Ducks Prove Beneficial For Local Lions And Newtown

By Kendra Bobowick

Michael Porco Jr counted with the crowd, “Ten, nine, eight …” After he shouted “one” the backhoe’s front bucket — filled with rubber ducks — emptied into the Pootatuck River. Some gasped and others grabbed the railing, but for several seconds Saturday, May 23, no one spoke.

The ducks fell from the Sandy Hook Center bridge. Hundreds of guests at the ninth annual Great Pootatuck Duck Race searched the water’s surface as bright yellow clusters swarmed downstream, became momentarily entangled in stones, and eventually trickled into the distance.

A sunny morning succumbed to clouds overhead, but rain waited until after the 10 am to 3 pm day of festivities filling the lawn and parking lots in Sandy Hook.

“I am delighted the rain held out,” was the first reaction Tuesday from Newtown Lions Club member and event chairman Bob Schmidt. As Saturday afternoon turned damp and chilly leading to Sunday’s thunderstorms, the annual Lions Club fundraising event was “wonderful,” he said. Considering the economy, Mr Schmidt added, “We did almost as well as last year.” A majority of funds from the ticket sales will benefit the many local groups to which the Lions contribute.

“We will [give] some here, some there; it’s hard to pick just one group,” said Mr Schmidt.

Crowds gathered and grew, starting at St John’s Episcopal Church, where home-style cake donuts and refreshments were on sale. Bruce Moulthrop, chef’s hat in place, served hungry customers who could then step across Washington Avenue for the Sandy Hook Sidewalk Sale that accompanied this year’s race. On the corner inflating balloons — some of which escaped to the sky — was Nancy Larin. Pat Weil held one balloon as her granddaughter, Kayla Wadell, leaned away in shyness. Across the street and past the recently renovated Chao Chao restaurant and behind Mocha Coffee House were wool-covered llamas, fire trucks, face-painting, food, dance demonstrations, and booths touting various groups’ efforts in town.

Seated in the cab of a Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company truck were Sophia and Marie Gay. A few steps downhill found the llamas. Abigail O’Leary and her mother Rachel laughed as Abigail settled her fingers into Kahlua’s thick wool coat. Holding the reins as two tall llamas stood at her side was Marisa Russo. Lenie Urbina wore tie-die that stood out against the animals’ dark fur. Moving deeper into the crowd of parents and children, young Maddie Mixon’s face was decorated in pastels to resemble a butterfly, her flavored snow cone turning her tongue bright green. Toward the river’s edge were dance and karate demonstrations. Seated in the grass and wearing a mock firefighter’s hat was Sean Edwards, attending his second Duck Race.

Turning her face slightly to the side, Mollie Soto’s pale cheeks soon filled with marks of a butterfly as Lauren Kuzara placed a hand beneath the girl’s chin and dabbed face paints onto her face, nose, and chin. A strollalong the riverside walkway toward the back decks of businesses found A.J. Collier at work spinning yarn into strands of wool. Beside her, teens, including Anna Chamiec-Pauneto, had set up a booth to raise funds to benefit the Trinity Church U2charist to support a project to build a well in a third-world village. A May 30 walkathon for this cause is slated to begin at 6 pm at Reed Intermediate School.

Within reach was Rachel Krauss turning her pinwheel from side to side, hoping to set the toy in motion with the breeze. Standing beside the railing and looking toward the Sandy Hook bridge were the Cassettas, who, like everyone else that day, hoped to see their duck win a prize. Daughters Katy, Caroline, and Elizabeth stood with mom and dad as a backhoe with its front bucket filled with rubber ducks turned the corner and aimed for the bridge.

Lining parking lots, sidewalks, and patios bordering the river were residents who all hoped their duck would prove to be the first to cross the finish line. Top prize this year was $2,000 cash, while other prizes included a trip for two to New York City, video games, family pool passes, a month’s membership to Porco’s Karate Academy, and coupons and certificates for a host of local businesses, including a subscription to The Newtown Bee.

Winners are: $2,000 Cash Prize to Susan Gibney of Sandy Hook; a trip for two to New York City including a $300 Essex House gift certificate, $200 Ticketmaster gift certificate, and $100 American Express gift cheque to Jay Patal of Newtown; a Nintendo Wii console video game with Wii Play and Remote Bundle to Anita Adzima of Southbury; pool pass to Treadwell Park in Newtown to Bonnie Lindblad of Sandy Hook; a one month membership at Porco’s Karate Academy (No name on ticket stub 3387); a one-month membership at Porco’s Karate Academy to Shirley Berliner of Newtown; Sal e Pepe gift certificate to Walt Schweikert of Newtown.

Also, a one month membership at New Fit Gym in Newtown to Carol Gibson of Bethel; a one month membership at New Fit Gym in Newtown to Arthur Brown of Newtown; two-year subscription to The Newtown Bee to JoAnn Kapusta of Monroe; a gift certificate for The Inn at Newtown to Laura Hewitt of Sandy Hook; a gift basket from Lexington Gardens and gift card to Cliff Smith of Sandy Hook; a gift certificate for Blue Colony Diner to Bill May of Newtown; a gift certificate for My Place Restaurant to Patti Garson of Newtown; a gift certificate for Mona Lisa Restaurant to John Kopins of Newtown; a gift certificate for Pizza Palace Restaurant to Iain Baxter of Newtown; a gift certificate for The Villa Restaurant to Cathy Huffman of Newtown; a gift certificate for Firehouse Restaurant to Suzanne Paquin of Bethel; a gift certificate from Stop & Shop to Kevin Alexander of Sandy Hook; and ten movie passes for the Edmund Town Hall to Margaret Kovacs of Newtown.

Mr Schmidt nods to his committee for the hard work each member contributed: George Arfaras, Paul Arneth, Peter Bowen, Jon Christiansen, Kevin Corey, Tom Evagash (Lions Club president), Jim Larin (the first Duck Race chair in 2000), Gordon Mounts, Peter McNulty, Lincoln Sander, Mike Savinelli, Fred Stakel, Gordon Williams, Roger Capobianco, Bruce Landgrebe, Tom Glasrud, Gary Storms, and Chairman Bob Schmidt.

The Lions thanked Mike Porco Construction, which allows the Lions to use the Porco property for this event.