Michelle and Renee Kelley join Christine Willett with her husband and parents at the awards celebration.

Christine Willett receives Howard Kelley Community Award
The Coginchaug Valley Education Foundation (CVEF) recently awarded Middlefield resident Christine Willett the first annual Howard Kelley Community Award.
     Kelley, who passed away last year, was a founding board member of CVEF. The award was established in his memory to honor individuals in the community who, like him, embody the spirit of leadership in the community, particularly his devotion to volunteerism and education.
     Willett, a Middlefield wife and mother of two young sons, works as a teacher at Green Acres Elementary School in North Haven. While those are the basics, she is also much, much more, and it is for that compilation of remarkable qualities that CVEF honored her on December 1.
     Several years ago, while pregnant with her second child, Willett was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. In conjunction with her traditional treatment plan at Middlesex Hospital, she was also, luckily, able to take advantage of integrative therapies such as reflexology, yoga and massage – therapies she found crucial to her recovery.
     In 2009, Willett established After the Storm, a non-profit foundation whose mission is to assist breast cancer survivors heal and restore balance to their lives. This includes helping women get the integrative therapies that Willett found so helpful. In 2011, the organization will surpass the $20,000 mark in funds raised, quite an accomplishment for any new not-for-profit endeavor.
     Upon accepting the Howard Kelley Award, Willett acknowledged that, ironically, were it not for her cancer diagnosis, none of these good works would have happened. In fact, she concedes that her work with After the Storm has turned Willett into the involved, confident, well-spoken person she has become. In the process, her foundation has provided assistance to breast cancer patients at Middlesex and has now expanded into other medical centers in Connecticut, as well.
     Willett also commented on the personal relationship she and her parents had with Howard Kelley and his family. Kelley's widow, Renee, who attended the CVEF event on December 1, noted how pleased and proud her husband would be with CVEF's choice of Christine as the first recipient of the award in her husband's memory.

Howard Kelley Honored
Nominations are in for the first annual Howard Kelly Community Award. In honor of founder and board member Howard Kelley, who passed away in early 2010, the award will be made to someone who embodies the spirit of Howard’s leadership in the community, particularly his devotion to volunteerism and education. To nominated someone you think would be deserving of the Howard Kelley Award e-mail us at coginchaugvef@comcast.net

Calling all Spelling Teams! We have a new date for the (CVEF) 4th Annual Spelling Bee, which was postponed because of Storm Alfred. Registrations are now being accepted for the Bee, which will take place at 7 pm on Friday, February 10th at the auditorium of Coginchaug Regional High School in Durham.
     Mike Klimas will be emceeing the event and Keith Luckenbach will be the Wordmaster. Judges include Durham First Selectwoman Laura Francis, the Honorable Judge Joe Marino and the Honorable Judge Richard Adams. Last year’s Bee had over 20 participating teams spanning a wide range of the Durham-Middlefield community: local businesses, teachers, political parties, neighborhoods, friends, book clubs and schools – even the local District 13 Board of Education had pulled together a team.
     In addition to competing in spelling swarms, the three member spelling teams compete for awards including: Best Team Name, Team with the Most Spirit, Most Entertaining Team, Best Costume and Most Original Team.
     Monies raised through the tax deductible $120 team fee and other donations go to support the educational and enrichment work of the Foundation.
     We hope you will join in the fun and help support the CVEF!
     If you are interested in forming a team or want more information about the Bee, email cvefspellingbee2011@comcast.net
    

Annual Gathering
Friday, March 26 marked the 2010 Annual Gathering held at Country Flower Farms in Middlefield. The CVEF Achievement Award was presented as were the seven 2010 Grant recipients. The Achievement Award acknowledges people who have made exceptional use of their education for the betterment of the whole community. This years award went to Charlene Turcotte Begley, a graduate of Coginchaug who is the President and CEO of GE Home and Business Solutions and a senior Vice President of GE.
     Please send your nominations for the Achievement Award to CVEF president Renee Edwards, redwards29@comcast.net.

2010 Community Picnic -
Fun for All
For the third year in a row, families of Durham and Middlefield congregated at Camp Farnam to celebrate the end of summer and for some, the beginning of a new school year.
     The camp, located on Maiden Lane in Durham, is owned by New Haven’s non-profit Farnam Neighborhood House, Inc. and provides seasonal programming for low income children ages 13-18 and their families. It is newly renovated and the perfect place for some family fun.
     This year, 150 people arrived on Sunday, August 29, carrying picnic dinners, bathing suits and towels. It took only a few minutes for the pool to fill with children of all ages. Adults could join in the fun or relax and chat knowing their children were under the watchful eye of the lifeguard in charge. Horseshoes, basketball and volleyball competitions continued throughout the day.
     As evening approached, the crowd moved toward the pavilion to listen to music, break open their picnic baskets or wait patiently for the arrival of the ice cream truck. With daylight fading, a roaring fire was lit and hot dripping marshmallows were layered with chocolate and graham crackers, consumed happily by all ages.