MultimediaSlideshows Community Snapshots By mycitizensnews - June 15, 2012 0 188 Noora-Sofia Kallio, second from the left, an exchange student from Finland attending Woodland Regional High School in Beacon Falls, was invited to attend pre-fleet week celebrations in New York City May 25 by the Finnish Embassy in Washington D.C. Kallio’s father was commander of the FNS Pohjanmaa, the ship the celebration was held on, for 10 years. Pictured with Kallio are her host parents, Marco and Melanie Miranda, and Lt. Cmdr. Mika Raunu of the FNS Pohjanmaa. The Special Olympics’ Law Enforcement Torch Run took place last week prior to the Special Olympics Summer Games last weekend. The torch run raises funds and awareness for the Special Olympics. The Special Olympics’ Law Enforcement Torch Run took place last week prior to the Special Olympics Summer Games last weekend. The torch run raises funds and awareness for the Special Olympics. The graduating eighth-grade class of St. Francis-St. Hedwig School gathered on the Naugatuck Green June 1 for a class picture prior to attending a banquet at the Continental Room in Naugatuck. Naugatuck Mayor Bob Mezzo, left, hands Tim Andrew a check for the Robert D. Veillette Special Needs Trust with Bob Veillette at Veillette’s home in Naugatuck June 5. Andrew will be running the Mount Washington Road Race June 16 to raise money for the trust in honor of Gabby Steele, an 11 year old Prospect girl who passed away two months ago. The trust helps pay for Veillette’s care. Veillette suffered a stroke in 2006. To donate, checks for the Robert D. Veillette Special Needs Trust can be sent to attn: Brian DeVito at the Naugatuck Saving Bank, 251 Church St., Naugatuck, CT 06770, with a note in the memo line related to the race. Beacon Falls Historical Society President Beverly Krenesky presents a copy of the new book ‘Images of America: Beacon Falls’ to Laurel Ledge Elementary School Librarian Bea Ellingson and Principal Regina Murzak. Rob Nocera, right, won a hole-in-one contest during the Naugatuck Chamber of Commerce and YMCA’s 18th Annual Golf Outing at Oxford Greens in Oxford, April 24. Nocera, of the Waterbury Housing Fund, won a 2005 Dodge Ram RumbleBee Limited Edition. Pictured with Nocera are Keith Sullivan of Zackin Zimyeski Sullivan C.P.A. LLC and Alex Bequary of Webster Bank. The Special Olympics’ Law Enforcement Torch Run took place last week prior to the Special Olympics Summer Games last weekend. The torch run raises funds and awareness for the Special Olympics. Ellie Destfano-Ruggles, a Naugatuck Head Start parent, recently graduated from the 20-week Parent Leadership Training Institute (PLTI) program. Her required community project for the program was titled, “The C.H.I.P. Forum” (Children Having Involved Parents), a series of parent workshops to underline the importance of giving encouragement and support to our children so they can succeed in life. PLTI trains parents to become effective advocates for children. It is a state-wide initiative created to improve the lifelong health, safety and learning of Connecticut’s children by helping individuals develop the leadership skills to make a real change in schools, communities and state and local governments. USA Martial Arts in Naugatuck held gradings for 38 junior members May 31. Abhishek Singh and Noah Santora, pictured with Grand Master Robert Cheezic, were promoted to apprentice Black Belt in Cheezic Tang Soo Do Karate.