SOAR says farewell Sloane, hello mural

SALISBURY — Families and staff of the Salisbury Central School after-school program SOAR (Seek, Originate, Aim, Reach) gathered in the courtyard to hold a brief ceremony dedicating a mural to SOAR founder Zenas Block, as well as to thank and congratulate current SOAR Executive Director Linda Sloane on her retirement.

Sloane spoke of the artistic dedication required to bring the mural to life.

“I know that Zenas would have loved how creative this was,” Sloane said.

Sloane thanked artist Michelle Begley of the American Mural Project in Winsted. Begley was instrumental in the creation of the project. Sloane was heavily involved in getting students engaged with the project, using the prompt of “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

The project was intended for SOAR’s  actual 20th anniversary in 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The ceremony then shifted to members of the SOAR Board of Directors, as well as students thanking Sloan for her five years of service as executive director of the program. Keavy Bedell, chair of the SOAR Board of Directors, said that a commemorative book of photos was in the making with a dedication to Sloane on the cover.

“Your warmth, creativity and unwavering commitment to the mission of SOAR will resonate at Salisbury Central for years to come. We are deeply grateful for your immeasurable contributions to this program and the impact you have had on the entire Salisbury Central community,” the dedication reads.

Several children from the SOAR program also stepped forward in the ceremony to thank Sloane and wish her a happy retirement. “Ms. Sloane is always super nice and makes me feel good,” one student said.