… is one of the main requirements for success in our information age, and for more than 11 years, members of the Brentwood Rotary Club have been doing their part every school year by giving all third graders a beautifully illustrated dictionary. Recipients of the first dictionaries are now in college. This year, Rotarians delivered more than 1,500 dictionaries, including to students at Ron Nunn Elementary, above. This year saw an expanded distribution that for the first time included third graders in Knightsen and Oakley. The Discovery Bay Lions Club joined in the project, presenting an additional 200 dictionaries to students at Timber Point and Discovery Bay Elementary School. John Mancuso, owner of Casey's Auto Body, was Rotary Club President during the inaugural dictionary distribution. "Putting a smile on the faces of kids has been very rewarding," he said. "I can't believe how much the program has grown." Oakley and Knightsen will each be adding another elementary school next year, and those will be included in the 2008 program. Also, the newly formed Discovery Bay Rotary Club will be making the Dictionary Drive bigger and better than ever next year.

- Contributed by Brett Morey