Good NEWS In Appalachia Country

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Jul 15, 2011 12:00 am

After months of planning and fundraising, the 29 students and 12 chaperones who made up this yearâs Newtown Ecumenical Workcamp Servants (NEWS) team have shared their time and talents with residents of the central Appalachia region.

The group departed from Newtown Congregational Church on Saturday, July 2, for Brenton, W.Va., where they participated as volunteers for Appalachia Service Project (ASP), a Christian-based ministry whose mission is to bring volunteers into the region to help repair homes for low-income families. The goal is to make homes warmer, safer, and drier.

ASP also helps volunteers return to their own communities âwith a passion for service, a renewed compassion for other people, and a fresh appreciation for your place and purpose in this world,â according to its mission statement.

The Newtown team worked during the past year to raise money to help offset the cost of their trip. They ran a car was last month at Scalzo Realty, washing cars for donations of any size; held their annual workcamp breakfast on April 2 at Newtown Congregational Church; held a sleep-a-thon in January, also at NCC, sleeping outdoors in cardboard shelters, also collecting donations.

Ongoing sales of M&Ms candies and collections conducted at NCC, Newtown United Methodist Church, and St Rose of Lima Roman Catholic Church also helped cover the costs of the trip.

This yearâs group included the following students: Daniel Bethke, Lexi Black, Brendan Callery, KC Condon, Shay DeMarche, Jack Emerson, James Gilbert, Clark Giles, Melissa Giles, Jessica Haitz, Connor Hanley, Tyler Hanley, Victoria Hanulik, Melissa Janco, Kaitlyn Kakadeles, Adam Mangiafico, PJ Mangiafico, Jason Marks, Jenn McDonald, Megan McDonald, Shannon McDonald, Kelsea Morshuk, Ellie Mouchantat, Jenna Poeltl, Drew Sullivan, Julia Trudell, Carl Whippie, Grace Winans, and Katelyn Zimmerman.

Chaperones were Jerry Cole, Matt Cole, the Reverend Matt Crebbin, Burt DeMarche, Jim Kakadeles, Kara Kunst, Melissa Landin, Donna Mangiafico, Doc Mangiafico, Dale Mello, Mark Sullivan, and Leslie Trudell.

The NEWS group returned to Newtown on Sunday, July 10.

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Yikes, talk about not doing a basic level of research. As my kids would say, "bruh, aren't you embarrassed?" James Buchanan (its not spelled Bucannan, Steve), the guy who put a black family back into slavery was -- wait for it -- A DEMOCRAT. Abraham Lincoln, the fella that ended slavery, was A REPUBLICAN. Herbert Hoover, a Republican, did not unilaterally cause the Great Depression. The stock market crashed within the FIRST year of his presidency. The imposition of his tariffs sought to help American industry, when there was little work to be had. Yes, FDR, a Democrat, led us out of the Great Depression, but with a heavy assist from the war-based economy in the run-up and through World War 2. And yes, Herbert Hoover did meet with Adolph Hitler in 1938 - A FULL 5 YEARS AFTER HE WAS OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE. It was done as a diplomatic courtesy on the 20th anniversary of the end of World War I. Steve, if I were you, I'd ask the Bee to pull this Letter to the Editor.

Elect Democrats

Your statement: "The EPA is now telling us there is no Climate Change", I believe is incorrect. Can you provide documentation for this? The The fact that there is climate change, I believe is a generally accepted consensus by all sides of the climate debat. What's driving this climate change and it's ultimate impact on society, is where the consensus fractures. I do appreciate your pointing out President Nixon's role in creating the EPA. Nixon is also responsible for signing into law both the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. Respectfully, James Swift

Discusses Smog

Jeff, thank you for setting the record straight and for focusing on facts over speculation. It’s clear you’re working collaboratively, in the open, and always with Newtown’s best interests at heart. As a First Selectman, you’ve shown that leadership is about results, not partisanship, political slogans, or bashing the other guy. That’s the kind of honorable, steady, experienced, and community-focused leadership this town needs — progress that actually works for everyone, not just a political agenda.

The People Of Newtown Deserve Facts, Not Speculation

Looks like someone is getting the politics 101 course and is leaning heavily on the “status quo” and “stagnation” talking points, the reality is that our current First Selectman is only completing his first term in office. Hardly the entrenched, decades-long politician Bruce suggests. In fact, in just this one term, the current selectman has delivered meaningful progress — addressing core infrastructure, keeping budgets responsible, and ensuring that Newtown remains a strong and vibrant community. That’s not “stagnation.” That’s steady, thoughtful leadership in action. If Bruce were truly ready for a challenge, he would have answered my July questions on how to would handle large-scale protests and rallies at the flagpole? Our current First Selectman put forward an option for positive change, and was met with shouting from the mob. What would Bruce do differently? And just how responsive and open to real change will he be when facing that same kind of pressure, or would it not matter when clearly Bruce wants to play the partisan line?

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Hahahaha! Oh Jim, your hyperbole knows no bounds.

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Good NEWS In Appalachia Country

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