Neighbors.

COLUMN: Neighbors

Bank pledges $10,000

for fuel assistance

SOUTHBRIDGE - Savers Bank has pledged $10,000 to the Tri-Valley Inc. to fund fuel assistance relief for needy elder residents.

Recipients must live in one of the six towns where Savers Bank has offices: Southbridge, Sturbridge, Charlton, Uxbridge, Auburn and Grafton. They must also meet qualifying standards set by the Tri-Valley organization.

For more information and an application, contact Tri-Valley Inc. at (508) 949-6640.

Nichols VP honored

by START conference

DUDLEY - Susan K. Tellier of Webster has been awarded the 2008 Unsung Heroine of Massachusetts Award for her leadership role in launching The START Conference for youth leadership on the Nichols College campus in Dudley.

As vice president of administration at Nichols, Ms. Tellier has been a force in promoting the use of the campus for summer community programs that make a difference, according to information provided by the college. She will be recognized in a May 14 ceremony at the Statehouse in Boston.

As chief business officer for Nichols College since 1998, Ms. Tellier is responsible for accounting, investments, human resources, public safety, facilities management, physical plant, food service and postal service. She has helped to restore the college to financial stability after years of operating deficit and to finance the construction of new buildings, according to information provided by the college.

Walk of Champions

to step off in Ware

WARE - The day itself was cold and snowy with seven inches of new snow, but the Ware community had a walk on their mind.

And so the 2008 Walk of Champions was under way, as Silhouettes Salon in Ware held a Cut-A-Thon to benefit this year's third annual Walk of Champions.

"This was an enormously successful event, and we were absolutely thrilled with the community response in such adverse weather conditions," said Debbie Rozzen, owner of Silhouettes Salon in Ware, in a prepared statement. "We kicked off the Walk of Champions season by raising more than $1,600 for cancer services at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital" in Ware.

Forty-five haircuts and 26 manicures were performed during the Cut-A-Thon. Silhouette staff included Amanda Pierce, Joslyn Friberg, Chrystine Banas, Beth Schneider and Ms. Rozzen.

The Walk of Champions was started by John O'Neill, girls' field hockey coach at Quaboag Regional Middle High School in Warren, after he watched his mother struggle with cancer. "It was the...