Elks hand out youth awards

WINSTED — Volunteers from the Winsted Elks Lodge welcomed families to the lodge Friday, May 6, to celebrate youths from across town who won awards this year in the local soccer and basketball contests, scholastic events and fishing and drug-awareness programs.The theme for this year’s Youth Week Banquet was “Celebrating Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Leaders.”Three dozen boys and girls ages 8 to 14 won trophies for scoring top honors in the past year’s hoop and soccer shoots. Nine students won awards for drug awareness posters and two won scholarship awards.In the annual Elks Kids’ Fishing Derby, Joe Nardi and Mikayla Benvenuti were saluted for catching the biggest fish last year, and derby organizer Gary Peterson reminded children and families that the next fishing derby will be Sunday, May 22, starting at 10 a.m., with free food and prize giveaways.This year’s Lodge Award scholarship recipient was Phillip Kostak, and the State Award scholarship recipient was Melissa Traub. The Elks also announced that Brooke Williams will be their sponsored contestant in this year’s Laurel Festival, June 10 to 12.