By Linda May, Macomb Daily Columnist

Veterans of Foreign Wars Cpl. Neil W. Reid Post 2358 recently gave Firefighter of the Year, Law Enforcement of the Year and EMT of the Year honors to Roseville and St. Clair Shores personnel.

The post, along with Roseville Police Chief Michael Pachla and Deputy Chief Anthony Cona, conducted citations for "alertness and professionalism dedicated to Roseville citizens."

Honors went to Sgt. Jerome Urbaniak, Detective Brian Shock, and officers Jacob Sidaway, Kurt Latour, Kevin Witherspoon, Mark Jackson and Chris Kment.

The personnel were involved in cases about the hiring of an individual to kill a spouse, home invasion, car theft and a neighborhood shooting. Some first-responders were recognized for their efforts to free a man whose arm became stuck in a machine.

Awards went to Battalion Chief and Incident Commander Michael Craig, Lt. Herbert Goldwater, Lt. Michael Cracchiolo, Lt. Keith Jacob, Keith Benando (St. Clair Shores), Daniel Sebastian (St. Clair Shores), firefighters-EMTs Todd Trudeau, Bradley Little and Scott Kramer, and firefighters-medics Robert Ulicny and David Walsh.

The post nominated Officer Susan Payne, firefighters Trudeau, Little and Kramer, and firefighters-medics Anthony Robinson and Dave Demar for awards at the VFW state level.

Roseville Junior High School mathematics teacher Ryan B. Hansen was the VFW's District 5 and VFW Department of Michigan All-State winner, after winning the post's Teacher of the Year award. Every state submitted names for the VFW's National Teacher of the Year.

"Being awarded the local distinction was praise enough, winning for the entire state is simply an incredible honor," Hansen said.

Fountain Elementary School kindergarten teacher Katherine Clulo and Roseville High School teacher Jason B. Bettin were also honored by the post and they competed at the state level.

"All three teachers had great entries. They should be proud of their choice of careers. Ryan learned and was impressed by what the VFW does for teachers and students," post Commander Tom Dubiel said. "He realized the many opportunities for scholarships that are available for students and teachers. Reid post is proud of our three teachers. There is no doubt in my mind all three deserve to be teacher of the year."

Hansen received a certificate, $50, a jacket, a weekend in Kalamazoo at the VFW convention, and a luncheon in his honor provided by the post ladies auxiliary. He will be parade marshal on May 25 at the VFW Memorial Day Parade.

VFW school programs include the Voice of Democracy and Patriot's Pen scholarship contests.

Buddy Poppy Days, which have been going on for about 75 years, are May 7-9. The artificial poppies are assembled by disabled veterans, and collections support VFW programs. Roseville residences and businesses received poppies in the mail and some will be available on the streets next weekend.

Pasta dinner

VFW Post 4659, at 8311 Wilson Drive in Shelby Township, will host a pasta dinner 4-8 p.m. Friday to raise funds to send Browning Elementary School children to the Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C. Donation is $7 for adults and $5 for children. For information, call (586) 781-9109.

Honoring champions

The Optimist Club of St. Clair Shores 11th annual Champions Banquet is planned for 6 p.m. Thursday at Blossom Heath Inn, 24800 Jefferson Ave. The event features a buffet dinner, entertainment, auction, and awards to those being recognized for their service to young people and their community. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. Contact Ron Erney, at (586) 293-5363.

The Optimists define champions as "people who fight for a cause." Those honored this year include Macomb County Treasurer Ted Wahby, business owner Jeffrey Kuehl, and "Santa" Jim Storz.

The club's "Only the Best Award" is for the student who exemplifies characteristics in the Optimist Creed that includes: "to think only of the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best" through participation in school programs and community.

The club will give out $4,000 in scholarships this year to graduating seniors of Lake Shore, Lakeview, South Lake and North Lake High Schools for a college, university or trade school. A recipient is nominated by a high school principal, a counselor and a teacher for positive changes in performance, behavior, attitude or outlook, or for overcoming a hardship, tragedy or obstacle.

Students nominated for various honors are Julie Charbeneau, Daishon Pratt, Scott Dunn, Alyssa Karpinski, Zachary Menzo, Paul Wybo, Lindsay Loridon, Katie Mullins and Franz Beauregard.

The club also this year will celebrate its 16th anniversary of programs for children such as the Junior Golf Tournament for Childhood Cancer, Rapid Search Network Child-Find Program, Santa Station at the Selinsky-Green Farmhouse, and the Secret Santa Bicycle Delivery. It supports the Lac St. Clair Fine Arts Fair, and the city's Memorial Day parade, symphony orchestra Nibble Fest and Christmas tree lighting.

Control your e-mail

A Rotary Club of Grosse Pointe workshop, "Getting Control of Email," is set for Tuesday at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial on Lakeshore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms. Sessions are 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1-4:30 p.m. Tickets are $185 per person. To reserve space, go to www.performancetechnologies-mi.com or call Mike Carmody at (313) 882-3554.

Dinner aids vet

A dinner at the American Polish Cultural Center, 2975 E. Maple Road, Troy, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. May 9, benefits injured Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran David Alexander "Alex" Knapp, 23, of Utica. Homes For Our Troops will build Knapp a barrier-free home by the end of this year. The gesture is intended to show respect and appreciation to Knapp from the community and the country. Tickets are $40 and include a buffet dinner, silent auction, band music and a veterans dedication. Make donations through www.homesforourtroops.org. HFOT needs contractors or trades people to donate materials and labor.

Send service club and veterans news to: Linda May c/o The Macomb Daily, 100 Macomb Daily Drive, Mount Clemens MI 48046; or lindamay@ameritech.net. Phone/fax (586) 791-8116.