Mother of boy killed at Sandy Hook to speak in Oconee

The mother of one of the children killed when a gunman opened fire at a Connecticut elementary school will give a talk next week at an Oconee County event to raise awareness about suicide prevention.  The speaker, Scarlet Lewis, lost her son Jesse December 14, 2012 when Adam Lanza killed 26 people, including 20 children at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT.  Earlier that day, Lanza shot and killed his mother at their Newtown home.  At the school shooting, Lanza committed suicide by shooting himself in the head. The event, at which Scarlet Lewis, will speak will be Saturday morning, September 25 at the Blue Ridge Electric Coop on the Sandifer Boulevard.  She advocates for social and emotional learning and character development that teaches children how to manage their emotions, feel connected, and have healthy relationships.  September 25 at the Blue Ridge offices will be a family-friendly event to help remove the stigma surrounding mental health, as well as make students, families and community aware of mental health resources available with the Oconee district and community.  After Lewis’s talk, the Second Annual Hike for Hope will take place.  Oconee High school seniors who complete a Hike for Hope Passport will be eligible for one of three scholarships sponsored by Making by Mark, Choose Life, and the Seneca Junior Women’s Club.