[This is the start of the story by Deborah Rose shared at https://www.newmilfordnow.org/stories?story=Let-Freedom-Ring-to-kick-off-Fourth-of-July-Celebration. This is re-posted with permission.]

The Town of New Milford will play host to its annual Fourth of July Celebration July 6.

The event is coordinated by the Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Town.

The celebration will feature a special opening ceremony and the signing of a life-sized Declaration of Independence, free cupcakes from the Woman’s Club of Greater New Milford, music, and a fireworks display.

A rain date of July 13 is set for the fireworks only.

Festivities will begin at 5:30 p.m. near the bandstand on the Village Green with a special “Let Freedom Ring” flag and bell-ringing ceremony sponsored by the New Milford Celebrates America 250 Committee.

The ceremony, held in partnership with the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, will take place on the steps of the Roger Sherman Town Hall, where flags will be presented and displayed.

“It’s great we are able to bring something new to the celebration this year,” said Chamber Executive Director Bob Reiling, referring to the opening ceremony.

“We hope individuals and families will come to the Green to see this special event and stay to enjoy all of the activities and explore downtown, including our businesses, before the fireworks,” he said.

To read the full story, visit https://www.newmilfordnow.org/stories?story=Let-Freedom-Ring-to-kick-off-Fourth-of-July-Celebration

The Greater New Milford Chamber of Commerce has announced the recipients of its 2024 scholarships.

Each year the Chamber provides two $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors pursuing post-high school education.

This year’s recipients are Faith Bargellini, of Bridgewater, who received the Frederick Wynne Scholarship, and Lindsay Mulhare, of Roxbury, who was presented the Bonnie Blackman Scholarship.

Both students recently graduated from Shepaug Valley School in Washington.

“We were impressed with all of the applications we received this year,” said Chamber President Jennifer Birdseye. “All of the students who applied are standout students academically and have been active in the community.”

“This year’s recipients have been so active in their school, volunteering, and in their extracurricular activities that we’re not sure when they sleep,” Birdseye said, emphasizing the students’ resume of accomplishments and activities.

The Chamber’s Scholarship Committee conducted a blind review of the applications.

To be eligible for a scholarship, the applicant must have a Chamber connection, have been involved in community service, and have participated in the school community.

Faith has been a longtime volunteer for the Friends of the Lake’s Save the Lake cleanup day at Lake Lillinonah and a counselor-in-training at the Bridgewater Parks and Recreation Summer Camp.

She was Class of 2024 valedictorian, a member of multiple honor societies, the debate team, and the track, cross country and math teams, and a recipient of numerous awards, among other accolades.

As class president, working with school administrators, she initiated a new scheduling system that incorporates a period of time designated for extracurricular activities, extra help, and more at Shepaug.

Faith plans to study biomedical engineering.

Lindsay has been a member of Shepaug’s Leo and Simply Smiles clubs, a member of multiple national honor societies, a choreographer for the school’s musicals, and a tutor for both middle and high school students.

She has been an active member and volunteer at Roxbury Congregational Church, a volunteer for Roxbury’s tree lighting ceremony, town cleanups and a summer dance program for youth.

Lindsay, who works at Tasty Waves, has been a dance captain at FineLine Theater Arts, where she obtained the highest level of training as a sophomore.

She plans to pursue a degree in English/journalism,

The Chamber is a nonprofit organization aiming to develop, encourage, promote, and protect the commercial, industrial, professional and general business interests of the community; and to promote the civic interests and general welfare of the town of New Milford and its trade area.

For more information, call the Chamber office at 860-354-6080 or email nmcc@newmilford-chamber.com.

For those of you who couldn’t make it to the March Business Scene, co-sponsored by two nonprofit organizations, you missed:

• meeting event co-sponsors New Milford Refugee Resettlement and MVP-SOS representatives, who talked about their mission and why they do what they do, and why summer camps are so important to the youth they serve;

• hearing from Park & Rec and Social Services staff on how the families they serve are positively impacted by the financial support of NMRR and MVP-SOS; and

• indulging in wings, sliders and other delicious appetizers served up at The Cue, which was the venue for the evening.

Non-prroft organizations are an integral part of the fabric of our community, providing vital support and resources in a variety of areas.

The event was jam-packed and held at The Cue.

To learn more about New Milford Refugee Resettlement and how you can support them, visit here.

To lean more about MVP-SOS and how you can support them, go here.

Photography by Deborah Rose