Testing limits and developing self-confidence

The River Reporter
Thursday, April 19, 2001.

Police Chief Michael Brennan and Head Start director Bertha Williams to be honored at Masonic Awards night in Monticello

By TOM RUE

MONTICELLO -Monticello police chief Michael Brennan and Sullivan County Head Start director Bertha Williams will be honored in a program to be held on Saturday, May 12th. The program, which will be open to the public, will begin at 1:00 PM at the Monticello Elks Lodge at 46 North St.

A 1969 graduate of Eldred Central School, chief Brennan has been chief of Monticello's police department since August 1993. He has been a police officer since March 1972. Chief Brennan is a graduate of Orange County Community College as well as the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia. He supervises a force of 31full-time officers.

In recognizing chief Brennan for his leadership in community policing, the Masons will take special note of his work with local youth. The DeWitt Clinton Award recognizes distinguished or outstanding community service by non-Masonic organizations or individuals whose actions exemplify a shared concern for the well-being of humanity and a belief in the worldwide brotherhood of man and sisterhood of woman.

During the same program, the Douglas MacArthur Award for Service to Youth will be presented to Mrs. Bertha Green Williams of South Fallsburg. Mrs. Williams started with Sullivan County Head Start in 1965, as parent/school service coordinator and social worker, and serving as director from 1970 to 1976. She left the area to director a Head Start program in Newburgh, but returned to her old position in 1982 and has remained here since.

A certified elementary school teacher, Mrs. Williams completed her B.S. degree at SUNY New Paltz in 1975 and did graduate work at Canisius College in Buffalo. She is a member of numerous professional organizations, and serves as secretary of Starlight Chapter #74, Order of the Eastern Star, in South Fallsburg, and treasurer and choir director of the First Baptist Church.

For more information on the awards program, call Thomas Rue at 845/791-1432. To learn more about Freemasonry, including how to become one, call district deputy grand master John Green at 845/436-6219, or staff officer John P. Wells at 570/686-9085.

Related links:
Monticello Lodge $532, F&AM
Grand Lodge of NY, F&AM