Hold Your Dream

The search is on for the next Miss Strafford County to be crowned on September 18th at the Portsmouth Christian Academy Theatre. The theme will be, "Hold Your Dream" with a special farewell performance by the amazing Lissa Silk, Miss Strafford County 2010.

There WILL be an Outstanding Teen, PreTeen and Princess Program too.

For more information email straffordcountyscholarshipprogram@hotmail.com

**The Miss Strafford County Scholarship Program is incredibly proud of our titleholders. Every single Miss Strafford County has gone on to win additional awards and scholarships at the Miss New Hampshire Pageant...and the last two Miss Strafford County titleholders were named Top Ten Finalists!

Mr Strafford County

Thank you to everyone who participated in and attended our First Mr. Strafford County Fundraiser. A big thank you to our host WHEB's Justin McIsaac. Congratulations to the new Mr. Strafford County Will Jenkins from Planet Fitness; First Runner-up Dover Mayor Scott Myers and Second Runner-up Rochester Mayor T.J. Jean. http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100731/GJNEWS_01/707319943

Mr. Strafford County
Girls’ Night Out for a Great Cause!
Thursday, July 29th 8p-10p
Dover Bowl - 11th Frame Bar and Function Room
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=139084256119253

The Miss Strafford County Scholarship Program and the Dover Bowl announce a special Girls' Night Out Event: Mr. Strafford County, Thursday, July 29th from 8p–10p at the 11th Frame Bar and Function Room at Dover Bowl.

Contestants will compete in Sportswear, Formal or Professional Attire and On Stage Question. A panel of local judges including Leslie Feliciano, Founder of the Miss Strafford County Scholarship Program and Erika Lehman, Former Miss University will select the first Mr. Strafford County based on personality, style and audience appeal.

Mark Bowen of the Dover Bowl said, “We are looking forward to a fun night for a great cause. The Dover Bowl has been a long time supporter of the Miss Strafford County Scholarship Program and we are excited to cheer on the Mr. Strafford County finalists.”

Proceeds from the event will support the Miss Strafford County Scholarship Fund. The Miss Strafford County Scholarship Program is an official Miss America local preliminary and has granted more than $24,000 in scholarships since 2006. Additionally, the Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program grants more than $85,000 in scholarships each year. Miss New Hampshire Program and it’s twenty-seven local preliminaries are all nonprofit corporations with group 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.

Tickets are $10 for women and $20 for men, available at the door.

For information, call Dover Bowl at 742-9632. To nominate a Mr Strafford County contestant, please email straffordcountyscholarshipprogram@hotmail.com.

The Miss America Organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarship assistance for young women. Last year, the Miss America Organization and its state and local organizations made available more than $45 million in cash and scholarship assistance. For more information please visit http://www.missnh.com/ and http://www.missstraffordcounty.blogspot.com/.

Event timeline:
7:30p Pink Carpet Arrivals and Paparazzi Photos
8:00p Mr Strafford County Introductions and On Stage Question Competition
8:15p Sportswear Competition (think Swimsuits or Golf Attire)
8:30p Formal or Professional Wear Competition (Tuxedos, Khakis, Work Wear – anything goes!)
8:45p Judge Deliberation
9:00p Crowning

Relay for Life Rochester, NH

Relay for Life on June 25th and 26th was one of the most special nights of my life so far. I was honored to attend the annual 'survivor sit-down dinner' where hundreds of cancer survivors come together for a nice meal before the event and share stories, give hope and inspire each other to keep fighting back against cancer. One of my new friends,Corey, who is 15 years old(pictured), addressed the survivors with an emotional speech of his story at the survivor dinner. Corey is an amazing person! After the dinner I had the privilege of kicking off the Relay for Life 2010 over the loud speakers...tons of people poured onto the track carrying their team signs, remembering loved ones, and fighting the battle against cancer with every step they took and every dollar raised. Relay for Life Rochester rose over $180,000 for the American Cancer Society! Thank you so much to the Relay for Life Committee members who worked long hours all year to produce a tremendous event! See you all next year.

Letter Writing for May's Military Appreciation Month

BJ's is challenging the communities in which it has clubs, including residents in Portsmouth, to help write 50,000 letters for our troops overseas throughout May. The letters will be included in care packages distributed to individual U.S. service members through the nonprofit Operation Gratitude. In turn, BJ's Charitable Foundation will donate $1 to Operation Gratitude for each letter received, up to $50,000, which will help defray the cost of shipping care packages. This wonderful letter writing campaign took place on May 8th at BJ's Wholesale in Portsmouth and continues until Memorial Day. It's not too late to drop off your letter. Here with Valerie Bergeron, BJ's community relations specialist, writing letters with Tiffany, and dropping letters into the BJ's mailbox with BJ's member, Gary. Visit opgratitude.com for more information.

23rd Annual Lonni Stern 5k-Road Race

Lonni Stern graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1981 after being an active member of the Alpha Tau chapter of Alpha Chi Omega for 4 years. She died from breast cancer in 1987 and in her memory the sorority hosts one of her favorite activities, running. All proceeds from this event were donated to the New Hampshire Breast Cancer Coalition in her honor. It was a pleasure to be a part of the event. Here with the sisters of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. Visit http://www.axounh.com to follow the acts of service the sisters are involved in. Great job ladies!

Thank you Miss New Hampshire Program

Just two weeks ago was the 2010 Miss New Hampshire competition. . . I have finished final exams at Manchester Community College and just five days ago received my letter of acceptance into the University of New Hampshire’s Exercise Science program with junior status. I am so excited to start in the fall!

The Miss New Hampshire 2010 competition was such a special time . . . I am continually blown away by the constant dedication, love, and pure hard work that comes from all of the Miss New Hampshire volunteers. I send out my most sincere thanks to all the Miss New Hampshire staff, directors, and committed volunteers who make this program the success that it is year after year. I was absolutely honored to be called into the Top 10 for my second year running now, especially with such an incredible group of smart, talented, and genuine ladies. I cannot wait for next year!

I would not have been so confident, so well prepared, and so blessed to have unique opportunities to serve my Strafford County had it not been for Sarahjayne Howland. Thank you so much for investing in me with early mornings and late nights meetings, making sure I had everything I needed to get ready for Miss New Hampshire, and all the encouraging messages and texts along the way. I will never forget your thoughtfulness.

To Trisha and Elaine, thank you for making me look and feel so beautiful on stage in talent, finale, and gown, and for all your helpful tips along the way . . . especially the miraculous zipper wax!

To all my beloved family and friends . . . Thank you for the constant support and love all year long. Mom, Dad, Zach, Tiff, Phil, and Mimi, you guys are my secret weapons.

Looking forward to the Miss New Hampshire 2011 season where I will continue to further my ‘Passionately Pink’ Platform and cheer on Krystal Muccioli as she gets ready for Miss America!

Strafford County Seat

Thank you to Gary DeColfmacker from the Dover Rotary for a wonderful tour of the Strafford County Complex http://www.co.strafford.nh.us/. It was an honor to meet High Sheriff Wayne Estes http://co.strafford.nh.us/sheriff.aspx and hardworking NH State Police in a Training Class. I've lived my entire life in Strafford County and it was fascinating to meet the people who run our county.

Thank you all for the warm hospitality. I look forward to representing Strafford County in the 2010 Miss New Hampshire Scholarship Program next week and promise to do my very best to make you proud!