transferred with their records through the local police department to the State Drug Control Department for ultimate incineration under strict guidelines. 
Volunteer pharmacists of CT School of Pharmacy
Detailing every Rx and drug item collected.


Oddly interesting facts from this year’s collection:  The oldest documented Rx was dated 1974; most unusual Rx, a Toothache Wax by Rexall, a 1940's era pain reliever for use when you couldn't get to a dentist;  another unusual Rx item, Diastat Rectal Gel, a diazepam for seizures; most unusual non RX item was a case of unused Texas Catheter.