Many Made ‘Newtown Reads’

A Success

To the Editor:

One book, one town, and a slew of dedicated volunteers made Newtown’s first ever community read a huge success. Not only did many Newtowners take time out to read April Morning by Howard Fast, they also devoted their time and talent in a great variety of ways so that our community read went much beyond the simple reading of a book. Newtowners produced plays, led hikes, gave professional talks, organized dinners, led book discussion groups, and raised money to fund the program.

A huge thank you to the Friends of the C.H. Booth Library for funding the Newtown Reads program. They purchased all of the books and paid for the reenactment group to come to Newtown. Thank you to Bruce Degan for designing the poster, “Newtown Reads,” and to Edna Marks for creating the Newtown Reads banner. Also thank you to Christina from Newtown Florist for donating the balloons that made our kickoff so colorful. Thank you to Don Bates of the Drug Center for embracing this project. I think you may have passed out more books than the library! Special thanks to Gordon Williams, Liz Arneth, Joy Kopesky, Linda Mayo Elsenhans, Janice Fields, Elizabeth Adam, Cecilia Dalzell, Terry Stoller, Paula Toi, Helen Benson, Margaret Brown, and Cheryl Wicks; all book discussion leaders who led wonderful stimulating discussions both in and outside of the library! Thanks to our educational consultants Jeanetta Miller and Nancy Martin who served on the steering committee. Thank you to Bonnie Miller, our community representative on the steering committee for attending every meeting and almost every event associated with Newtown Reads. Brava! Director/actress, Leland Kellogg and her troupe, thank you for Tea with Felicity. You bring down the house every time you visit the library’s stage! Our generous town historian Dan Cruson shared his extensive knowledge on two occasions with a lecture on Newtown during the Revolution and then led a wonderful hike through Putnam Park; two fascinating and worthwhile programs which related to April Morning.

The culminating event of Newtown Reads was the Tavern Night and Reenactment. While the rainy weather limited some of the scheduled activities, the weekend was still a lot of fun, providing us all with the opportunity to step back in time: to dance with 18th Century soldiers and ladies, listen to debates between a Patriot and a Loyalist, watch a field doctor perform some medical procedures, and have a good time with our friends and neighbors. Susan Ruddock organized Tavern Night and was instrumental with its success. She worked closely with John Tambascio of My Place Restaurant who provided a delicious dinner for the 65 reenactors. Volunteers who also helped with the dinner included Nancy and Katie Rose Crevier, Joan Salbu, Wendy and Brandon Leon-Gambetta, Joanne and Haley Keane, Emily and Cait Weber, Jenna, Blake, and Ted Ruddock, Kelley Sullivan, Sally Toms, and Mary Kate Hubbard. Susan Shaw, Ray Shaw, Beryl Harrison, and Marie Walker with some simple touches of fabric and flowers transformed the library into an 18th Century tavern. Jessica Horvath organized a large group of high school students from the National Honor Society to lead games, supervise the children’s movie, as well as watch the soldiers’ tents over at Fairfield Hills. Thank you to all of you for giving us a Friday night. And finally, to the staff at the library who did everything from moving furniture to making homemade treats to helping dress re-enactors thank you. You’re the best!

Janet Woycik

Library Director

36 Grand Place, Newtown                                               May 7, 2003