To the Editor:

This year, Sandy Hook Village has again gone through a great transformation. The quaint village has always been a community filled with kind-hearted business owners and residents, but just over a month ago Sandy Hook welcomed our family back home. Deeply rooted in our village's strength, hope, and well-being is our Sandy Hook School community. Although it came with a mix of emotions, we are so happy that our Sandy Hook School students, parents, and teachers are back. Their presence has reinvigorated and inspired our businesses, a reminder of the future that is to come, and the hope of our community.

Sandy Hook Organization for Prosperity (SHOP) along with its residents, businesses, and property owners, has always strived to create a place of well-being, happiness, and belonging. Sandy Hook continues to strengthen its beautiful community to be a place where people want to live, work, and come have fun. From the Tat Holler concert last spring to Passport to Sandy Hook next weekend, to the Halloween Walk on October 29, we are excited about the energy and enthusiasm returning to Sandy Hook!

From 11 am to 4 pm on Saturday, October 8 (rain or shine), we invite residents and visitors to come enjoy all that our community has to offer with our villagewide 6th Annual Passport to Sandy Hook. More than 35 businesses welcome you to Sandy Hook Village! Get your Passport stamped at all of them, and be entered to win a prize package worth over $3,900. While you're here, enjoy live music, a bounce house, face painting, visits with the Newtown-Strong Therapy Dogs, the Newtown Jugglers and Circus Arts, and more! The town will come alive with prizes, fun activities for kids, arts and crafts, dance performances, open houses, games, free food and refreshments, discounts, and samples! Plus, musical performances by: Unclaimed Baggage and The Bobby Donaldson Band.

This special day in Sandy Hook is made possible not only by our merchants and SHOP, but also by our generous sponsors. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank Connecticut rock station 99.1-WPLR, Newtown Savings Bank, LRM Landscape Contractors, and Andy Sachs and The Around the Town Team of Coldwell Banker for their support of this annual community event. Please visit www.sandyhookvillage.com or RSVP to our Facebook event (6th Annual Passport to Sandy Hook) to learn more! And of course, please spread the word to your friends!

Hope to see you there!

Maribeth Hemingway

Passport to Sandy Hook Event Chair

10 Overlook Knoll, Sandy Hook               September 27, 2016