Event Honors 'What is Good and Right' About Grafton

Lily Maley has been a special friend to a child with autism.

She has a weekly lunch date with him, spends time with him in the pool and talks to him on the phone, although he can generally offer only one or two words before his attention span fades

That friendship has changed the child’s life, and eased the worries of his parents, who feared the youngster might never make friends.

And it has  earned her the title of Everyday Hero.

She was one of 74 recipients of the awards, which are presented to individuals who have made a difference in the lives of students with special needs. They are nominated by their peers, students or families of special needs students.

The awards were presented by the Grafton Special Education Parent Advisory Council at a ceremony tonight at .

Superintendent of Schools Jay Cummings said the event “epitomizes what is good and right about this community.’’

This year’s winners are:

Amber Litterer; Amy Salsman; Andrew Alper; Anne Runne; Austin Gerrie; Beth Lambert; Bradley Palmer; Brandon Thompson; Brendan Noronha; Cathy Carew; Cecila Phillips; Chris Tamborra; Connor Rynning; Deb Fasold; Deb Gonzalez; Diane Blessing; Diane Muzzy; Donna Poitras; Doreen Parker; Elizabeth DeCosta; Ellen Mirarchi; Erica Carlson; Francis Graves.

Hailey Hospod; Hilary Kreisberg; Jackie Henault; Jo Anne Stenbuck; John McKeon; Joy Sala; Judy Dadah; Karla Belliveau; Karyn Lewis; Kate Tetzel; Kelli Desrosiers; Kelly Sauriol; Kelsey Barksdale; Kimberly Cahill-Sabourin; Krissy Ghiz; Laura Newhall; Laura Jankowski; Lily Maley; Linda Colette; Linda Page; Lois Rossiter; Lori Lauria; Marcelle Monfredo; Maria Tessier; Martha Hanley; Mary Brosnan-Quilliam; Mary Chojnicki; Maureen Clark; Maureen Molloy.

Megan McPartland; Melissa Richard; Michael Breault; Michelle Desrosiers; Morgan Sutton; Carol Cooney; Nicki Bolt; Patricia Cormack; Paula Anderson; Peggy Forbes; Rebekah Mahoney; Robert Quist; Sarah Fontaine; Stephanie Seifert; Teri Turgeon; Terri Crowley; Theresa Monteith; Thomas Morris; Thomas Spurgeon.