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 first Alcohol Awareness Week a success.

Alcohol Awareness Week was observed from April 23 through April 29, 2007. Planning for this week began back in September 2006. Planning began with the full support of The Cheshire Chamber of Commerce. The Cheshire Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking stepped in with their support right at the beginning stages of the planning process. Of course, we could not have accomplished any of our goals without the full support and help of the Michelle Piccerillo of the Cheshire Youth and Social Services Department and its staff.

We received an overwhelming response to our Logo/Slogan contest from Dodd Middle School students. The winning Logos and Slogan were printed on Vendor Bags and fillers for the bags to promote the prevention of underage drinking.

Donations from Skyline Exhibits and Graphics, Inc. of Middletown, CT, New England Bedroom Gallery, Plantsville, CT, Take Another Step, Cheshire, CT and Barker Specialties of Cheshire, CT made it possible to purchase and print the Vendor bags and fillers that were distributed by Cheshire retailers during Alcohol Awareness Week.

Businesses that distributed our vendor bags and/or posted flyers to advertise our "Under Age and Under the Influence" public forum are: Added Touch, Alphabet Garden, Apple Valley Bank, Bagelicious, Bank of America, Bella Luna, Blackies, Cheshire Frame and Art, Cheshire Nursery Garden Center, Clippings Hair Studio, Consignment Originals, Dairy Queen, Elle Salon, Everybody's, Cheshire Getty Gas Station, Greenwich Coffee, Holly Hallmark, Home Fabric Mills, Main Street Cafe, Mother Earth Health Food, The Movie Gallery, Naugatuck Valley Savings and Loan, New England Bedroom Gallery, Plantsville, CT, Physique Plus and the Fitness Zone , R.W. Hine, Romano's Seafood Gourmet, Senior Panchos, Staples, Stop and Shop, Subway, The Picture Framer, The Window Box, Toyz, Webster Bank and West Main BP Gas and Food Station.

Thanks all for the overwhelming support for this very important issue.

Information on the prevention of underage drinking and information about all of 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)

Vickie Canale (Human Service Committee)

Elizabeth Ruocco (Youth Service Committee)

Connei Catrone (Youth Service Committee)

Kara Hanley (Cheshire Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking)

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