Published in the June 16, 2016 edition.

By GAIL LOWE

WAKEFIELD — Wakefield resident Cindy Addeo was named new president of the Wakefield Alliance Against Violence (WAAV) at the organization’s annual meeting held Wednesday, June 15 at the WCAT studios on Hemlock Road.

Though not present due to illness, Addeo will take over for Bob Eldridge, who has held the leadership role for the past five years.

WAAV members also voted in a slate of officers, including Peggy Schleicher and Amy Toothaker, co-vice presidents; Merry Eldridge, treasurer; Kathy Byrne, corresponding secretary and Nancy Cicia, recording secretary.

Given that 49 people were killed and another 53 injured in a violent manner this past weekend at an Orlando, Fla. night club, Eldridge opened the meeting by calling for a moment of silence.

He then gave a brief overview of WAAV’s accomplishments over the five years he has served as president and what lies ahead for the group:

• Presentation of a one-woman play titled “The Yellow Dress” given during prom season to the junior class at Wakefield Memorial High School about teen dating violence. Following future presentations, a survey will be distributed to students asking them to describe their perceptions of dating violence.

• The “Got Civility” town-wide sticker program brought to Wakefield in the fall of 2013 when “Saving Civility: 52 Ways to Tame Rude, Crude and Attitude for a Polite Planet” author Sara Hacala visited Wakefield to speak to the public and students at the Galvin Middle School on the subject of civility. The movement has ventured beyond Wakefield and possibly may be implemented in the city of Beverly.

• The involvement of owners of local hair salons and leaders of vocational schools in the training of employees and students on how to spot signs of domestic violence while working with a client.

• The formation of an alliance with Wakefield Unified (Substance Abuse) Prevention Coalition (WAKE-UP), an organization in Wakefield that fights substance abuse.

• The promotion of an anti-bullying program throughout Wakefield’s public schools.

Wakefield Memorial High School Health, Wellness and Athletics Director Brendan Kent spoke at length about a $500,000 grant made by Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots, that will fund a program open to coaches and athletic directors that focuses on social norms and gender biases. Kent said that he planned to attend a meeting today with Kraft and others interested in applying for Phase Two of the grant, which also is geared to health education. Kent said that he is in discussion with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kim Smith about the grant.

At the meeting, WAKE-UP Grant Coordinator Catherine Dhingra shared data collected from a survey concerning sexual behavior of high school students. She commented that suicidal ideation among students in the public schools is trending up while substance abuse is trending down. Part of the blame on suicidal thoughts has been traced to mean-spirited comments posted by students on social media such as Facebook. In Wakefield, bullying is at about the state average, said Dhingra.

Judy Luciano, executive director of the McCarthy Senior Center on Converse Street, also attended the meeting and said she hoped a program designed to deal with elder abuse would be part of WAAV’s agenda in the near future.

Wakefield Family Services Officer Amy Toothaker and newly elected WAAV co-vice president announced that Catie Keene, owner of Vanity Hair Salon at 979 Main St. in Greenwood, is the first sponsor of “The Run to End Domestic Violence” set for Saturday, Oct. 15 at 9 a.m. around Lake Quannapowitt. She has donated $1,000 to help WAAV fund the race.

The next WAAV meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 20 at 8:30 a.m. at the WCAT studios on Hemlock Road. A representative from Mystic Valley Elder Services will make a presentation.