CONTRIBUTED
HELPING A PAL: Pam Anderson (left), chairwoman for Washington Noon Rotary’s Smoke on the Water (SOTW) annual fundraiser, presents Beaufort County Police Activities League President Alvin Powell with a donation resulting from the proceeds of last year’s SOTW event. BCPAL consist of police-department participants from Aurora, Belhaven, Chocowinity and Washington that work with retired law-enforcement officials and community volunteers to interact with youth (conducting recreational activities, classroom and workshop sessions, field trips, guest speakers and day camps) to improve the communication and public perception about law enforcement and juvenile-justice officials. Although some PAL programs cover science, technology, engineering and mathematics, PAL is about much more than academics and athletics. The focus is to prepare youth for the work force, further education and a successful, law abiding adulthood. Aside from students having career-readiness exposure and athletic activities, the focus of the program provides mentorship until they graduate high school and fosters positive relationships between the students, first-responders and law enforcement. To find out more about PAL, access its website at: beaufortpal.tigersix.net, call 252-923-9482 or send email to beaufortcountypal@hotmail.com. PAL is located in Washington in Room 202D of the Peterson Building at 310 W. Main St.