May 2017 May 12 2017 | Page 14

Page 14 The Colebrook Chronicle Friday, May 12, 2017 Around The Region Teamwork was the order of the day during the bottle and can drive hosted by the First Lennoxville Scouts. Corey Bellam photo. The 25th annual CFUW Public Speaking Competition was held on May 3, with students from five area high schools taking part. Corey Bellam photo. Many hands made for short work of a tough job, with a sea of cans and bottles to be organized by the Scouts. Corey Bellam photo. PUBLIC SPEAKING COMPETITION Wednesday, May 3, students from five area schools (Alexander Galt, Richmond Regional, Massey Vanier, Stanstead Col- lege and Bishops College School) came together at the Amedee- Beaudion Community Center in Lennoxville, Que., to compete in the 25th annual Canadian Fed- eration of University Women (CFUW) Sherbrooke and district public speaking competition. This year, the competition included 20 students divided into junior and senior groups, with ten in each depending on grade and age. At 4:15 p.m. sharp, CFUW member Jane Loiselle welcomed all to the event and explained the rules. It was then time to begin. These students covered a variety of subjects, ranging from the existence of aliens, education, fame, and other interesting top- ics. After all had spoken, the judges made their decisions. The junior category winner was Promise Rocheleau from Rich- mond Regional High School, with her speech, “Technology Is Mak- ing Us More Disconnected.” She discussed how internet addiction can hurt people of all ages. The senior category winner was Helen Yao from Stanstead Col- lege, with her speech, “Fanfiction Is Real Literature.” She explained how fanfiction allows people to build their world. This competition had many runner- ups and honorable mentions. All of these young people had expertly written and spoken speeches. The Chronicle has attended this event every spring for many years now. The subjects and messages are always very inter- esting. –Corey Bellam LENNOXVILLE SCOUTS BOTTLE AND CAN DRIVE On Saturday morning, the members of the First Lennoxville Scouts were up early preparing for their seventh annual spring clean-up bottle and can drive. They opened at 9 a.m. to a steady flow of vehicles fully loaded with empty cans and bottles for the cause. The scouts were certainly kept busy sorting and filling bags ready for trading in. A table for food donations for the Corner- stone Food Bank in Lennoxville was also on site, which filled up quickly. We spoke with Chris Drew of the First Lennoxville Scouts, and we were told that last year, they raised just under $1,600 in three hours, with an eye on beating that goal this year. This is one of many fundrais- ers the scouts host. A few weeks ago, they held their spring lawn and garden sale, which was viewed as a huge success. –Corey Bellam Left Photo: David Kolton Crack gave a speech on English language during the Public Speaking Competition. Right photo: Helen Yao of Stanstead College was the winner of the senior category, with a talk on the legitimacy of fanfiction as literature. Corey Bellam photos. This busy group took a moment to pose during their day, as the First Lennoxville Scouts were hard at work with another bottle and can drive fundraiser. Corey Bellam photo.