Holiday Festival

Weathers The Storm

To the Editor:

In spite of the blizzard, and lots of snow, on Sunday, December 7, the 18th Annual Family Counseling Center’s Holiday Festival took place on Newtown’s beautiful Main Street, with many people coming out to enjoy the events of the day. For almost a full year, members of the Holiday Festival Committee and staff have worked diligently attending to thousands of details in order to make the festival the success it has become. I would like to thank the following members of the committee for their outstanding dedication and contribution in support of the Family Counseling Center’s major fundraiser: Christine Anthony, Joan Bird, Maureen Birden, Terry Blackmer, Helen Benson, Robert Braddock, Rory Chapdelaine, Kim Charles, Tim Cunningham, Stella Dance, Cyndy DaSilva, Susan Doyle, Janice Fields, Michelle Grillo, Shannon Hicks, Carol Henry, Lynn Hungaski, Beth Israel, Jennifer Johnston, Laura Miller Kurtz, Layne Lescault, Kathy L., Carol Mahoney, Ann Montgomery, Susan Charney-Moore, Jennifer Ober, Linda Ragusa, David Rowley, Anne Stein, Terry Stoller, Tracey Tenney, Denise Tramposch, Leslie Trudell, Leslie Troy, and Bruce Walczak.

The financial sponsors of this year’s 18th Festival and 11th Annual Gala were: Aqua Environmental Lab, Associated Refuse Haulers, Branson Ultrasonic Corporation, J.P. Maguire Associates, Inc, Curtiss & Crandon Realtors, Bob Tendler Real Estate, Nanavaty & Davenport, LLP, William Pitt Real Estate, Prudential Connecticut Realty, Century 21 Real Estate, Eric S. DaSilva, Connie Huntington, Charter Communications, Fairfield Processing Corporation, Pepsi Bottling Group, Meehan Meehan & Gavin, Eugene Riccio, Newtown Savings Banks, Savings Bank of Danbury, Union Savings Bank, and UniLever Corporation.

Special thanks to the following patrons, members of the community and organizations: Andrea’s Bakery, Ashlar of Newtown, Bagleman, Big Y, Kate & David Berliner, Sandra Buscher & Family, Carminuccio’s, Kevin Carroll, City Coffee, Costco, Zoltan Csillag, Family Counseling Center Board of Directors and Staff, Festival Day Volunteers, Fireside Inn, The Newtown General Store, Catherine Iannone, Jennifer Johnston, Julie’s Piano Workshop, David Merrill, Lauren Morrissey, My Place Restaurant, The Newtown Bee, Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet, Newtown Deli & Catering, Newtown Girl Scout and Brownie Troops, Newtown High School, Newtown Historical Society, NHS Flute & Strings Ensemble, NHS Musical Students, Peter Obre, Sodexho Food Services, Starbuck’s, Stew Leonard’s, Ron Stokes, Suzuki Talent Education School Students, Town Criers, and Trinity Episcopal Church. I offer my sincere appreciation to the program book advertisers, donors of the many fine gala auction items and Festival of Trees items and Southbury Printing Centre for this year’s program book design.

Thank you especially to the homeowners who graciously opened their homes as part of the historic house tour. Francois and Natalie DeBrantes, Doug McDonald and Tracy and Paul McManus, George and Shane Miller, Andy and Missy Williams, and Larry and Gretchen Hyde, and the decorators: Craft Basket, Newtown Florist, Maybeck and Williams Gardens, Julie Nable Interiors, and Arrangements (Marlene Denko & Beth Fescoe), who exquisitely decorated these homes.

Thank you to the Town of Newtown, Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers and Staff, Newtown Police Department, NHS Transportation Department, the Malenkee Ballet Repertoire Company, the many fine musicians, festivalgoers, and all the festival volunteers — too numerous to name — for your time and effort. Your generosity helps to support our 20 years of service to the community and the mission of the center that aims to provide quality, professional mental health and family services regardless of ability to pay.

On behalf of the staff, Board of Directors and consumers of the Family Counseling Center, thank you for being part of our 18th festival. See you at next year’s Family Counseling Center’s Holiday Festival — December 5, 2004!

Warm regards for a happy and safe Holiday Season.

Nancy Obremski

2003 Family Counseling Center Holiday Festival Chair

121 Mt Pleasant Road                                           December 10, 2003