Natick July 2016

Page 10 Local Town Pages www.naticktownnews.com July 2016
Art in Natick
Natick Together for Youth
Recognizes Cheryle Lucenta as
a Community Champion
Babsje Depicts
Beautiful Birds
On exhibit at the Summer St.
Gallery at The Center for Arts in
Natick (TCAN), 14 Summer St.,
through July is fine art photographer
and Natick-based photojournalist
Babsje. Known for her
beautiful herons images, Babsje
photographs from the cockpit of
a floating kayak while paddling
the lakes, ponds, and rivers of the
Charles River watershed. Her
work offers intimate glimpses of
the beautiful birds in an unusual
New England
and original way. Her great blue
heron portraits have appeared in
corporate and private collections.
Babsje studied graphic design and
journalism at The Pennsylvania
State University and has worked
in digital media for international
media companies.
Exhibit Lifts
People’s Spirits
Stephanie Krist’s art typically
features inspiring words—encouraging
phrases, great music lyrics
and the teachings of the Bible.
In her work, Rita uses a variety
of pens and often incorporates
watercolor. In her “Paper Pep
Talks” series, which can be seen at
the Bakery on the Common, 9 S.
Main St., during July and August,
she combines common encouraging
phrases to make interesting
compositions, with the goal being
to lift people’s spirits.
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Natick Together for Youth
(NTY) presented the 2016 NTY
Community Champion Award
to Natick resident Cheryle Lucenta
for her exceptional service
to Natick’s youth and families,
particularly those who have experienced
opioid addiction. A
founding member of the SOAR
Natick (Supporting Our Addicts’
Recovery), Lucenta has
devoted countless hours towards
community efforts to prevent
youth substance use and support
individuals and families seeking
recovery from substance use disorders.
The award ceremony took
place in June at the Natick High
School.
Lucenta was nominated by
James White, Director of the
Natick Health Department and
Chairperson of NTY. In his
nomination, White cited Lucenta’s
numerous contributions
to initiatives that have helped to
educate community members
and decrease the stigma of addiction
that impacts many families.
As a founding member of
SOAR Natick, Lucenta has
helped to create a biweekly
support group for Natick families
who have seen a loved one
struggle with addiction. Each
December, Lucenta helps plan
Natick’s annual vigil for those
who have lost their lives to addiction,
and was a leading force
in developing an educational
pamphlet about addiction and
treatment resources that Natick
first responders can distribute to
community members effected
by substance use disorders.
In addition, in November
2015, Lucenta and SOAR
Natick led efforts to bring Chris
Herren to Natick to speak to
youth and parents. Herren, a
former Celtics player and person
in recovery, attracted a huge
crowd of approximately 750
people, filling the Natick High
School auditorium.
Community leaders cheered
White’s nomination of Lucenta
for the 2016 NTY Community
Champion Award. When presenting
Lucenta with the award,
NTY Executive Director Katie
Sugarman said, “Cheryle is a
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Cheryle Lucenta wins the 2016 Natick Together for Youth Community
Champion award.
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person who does not seek out
the spotlight, and she truly demonstrates
what it means to be a
champion of Natick families.
She has done so much, from
helping to found SOAR Natick
to participating in many of
NTY’s events and initiatives.”
This was the second time
that NTY gave the Community
Champion Award to a Natick
community member. As a coalition
with a mission focused on
preventing and reducing youth
substance use in Natick, NTY
aims to create a more connected
town in which youth, parents,
individuals and organizations
work together to increase the
protective factors that help youth
avoid substance use and reduce
the risk factors that might contribute
to substance use. The
Community Champion Award
celebrates individuals of any age
who demonstrate exemplary service
towards this shared goal.
For more information about
NTY, contact Katie Sugarman
by calling 508-647-
6623 or emailing csugarman@
natickps.org.