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Melting pot luck Friday, May 17, 2013
Members of program teaching conversational English trade native dishes at annual dinner
By ERICA SCHMITT STAFF WRITER
Do they celebrate Motherâs Day in Peru? Is there wintertime in Portugal? These are the kinds of topics members of Wethersfield Libraryâs Time to Talk program discuss at their weekly meetings, while practicing their conversational English. A unique opportunity for local immigrants, the group gives English-language learners the opportunity to learn the meaning of idioms like âkeep in touchâ or âearn a livingâ â things that arenât necessarily taught in their ESL classes. This past Tuesday, evening group members gathered to cel-
Erica Schmitt | Staff
Parents and school officials gathered Wednesday evening at the Wethersfield Schools Parent Councilâs 16th Annual Volunteer Recognition Awards to honor those who have gone above and beyond, dedicating their time, to provide a variety of events, programs and services to students.
Volunteers honored for dedication to students, school programs By ERICA SCHMITT Erica Schmitt | Staff
Time to Talk group leader Carol Schulman and Fatima Almeira admire group member Yanni Liâs baby, Oliver.
ebrate their knowledge, diversity and connectedness at an annual potluck dinner. Since they hail from the Czech Republic, Portugal, Russia, France, Peru, See CONVERSATIONAL, Page 12
STAFF WRITER
Unbeknownst to some: festivals and book fairs, holiday celebrations and field trips donât happen with the wave of a magic wand or on the clocked hours of a teacherâs paycheck. It takes lots of charitable time and effort of parents who are often balancing full-time jobs, housework and looking after their own children â but they do it because they care. The most giving of those individuals were recognized Tuesday afternoon among their fellow volunteers at the Wethersfield Schools Parent Councilâs 16th Annual Volunteer Recognition Awards. Families and school officials, including Superintendent Michael Emmett and Director of Curriculum and Instruction Sally Dastoli, gathered inside the auditorium at Webb Elementary
School to honor nine volunteers. Most were presidents or cochairs of their respective school PTOs, but the WSPC also chose a local business that made particularly significant contributions. This yearâs Community Award recipients were Kim Notaro and Annette Bowman, owners of Kimâs Flower Shop. The ladies are known for donating flowers to Wethersfield High School for senior day games, providing centerpieces and floral arrangements to school functions and offering financial support to different programs. Almost every speaker who shared his or her thoughts about the recipients was brought to tears along with every award winner. âIâm not surprised at all by the emotion weâve seen today because I think those who volunteer know how personal it is to us,â commented Martha
Conneely, chair of the WSPC. Volunteers from each of the townâs seven schools were awarded. PTO President of Charles Wright Elementary Caroline Fazzina was the first. Co-president Hannah Granfield presented her with the award, calling Fazzina âa tireless advocate to making sure students are getting the same opportunities as all children in town.â Just one of many fundraisers she organized to help support the schoolâs PTO was a pasta dinner this past fall, attended by See VOLUNTEERS, Page 8
Volume 53, No. 20
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