To the Editor:

The Cheshire Human Service Committee's Alcohol Awareness Week subcommittee would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the individuals, organizations and businesses that helped make our second annual Alcohol Awareness Week a success.

Alcohol Awareness Week was observed April 20 through April 26, 2008. Planning for this week began back in December 2007. Planning began with the support of The Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and The Cheshire Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking. Of course, we could not have accomplished any of our goals without the full support of Michelle Piccerillo of the Cheshire Youth and Social Services Department, her staff and Sarah Bourdon, Project Coordinator/Cheshire Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking.

We again sponsored a Logo/Slogan contest for Dodd Middle School students. The winning Logos and Slogan were printed on Vendor Bags and fillers promoting the prevention of underage drinking.

We would like to thank Barker Specialties of Cheshire for their help in printing the vendor bags and fillers that were distributed at the Chamber of Commerce Business Expo in early April and by Cheshire retailers during Alcohol Awareness Week.

Many local businesses volunteered to distribute our vendor bags and/or post flyers to advertise the week’s presentations.

The first presentation with Jennifer DeWitt of the Central Naugatuck Valley Substance Abuse Action Council and Sarah Bourdon, was held at the Cheshire Senior Center. This presentation was designed to educate local seniors on facts they should be aware of in regards to alcohol and drugs. The second; a presentation at Dodd Middle School by Ginger Katz: of Courage To Speak, focusing on the issue of substance abuse and what, as parents and community members we can do about it.

Thank you, Alphabet Garden, Bagelicious, Bank of America, BP Food Station, Cheshire Community YMCA, Cheshire Dance Centre, Cheshire Frame & Art Gallery, Cheshire Karate & Dance Studio, Cheshire Nursery Garden Center, Cheshire Video, Clippings Hair Studio, Dairy Queen, Elle Salon, Everybody's Market, Funky Monkey Café, Greenwich Coffee, Holly's Hallmark Shop, Main Street Café, New England Bedroom Gallery, (Plantsville), The Notch Store, Owen's Main St. Deli, Paul's Restaurant, Peter's II, The Picture Framer, The Pink Petunia ,Physique Plus, Pop's Pizza, R.W. Hine Hardware, Rossini's Restaurant, Staples, Stop & Shop, Subway Sandwich Shop, Sunshine Convenience Store, Timberline Office Supply, Toyz Toy Store, The Tweet Shoppe, The Victorian House, The Window Box, and Yellowfin Seafood Grille for the overwhelming support for this very important issue.

Information on the prevention of underage drinking and our activities from Alcohol Awareness Week is available on The Human Service Committee website, www.CheshireCares.org

Sincerely,

The Human Service Alcohol Awareness Subcommittee

Kathy Nankin, Chair (Human Service Committee)

Meredith Sturges (Human Service Committee)

Debbie Kelleher (Human Service Committee)

Maureen Rose (Human Service Committee)

Vickie Canale (Human Service Committee)

Printed Cheshire Herald - June 2008