The "Briggs For Becky" Plaque.

A commemorative plaque has been presented to Briggs Corner Pizzeria, for its part in sponsoring the "Briggs For Becky" Night.

TO OUR

BRIGGS CORNER
PIZZERIA FAMILY

WITH HEARTFELT APPRECIATION
FOR YOUR SOLE SPONSORSHIP OF THE
"BRIGGS FOR BECKY NIGHT 2008"

SINCERE THANKS

THE REBECKHA LYNN WHITEFIELD
SCHOLARSHIP FUND AND FOUNDATION

THE WHITEFIELD FAMILY
AND ALL OF BECKY'S FRIENDS

Rebeckha's Cousin, a Respected Police Officer.

The following article is from The Jamestown Press, May 22, 2008. A link to this online article can also be found on the Articles sidebar:

Police officer started out as a teacher
By Sam Bari

John Areson

John Areson, 36, has been a Jamestown police officer since December 2003. Hired by now retired Lt. Paul Balzer, Areson attended the Rhode Island Police Academy in Lincoln, with fellow officer Derek Carlino.

Areson is a native Rhode Islander who has lived in Warwick all his life. He graduated from Warwick Veterans Memorial High School with his twin brother Jay, who is six minutes younger. After graduation, the twin brothers attended Tarkio College in Missouri on football scholarships. John returned to Rhode Island after two years and earned his bachelors' degree in criminal justice from Rhode Island College in Providence.

After graduation, Areson was hired by the Adult Correctional Institute in Cranston where he was the substance abuse councilor in the maximum-security section. He worked at the ACI for five years and furthered his education while he was there. Areson earned a masters' degree at Providence College as a state certified teacher in special education.

"I then got a job at Valley Community Schools," Areson said. "I taught all subjects to boys with behavioral problems. The classes were small, which gave me an opportunity to give them the personal attention they needed. The idea was to get them to integrate back into the mainstream of the public school system."

He then decided he wanted to put his criminal justice skills to work and answered a newspaper ad for police officers in Jamestown. He was hired and sent to the police academy in December of 2003, and began work as an officer in 2004. Since, Areson has become the elderly affairs officer and a training officer for his colleagues in the department.

"I always wanted to be a policeman," Areson said. "I enjoy working in the community more than in the prison system, although that had its rewards. I think everything from helping the elderly to training other officers makes the job interesting. Every day is a different challenge. That's what makes me look forward to going to work in the morning, or whatever shift I happen to be working," he said.

He also said the department is staffed with well-trained people who are good to work with. "And that makes the job a lot easier," Areson added.

When he is off duty, Areson spends his time boating and fishing. "I love to sail," Areson said, "and I play basketball at least three times a week.

"I spend a lot of time with my family," Areson said. "My parents have been married for more than 40 years. Most of us live in Rhode Island. Those who don't are scattered around New England. My older brother is a social studies teacher at Veterans Memorial, the same high school we all graduated from. My twin is a special education teacher at Johnston High School."

Officer John Areson is single and lives in Warwick.

This past weekend, Officer Areson's 17-year-old cousin, Rebecca Whitefield, tragically died in an automobile accident in Attleboro, Mass. The passenger riding with her was critically injured. Neither were wearing seatbelts.

Areson said Rebecca was a beautiful young girl with promise of a rewarding future. He reminds all drivers to always wear their seatbelts because there is so much to lose should an accident happen.

For the next couple of weeks, the "Click it or Ticket" program will be in effect, Areson said. He hopes everyone will take the intent of the program seriously, and remember to buckle up.

About the "Forever In Our Hearts" Benefit Concert.

The following article is from the Sun Chronicle, June 10, 2008.

In memory of Rebeckha

Tuesday, June 10, 2008 2:51 AM EDT

ATTLEBORO - Friends and family of Rebeckha Whitefield, the Attleboro High School junior killed last month in a car accident, are holding a number of fundraising events in her memory.

Tonight, "Briggs for Becky" will be held in the Attleboro High School cafeteria.

Sponsored by Briggs Corner Pizzeria, the all-you-can-eat buffet will be held from 5 to 8. Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults.

A benefit concert, "Forever In Our Hearts," will run from 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday in Bray Auditorium at Attleboro High.

The concert will feature several bands including Cover Up, Austin Lepper, Magical Music Band, From Where It Ends, Fordoes Me Quite, Odyssey and Four-Fifths Johnson. A $5 donation will be collected at the door.

Rebeckha's father has requested all attendees to wear blue. Blue and white ribbons will be sold at both events for $3. All proceeds will go directly to the Rebeckha Whitefield Scholarship Fund, with a goal of reaching $50,000.

Joe Travers, who organized the benefit concert, said he hopes holding the events will raise the spirits of the students who are still mourning over the loss of a "great friend."

Four more events are planned for this summer to raise money for the scholarship fund, with dates not yet announced.

Further donations can be mailed to the Rebeckha Whitefield Scholarship Fund at 55 Pioneer Circle, Attleboro, MA 02703.

Rebeckha was killed May 16 in a crash on a rain-slicked Oak Hill Avenue when the Jeep she was in went out of control and struck a tree.

Concert Benefit for Rebeckha Whitefield on 6/12/2008.

There seems to be a concert planned for June 12, 2008 at 7:00 PM at Attleboro High School, as a Benefit for Rebeckha Whitefield, by a band called FOREDOES ME QUITE. The address is 100 Rathbun Willard Drive, Attleboro, MA 02703. The cost is $5. All proceeds go to the family of Rebeckha Whitefield. Click on the link below for more information.

http://www.myspace.com/foredoesmequite

Scholarship event planned for 6/10/2008.

The following is quoted from the Sun Chronicle column entitled, "Along the Way", on June 4, 2008:

Scholarship event planned for June 10.

Christine Chapman tells Along the Way that there will be an upcoming fundraiser for the Rebeckha Whitefield Scholarship Fund. She says Briggs Corner Pizzeria in Attleboro will hold a Briggs For Becky night from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 10 from 5-8 at the B1 Cafeteria at Attleboro High School. People should enter through the pit to accommodate everyone. Briggs Corner will provide an all-you-can-eat buffet, with all the proceeds of ticket sales going directly to the scholarship fund. The cost will be $20 per adult, $15 per student, with children 5 and under free. Tickets may be purchased by contacting Chapman at 508-226-8713; leave a message or you can call and give a head count and pay the night of the event. Tickets also will be sold during lunch at all cafeterias at AHS on Thursday and Friday. Call to purchase or reserve your tickets by Sunday night.

Rebeckha's Memory is Spread Far and Wide.

According to this blog's visitor counter, visitors who have happened upon the blog through a direct name or a Google search have done so from the following locations, listed in alphabetical order by country name, state name and/or city name:


Australia, Queensland, Nukku


Bermuda, Hamilton


Canada, Ontario, Bay, North
Canada, Ontario, Ottawa
Canada, Ontario, Toronto
Canada, Nova Scotia, Halifax


Germany, Berlin


Guam, Barrigada


Haiti, Port-au-Prince


Hong Kong, Central District


Israel, Tel Aviv









Italy, Lazio, Rome


Oman, Masqat, Ruwi


United Kingdom, London, City of, London


U.S.A., Arkansas, Little Rock


U.S.A., California, Moraga
U.S.A., California, Mountain View
U.S.A., California, Sacramento
U.S.A., California, San Bernardino


U.S.A., North Carolina, Wilmington
U.S.A., North Carolina, Youngsville


U.S.A., South Carolina, Conway


U.S.A., Connecticut, Bridgeport
U.S.A., Connecticut, Haven, West
U.S.A., Connecticut, Newington
U.S.A., Connecticut, Torrington


U.S.A., Florida, Orlando


U.S.A., Georgia, Suwanee
U.S.A., Georgia, Marietta
U.S.A., Georgia, Millen


U.S.A., Hawaii, Kailua Kona


U.S.A., Illinois, Chicago


U.S.A., Kansas, Wichita


U.S.A., Maine, Alfred
U.S.A., Maine, Freeport
U.S.A., Maine, Hallowell


U.S.A., Massachusetts, Acton
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Arlington
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Attleboro
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Attleboro, North
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Babson Park
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Boston
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Bridgewater
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Bridgewater, East
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Brighton
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Brockton
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Cambridge
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Dedham
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Fairhaven
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Falmouth, East
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Foxboro
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Franklin
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Hanscom Afb
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Holliston
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Holyoke
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Lincoln
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Longmeadow
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Malden
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Milton
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Natick
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Needham Heights
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Newton Center
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Raynham Center
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Reading, North
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Rehoboth
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Sharon
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Somerset
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Spencer
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Springfield
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Swansea
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Taunton
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Taunton, East
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Waltham
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Wellesley
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Westborough
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Weymouth, East
U.S.A., Massachusetts, Woburn


U.S.A., Minnesota, Duluth
U.S.A., Minnesota, Hastings


U.S.A., Missouri, Half Way


U.S.A., New Hampshire, Bedford
U.S.A., New Hampshire, Manchester
U.S.A., New Hampshire, Hampton


U.S.A., New Jersey, Bordentown
U.S.A., New Jersey, Edison
U.S.A., New Jersey, Jersey City
U.S.A., New Jersey, New Brunswick
U.S.A., New Jersey, Piscataway
U.S.A., New Jersey, Trenton



U.S.A., New York, Bronx
U.S.A., New York, Elmhurst
U.S.A., New York, Flushing
U.S.A., New York, Staten Island
U.S.A., New York, Webster
U.S.A., New York, Selden


U.S.A., Rhode Island, Ashaway
U.S.A., Rhode Island, Cranston
U.S.A., Rhode Island, Cumberland
U.S.A., Rhode Island, Exeter
U.S.A., Rhode Island, Pascoag
U.S.A., Rhode Island, Pawtucket
U.S.A., Rhode Island, Providence
U.S.A., Rhode Island, Riverside
U.S.A., Rhode Island, Warwick


U.S.A., Virginia, Richmond


U.S.A., Washington, Kirkland
U.S.A., Washington, Pullman
U.S.A., Washington, Seattle

This list will be updated regularly as more visitors stop by this blog. Rebeckha, your memory is spread far and wide. Rest in peace!