Borsts Buy 300th ETH Seat

To Honor Soldier Grandson

The plaque on the back of the 300th seat in the Edmond Town Hall Theatre will bear an inscription honoring Private First Class Dylan Borst, 18, a Newtown soldier who is on his way with his Army field artillery unit to serve in Kuwait.

Barbara and Joe Borst bought the seat to honor their grandson,  who until recently was stationed with his unit, Bravo 5/3 FA at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, where he trained as a crewmember on the multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), a rocket tank. He will be posted in Kuwait for a year, where he will be driving heavy equipment transports (HETS), delivering tanks, Bradleys, and other equipment to the various military basis.

PFC Borst graduated from Newtown High School in January 2005.

The Newtown Lions Club is working to replace all 411 seats on the lower level of the theater in the town hall as a project for the town’s 300th birthday this year. Each of the seats will have a plaque with an inscription chosen by the donor.

Joe and Barbara Borst are active members of the community. Mr Borst was reelected this week to his eighth two-year term on the Legislative Council. Previously he served as a selectman, on the Planning & Zoning and Charter Revision committees, and was active with the high school band parents.

Barbara Borst is retired from 32 years as an educational assistant at Hawley School. She has volunteered with the band parents, the Sandy Hook PTA, and the PTA Council. She also served as treasurer of the Newtown Scholarship Association.

The Borsts have five children and ten grandchildren.

“The Edmond Town Hall Seats Committee is really pleased to receive this check from the Borsts, surely one of the most civic-minded couples in town,” said Gordon Williams, chairman of the Lions Club Tercentennial project. “It is a also a milestone that they have purchased the 300th seat on our quest to sell all 411 seats.”

Mr Williams said that while finding donors to pay for each seat is a priority, the organization also welcomes smaller donations.

“When all of the seats are sold, we will still have a $25,000 gap before we reach the $150,000 projected cost,” he explained.”

The cost of each seat is $300, which includes installation, floor repair, and a plaque. Anyone who wants to make a donation should send a check payable to the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers to the Newtown Lions Club, Attention: Gordon Williams, PO Box 218, Newtown 06470.

Note: Anyone who wants to keep in touch with Dylan can send letters to PFC Dylan Borst, Bravo 5/3 FA, 3rd Platoon, APO AE 09366.