Four men with direct ties to Sandy Hook, including one current and two former residents, drove to Moore, Okla., within days of a fatal EF5 tornado last month. “We had an immense amount of love pour into our town in December, and it continues to show up,” said Peter Baressi. “We need to not feel helpless. We need to share it,” he said, explaining why he and three friends drove 36 hours to deliver two trailers filled with supplies for those affected by the May 20 twister. John DiCostanzo, Howard Wood and Bill Faucett spent 36 hours driving west, spent the overnight of May 25-26 in Kansas City, and then arrived in Moore, Okla., on Sunday, May 26. They spent less than six hours in Norman, Okla., where they dropped off their donations, and then headed home.
When it comes to being a professional writer, Newtown resident Sophfronia Scott has seen it all. From writing articles for Time Magazine and People to publishing a novel and penning non-fiction books on how to get ahead in the world of business, Ms Scott knows what it takes to make it as an author. Fortunately for aspiring writers, some of Ms Scott’s wisdom, which she has accumulated over two decades of working as a professional author, has recently been published in the anthology Chicken Soup for the Soul: Inspiration for Writers.
This is the 11th installation of a series of stories that share with readers special events that continue to take place as Newtown heals following the events of 12/14 at Sandy Hook School. It is also a continuation of anecdotes from across the country, of people offering kind gestures on behalf of our town: students in a magnet school sticking together, decorated hearts from a project based in Shelton, special snowflakes from New Jersey, a pair of sneakers worn by an NBA superstar that fetched a king’s ransom at auction, and a memorial quilt that helped more than those who were honored by the work’s creators.
Ricci’s Salon & Spa, at 99 South Main Street, held a special event on Sunday, May 19: The Sandy Hook Green Salon-a-Thon. All services that were provided to customers included a bottle of Sandy Hook Green, a new, limited edition nail color created and donated by O*P*I Products, Inc. All proceeds benefited Sandy Hook Promise, a charity formed after 12/14.
Following days of rain and a swollen, rushing Pootatuck River — and even hopes by Friday, May 24, that The 13th Annual Great Pootatuck Duck Race would go onas planned — Newtown Lions Club members on May 25 made the difficult decision to change their plans for the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. Rather than floating plastic ducks along the river and fishing the winners from a collection point downstream, Duck Race Chairman Bob Schmidt spun tickets in a raffle wheel mid-Saturday afternoon. In the end, however, the Lions finished the afternoon with the same result as always: 20 people were winners of goods and services donated by local businesses and organizations.
