dare

On Thursday May 14th, the East Meadow  School celebrated 20 years of DARE  at it’s annual Graduation.  Well over 100 parents and friends attended the event .  Also attending were former DARE officers  Chris Pronovost ( now a Lt. with the Amherst PD), Mike Kotowski ( now with Chicopee PD), Dan Menard ( now with Wilbraham PD), and Granby Officers  Lt. Alan Wishart and Sgt. Mark Smith,  Former Dare officers Larry Carmen ( Chicopee PD) and Carlos Alcaide were unable to attend. The current DARE Officer, Ptl. Kurt Carpenter, gave out  awards to the essay contest winners ( Jonathan DiPino, Caitlin Chapdelaine, Mihaela Sousa, and Jillian Harrington) and presented the DARE diplomas.  Colonel Rober R. Swain JR , Wing Commander at Westover AirForce Reserve Base ,was the keynote speaker. Also speaking were Superintendent Patricia Stevens, and Police Chief Louis M. Barry.  East Meadow Principal Jim Pietras acted as master of ceremony. The School was presented with a plaque commemerating 20 years of DARE. All guests were presented with 20 year anniversaary DARE T shirts.