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Sunday, January 18, 2011
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Ben Wilke
Memorial Tree Spree.
Westport committee grants $2000 in the memory of Ronald Desrosiers.
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Ben Wilke Memorial Tree Spree. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, January 18, 2011
But
for Caroline Wordell it's an opportunity to
memorialize her brother, Ben Wilke, who was lost to cancer 19 years ago. The
December 4th lottery ticket-style benefit was well attended as this
commemorative fundraiser is an anticipated community event. Shoppers
buy raffle tickets, fill them in, and put anywhere from one to the entire
batch into the bag next to the tree(s) they would like to win. One
ticket is drawn from each of the 64 bags, and the lucky holders of the
tickets get to take home the theme-based trees with all their trimmings. All
proceeds go to the Citizen's Scholarship Foundation of Little Compton for
deserving local students, Wordell said. "This
year, 64 unusually decorated Christmas trees and 108 other items were
donated," she added.
This year,
holiday shoppers had their choice of 64 unusually decorated Christmas trees and
108 other items. The lottery ticket-style benefit attracts hundreds of
shoppers from all over the area.
Group
caroling and the lighting of the Common's Christmas tree at dusk is heralded
by the arrival of Santa Claus, who uses a more updated mode of
transportation, a Harley Davidson motorcycle! The lucky youngsters get gifts
from Santa and his elves. Westport committee grants $2000 in
the memory of Ronald Desrosiers. Funds will protect Latessa
Square and help create a base and plaque for the fire station's World Trade
Center Steel display. EverythingWestport.com Sunday, January 18, 2011 The Westport Citizens Betterment Committee
received only four applications for grants this year, and voted to award each
applicant a $500 grant in the memory of the late Westport selectman Ronald Desrosiers. Westport Veterans Memorial Upkeep Fund was
granted its request for funds to install a flagpole light at Latessa Square and upkeep other memorials in town. Latessa Square has been plagued with vandalism in recent
years. The Westport Highway Department was granted
$500 for repairs to the Highway Building. The grant money will help defray
some of the costs to repair this building, urgently in need of updating. The Westport Police Department was granted
$500 for a radKIDS program, committed to providing
education that enhances the ability of children, parents, and families to
utilize knowledge, skills, and power to protect themselves from violence and
harm. The Westport Fire Department received a
grant to help create a base and plaque for its World Trade Center Steel
display. Funds will assist in the production of a steel base fashioned in the
shape of the Pentagon that would allow for the permanent display of the beam
salvaged from the World Trade Center, and to purchase some plaques to
memorialize the victims and events, including the late Dianne Snyder, a
Westport resident. Although all four applicants requested
$1,000, the committee felt this year they would divide the funds evenly and
hope they can assist with each department's goals. The Betterment Committee wishes to remind
everyone that donating to the Ronald Desrosiers
Memorial Fund in memory of a loved one or as a charitable contribution is a
great way of putting resources back into our beautiful community. Contributions can be made by contacting the
Selectmen's Office at 508.636.1004 or by contacting Secretary/Treasurer
Charlene Wood at 508.636.2075. © 2011 Community Events of Westport. All rights
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