Community Briefs

Gold Star Mothers honored by VFW

BENNINGTON — On April 19, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 1332 held their annual Gold Star Mothers Ceremony. The Blue Star Banners that parents traditionally hang in their home windows represent their sons and daughters who are serving on active duty during a period of war. Gold Star Banners, however, represent their fallen son or daughter who was killed in action.

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1332 honored three such Gold Star Mothers: Josie Colvin who lost her son, Pfc. Gerald S. Colvin in Vietnam; Lona Frappier who lost her son, Army Ranger Fred Frappier, in Vietnam; and Dorothy Halvorsen who lost her son, Chief Warrant Officer Erik Halverson, a Blackhawk helicopter pilot, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The ceremony lasted about one hour and candles were lit for each of the fallen after each mother was escorted to the shrine by Officer of the Day Roy Beardsley.

BROC's 2008 Dream Raffle

BENNINGTON — BROC-Community Action in Southwestern Vermont is giving members of the public a chance to win money again this year while supporting a cause.

There are even more chances to win than before. Each ticket purchased

this year will have six chances to win different amounts of money. There will be a top prize of $2,500 in both Rutland and Bennington counties; there will be one $1,000 prize; two $500 prizes; and two $250 prizes within each county. Those who live outside of the county will have their tickets put in the drawing for the county closest to where they live.

A total of 200 tickets will be sold in each county and cost $50 each. A numbered ticket and receipt will be mailed or handed to participants immediately upon BROC receiving one's check, cash, money order or credit card number (Master Card and Visa accepted). Please make checks or money orders payable to BROC and return to: Dream Raffle — Development Office, BROC-Community Action in Southwestern Vermont, 60 Center St., Rutland, VT 05701.

Tickets are on sale now through Sept. 12. The drawing will be on Saturday, Sept. 13, with time and location to be determined. In the event that all 200 tickets are not sold within each county, the dollar amounts of the prizes will be prorated based upon actual ticket sales.

All proceeds will go directly into BROC's programs and services that help low-income individuals and families with children meet their most basic human needs.

For more information or call Pamela Shambo, BROC development specialist at 665-1721; 1-800-717-2762; or e-mail pshambo@broc.org.

Burr and Burton will perform 'Grease'

MANCHESTER — Burr and Burton Academy's Performing Arts Department is going back to the 50s with its musical production of the Broadway hit "Grease." With more than 50 Burr and Burton students involved, this is one show you are not going to want to miss. The show will run from May 28 to 31 at 6:30 p.m. with matinees at 2 p.m. on May 31 and June 1 in the school's Riley Center for the Arts.

Tickets are $6 for Burr and Burton students, faculty and employees and $10 for the general public. To order tickets visit www.bbaticketjunior.com or drop by the box office located in the Riley Center lobby one hour before the show. For more information, call Director Jim Raposa at 549-8144.

Photo caption:

Members of the cast. Back (left to right): Ian McNaughton, Chris Elam, Devin

Johnson, Daniel Boston, Kirdan Squires. Front (left to right): Sydney Beck,

Leah Rome, Juliet Lodi, Hiedi Nichols, Julie Nolan.