Westminster Lions Club hosts variety of winter activities

Oakmont players (l. to r.) Matt Goguen, Tyler Noseworthy, Chris Louney and Cody Brown stand with their coach Dave LaRoche during the Westminster Lions 32nd annual co-captains' banquet at the Village Inn on Monday, Nov. 19. The co-captains from Oakmont and Gardner football teams were honored with dinner and plaque presentations. COURTESY PHOTO

As the holiday season rolls in, the Westminster Lions Club continues its community service with a number of activities and fundraisers.

On Wednesday, Dec. 12, starting at 6 p.m., the Westminster and Ashburnham Lions Clubs will sponsor the annual Speech Contest.

High School students from Oakmont and Monty Tech are encouraged to participate in this event by delivering speeches from which the judges will choose winners from each town that will go on to participate in the Joint Zone Speech Contest on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008. This year's speeches will be titled, "How can my generation contribute to the world we will inherit?"

Westminster will host the contest this year, so the contest and dinner will be held at the Westminster Village Inn.

The Westminster Lions Club is holding their annual Christmas Tree sale from the end of this month until all the trees are sold. Club members are expecting the trees to be delivered today and sales will begin as soon as the trees are unloaded.

The tree sale has become a popular event that is anticipated by many town residents. Trees are sold on a lot that is adjacent to the Westminster VFW.

Trees will cost $25 with a $40 price tag for premium trees.

A pancake breakfast ticket will be given with each tree sold and the ticket can be used at the Sunday, Dec. 16, breakfast that will help purchase food baskets for needy Westminster families. The breakfast is held at the Westminster VFW from 8 to 11 a.m. The Westminster Lions Club provides these holiday food baskets to needy Westminster families and the Lions along with support from Vincent's Country Store prepare and delivered the baskets to Westminster churches, which distribute them to those in need. Please attend the Sunday, Dec. 16, breakfast and help defray the costs of the baskets.

The Club plans to hold a voluntary toll/boot drive day on Saturday, Dec. 15. Upon approval of the selectmen, members of the Lions will man the tolls from 9 a.m. untill noon on Main Street in Westminster. The money raised from the voluntary tolls will be used to purchase of the baskets as well as fund other community projects and activities.

The Westminster Lions Club wishes all of The Community Journal's readers a happy holiday season. They hope to see many of you at the Christmas Tree sale, the pancake breakfast, and on Main Street.

- Submitted to The Journal