East Granby Principal Installed on CASAC Board of Directors

 
East Granby’s R. D. Seymour Intermediate School principal, Scott W. C. Lawrence, was installed as a board member of the Capital Area Substance Abuse Council (CASAC) at its 19th Annual Meeting. Principal Lawrence was among three other newly nominated board members elected at an October 22 reception held at the St. Thomas Seminary, Bloomfield. “Principal Lawrence’s commitment to youth education will enhance the CASAC board of directors,” said Mirelle Freedman, Executive Director.
 
Established by the Connecticut State Legislature in 1990, CASAC is a Regional Action Council with the mandate to develop and carry out strategies to reduce alcohol, tobacco, drug use and other risky behaviors through community education, community mobilization, public awareness and advocacy.  It is comprised of educators, parents, business people, social service providers, law enforcement officials, clergy, government leaders and youth from the 16-town region – a region with a population of about 450,000.
 
“CASAC is continuously reaching out to our friends and neighbors,” said Freedman. “Substance abuse underlies so many problems that we see in our communities; we can make evident the relationships between substance abuse and its influence over other serious conditions.”
 
Freedman swore in three other new members of CASAC’s board of directors, including: Harriet Howard, a state investigator for the Public Defender’s office and a member of the Bloomfield Democratic Town Committee and a former member of the Bloomfield Board of Education. Guest Speaker, Bloomfield Mayor Sydney T. Schulman said, “Harriet brings many years of commitment to the town and to youth.”  Ms. Howard joins Principal Lawrence, Dr. Bradford Howard, Director of Charter Oak Health Center and Police Lieutenant Tracey Gove of West Hartford. “Leaders are people who care, and these people care about their communities,” said Freedman.
 
In addition to installation ceremonies, ten community members were presented with outstanding volunteer awards.  Bloomfield’s Deputy Mayor, Donald Harris was among those honored, receiving CASAC’s Youth Role Model award for his dedication and exemplary commitment to the youth of the community as a former athletic director and coach, principal of Bloomfield High School and now as Deputy Mayor.   
 
Other awardees included Judy Bierly, Director of Community Services at The Bridge Family Center, West Hartford; Jeff Haggett, Narcotics Officer for the Avon Police Department; Dr. Judy Terranova, Windsor Youth Commissioner; Tim Haviland, President and Managing Partner of Landmark Partners; Joseph Kopf, Principal of Sport and Medical Sciences Academy, Granby; Officer Joseph Oliveira, Windsor Locks Police Department; Veronica Alicata, 8th grade teacher, Hartland Elementary School; and Gail Meyers, Secretary to the Assistant Principal at Suffield Middle School.
 
CASAC President, Waldemar Gracia, Director of The Institute for the Hispanic Family praised the work of CASAC and the support received by the community.  “Each of you who attends events, develops third-party initiatives, makes a donation and/or volunteers your time is making a difference in the lives of those reached through CASAC’s partnerships.”
 
The annual report of CASAC distributed at the meeting highlighted the successes of fulfilling its mission to present high quality and creative, science-based substance abuse prevention services in a number of programs.
 
For more information on available programs and volunteer opportunities in the 16-town region, contact CASAC at 860.286.9333.