Newtown Youth & Family Services Conducts

Annual Awards Ceremony

By Eliza Hallabeck

Newtown Youth & Family Services Executive Director Beth Agen oversaw the organization’s annual awards and recognition ceremony Tuesday, June 28, conducted in the C.H. Booth Library meeting room.

“Thanks for joining with us,” said Ms Agen, “as we celebrate the community we serve.”

The annual awards and recognition ceremony was held after the organization’s Board of Directors met for its annual business meeting, and recognized all those who contributed to Newtown Youth & Family Services in the past year. Before announcing award recipients, Ms Agen played a slideshow video of photos taken throughout the last year.

Retiring board members, Shay Carmichael, Joan Piscitelli, and Jay Whitley were thanked for their service on the board. For Ms Piscitelli, Ms Agen had a few special remarks.

Ms Piscitelli was one of the first people Ms Agen met in Newtown, she said, and “she knew everyone, was everywhere, and volunteered for everything.”

“The only thing Joan has ever asked me was, ‘Do you need anything?’ And yes, Joan, I need you to stay,” she said, before hugging Ms Piscitelli.

Special thanks was given to Layne Lescault for her work over the last two years as Board of Directors chair. Ms Lescault is stepping down from her position for next year.

The Gail Smith Business Award was given to Associated Refuse Haulers for its service to the community. Associated Refuse Haulers President and Founder Pat Caruso was not in attendance at the event, because he was attending a Newtown Rotary meeting to be named as this year’s new president of that group.

 “I am happy to recognize what he has done both for [Newtown Youth & Family Services] and for the community of Newtown,” said Ms Agen.

The HD Bassett Award went to the Newtown Road Race Committee, and the Staff Appreciation Award went to Laurie Peffers.

The Outstanding Youth Award went to Devin Sapelli, who Ms Agen said, “couldn’t be here tonight, because his graduation gift was a trip to Florida. But Devin ‘Devdog’ Sapelli is with us in spirit.”

Last summer Devin worked with a group of students from Newtown High School to interview and compile stories from Newtown’s senior citizens into a booklet. The interviews focused on the differences between generations, according to Ms Agen.

“Devin came a long way during that project,” said Ms Agen, “and learned a lot about himself in the process.”

In closing, Ms Agen mentioned how the economy has affected the agency in the last year.

“In the 2008-2009 fiscal year, [Newtown Youth & Family Services] provided more than 9,200 hours of service to clients,” said Ms Agen. “That level of service was a 31 percent increase over the 2007-2008 year.”

At the same time, she said, funding decreased by seven percent and federal grants were lost.

“Our head count has been reduced, and no one has seen a raise,” she said. “Yet, with all that negativity, we have shown our commitment to the community and our clients, and increased the number of hours of service to the community once again.”

The organization, she said, has seen new requests for services from middle class families who have never needed access to services before.

“They are stressed,” she said, “they are terrified, and they are embarrassed to ask for help. And we are here for them.”

In the next year, Ms Agen said, the  Newtown Youth & Family Services will be focusing on outcomes, and “all of us being better than ever.”