Florence teen symposium receives high marks; council backs fundraising for national trips

The Florence Teen (Dean) Symposium drew praise from elected officials Tuesday as town staff and volunteer liaisons described a larger, more organized event in its second year that featured student leadership and regional participation.

"This day, we've come a long way in a very short period of time," Mayor Keith Eaton said, commending students who helped choose speakers, introduce presenters and run staging. Ian Newcomb, identified in the meeting as a team liaison, said organizers worked with speakers in advance to avoid overlapping topics and to create a seamless program.

Community services staff member Steven Gallagher outlined four areas of focus for youth programming: activation of the team council and local teams; recreation and special events; workforce training and mentorship…