Another sunny and warm Memorial Day weekend saw bright yellow rubber ducks bobbing along the Pootatuck River where it runs through Sandy Hook.The Newtown Bee ($42 value): Lilly Wasilnak, Sandy Hook (#2451);

On Saturday, May 28, Newtown Lions Club members again hosted their annual fundraising event - The Great Pootatuck Duck Race, from 10 am to 3:30 pm. Guests and vendors gathered riverside at 5 Glen Road where the day offered activities, live music, booths hosted by local clubs and organizations and more. Other vendors were located along Church Hill Road, near the bridge, while first responders and vehicles were parked for inspection in the parking lot of Newtown United Methodist Church, which also offered activities and food.

Yellows plastic ducks - more than 3,170 sold this year - hit the water as they fell from a backhoe bucket over the bridge crossing the river on Church Hill Road. Residents, and children especially, lined the bridge and sidewalk running along the river behind Foundry Kitchen & Tavern and Village Perk Cafe as the wave of ducks spread out, some better at catching the current than others. Soon, Lions Club members selected the first ducks across the finish line downstream to determine the winners.

While waiting to find out of their duck won a prize, Brendan Somner and his cousin, Adira DiLiverto, stepped toward a microphone set on the bandstand and sang together. On the lawn was Maya Raedy, wearing a duck hat and looking through her bag of goodies gathered that day. Christine Tisi and her mother, Vivian, stood near a fence and watched ducks float past, wondering which belonged to them.

Lions Club members including Peter McNulty and Kevin Corey took the winning ducks and matched their numbers with corresponding tickets this year. As they determined the winners, they said sales were down from last year, possibly due to preceding rainy weekends as they sold tickets.

The day "went well, the turnout was a little less," said event chairman Bob Schmidt. "We usually get about 2,000 people, but there were about 1,200 people this year," he estimated.

Mr Schmidt, who also served as the day's emcee, arranged entertainment including performances by students and faculty of Ashurst Irish Dance School, The Amazing Magic Marty, Chuck and Tim Acoustic Rock, Lathrop School of Dance, Porco Karate Academy, and The Graceful Planet.

More than 30 exhibitors participated, including Fidelco Guide Dogs, Kevin's Community Center, Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind, Newtown Strong Therapy Dogs, Newtown Woman's Club, Relay For Life, Beautiful Babies, Mom's Club in Newtown, Support and Wellness, and Women Involved in Newtown.

The fundraiser supports "all different charities," Mr Schmidt said. There may be more of a need in some years such as the Sandy Hook Elementary Fund, he said, "but this year, it's in general, and funds variety of things."

The Newtown Lions would like to express their "sincere gratitude to Mike Porco, who for years has allowed us to use his property, and to the members of [Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity] for making this a Sandy Hook Village event." Mr Schmidt said.

[naviga:h4 style="text-align: center;"]The Winners

There were 20 prizes to win, including those donated by establishments all over Newtown. Mr Schmidt provided a list of winners naming their prize, ticket number, name, and town:

1. $2,000 check: Nancy Chung, Sandy Hook (ticket #2346);
2. Weekend Getaway -- $200 Ticketron gift card and $400 card for hotel and restaurant, Jack Shpunt, Sandy Hook (ticket #2762).
3. Porco Karate 3-month membership ($450 value): Chris Body (#113);
4. X Box One (valued $308.95): Carolyn Landegrebe, Sandy Hook ( #2725);
5. Treadwell Park Pool Pass ($200 value): Katie Johnson, Fredericksburg, Va. (#530);
6. Stone Garden Originals gift certificate for $75 and Berkshire Motors gift certificate for $40: Ivy Kuzara, Southbury (#869);
7. The Villa Restaurant gift certificate for $100: Mike Savinelli, Newtown (#18);
8. Carminuccio's gift certificate for $100: Karen McCann, Newtown (#146);
9. Figs gift certificate for $100: Darrell Harrington, Newtown (#1890);
10. Club Newfit, one-month membership ($65.93 value): Clarence Nadeau, Nassaic, N.Y. (#1575);
11. Foundry Kitchen & Tavern gift card for $50: Elaine Landau, Newtown (#614);
12. Tambascio's Italian Grill gift certificate for $50: Cathlin Sutton, Newtown (#1046);
13. Pizza Palace gift certificate for $50: Kyle Field, Sandy Hook (#1278);
14. My Place Restaurant gift certificate for $25 and Blue Colony Diner gift certificate for $25: Connor Adams, Newtown (#2302);
15. Newtown Car Care gift certificate for $47.44: Asemina Kukenos, Newtown (#1873);
16. Town Players of Newtown pair of tickets ($44 value): Deanna Thornton, Brookfield (#2909);
17. Naser's Hair Salon gift certificate for $42: William Holt, Sandy Hook (#2812);
18. One-year subscription or extension of existing subscription to

19. 20 tickets to Edmond Town Hall Movie Theater ($40 value): Michael Johnson, Fredericksburg, Va. (#527); and
20. Toy Tree $25 gift certificate: Kerri Pampano, Newtown (#1770).