Rotary Club of East Haven appoints new officers and presents public safety awards

Tammy Afragola, outgoing president of the East Haven Rotary Club, and Joan Adamczyk, the club’s incoming president, inducted new Rotary officers at a recent event at The Woodwinds in Branford. Pictured with Afragola and Adamczyk are Carl Ruggiero and Joesph Esposito, co-sergeants-at-arms, Ashley Lesco, secretary, Kirsten Dudley, president-elect, and Elizabeth Esposito, treasurer. Photo courtesy of East Haven Rotary Club

Jonathan DePino (with plaque), a firefighter with the East Haven Fire Department, is joined by Fire Chief Matt Marcarelli (third from right) and other members of Local 1205 after receiving the Joseph Buonome Public Safety Award. Photo courtesy of the East Haven Rotary Club

Donato Palma (with plaque) of the East Haven Police Department, winner of the Joseph Buonome Public Safety Award, stands with Police Chief Ed Lennon (fourth from right) and other members of Local 275. Photo courtesy of East Haven Rotary Club

Press release from the East Haven Rotary Club

The Rotary Club of East Haven recently held its annual Officer Induction and Joseph Buonome Public Safety Award Dinner at The Woodwinds in Branford.

The Rotary officers who organized this event are Kirsten Dudley as president-elect, Elizabeth Esposito as treasurer, Joesph Esposito and Carl Ruggiero as co-sergeants-at-arms, and Ashley Lesco as secretary.

The Joseph Buonome Public Safety Award went to two individuals: Jonathan DePino, a firefighter with the East Haven Fire Department, and Donato Palma, a police officer with the East Haven Police Department.

In addition to inaugurating the officers and presenting this year’s Public Safety Awards, the East Haven Rotary Club also honored several other individuals with additional awards at the event. Richard Kojo Ackom-Brew was the winner of the Dr. Balletto Scholarship and Natalie Brown received the Jack Leary Scholarship. Brooke Ciscone and Alexandra Lesco received the East Haven Rotary Scholarship, while Elizabeth Leon received the East Haven Adult Education Scholarship.

Peter Fiondella of PMF Cleaning was awarded the Community Partnership Award. Joan Adamczyk, Rotarian and newly installed president of the club, received the Service Above Self Award.

The newly inducted Rotarians are Deborah Balisciano, Virginia DeMatteo, Gina Gambardella-Graham and Robert Lukaszek.