Many Helped Make

The Great Race Ducky

To the Editor:

The Newtown Lions and Treadwell Park Committee would like to thank all those who bought duck tickets and participated in the Great Pootatuck Duck Race. Nearly 1,500 duck sponsorship tickets were sold. The net proceeds of approximately $10,000 will be donated to the Treadwell fund to help complete the Adventurequest children’s playgrounds.

As with most community projects, the Duck Race would not have been successful without the support of many people in the community. We would especially like to thank our sponsors: the Pepsi-Cola Bottling Corporation, People’s Bank, Blue Colony Diner, Dodgingtown Garage, Henry Gellert, DDS, Bob Tendler Real Estate, Walker Industrial, Porco Construction, the Newtown Garden Club, and Curtis Beck, DMD. All made generous contributions that helped make the event possible.

Those who donated prizes deserve recognition for offering their support virtually before anyone had heard of a Duck Race. Prizes were donated by Kenneth P. Blau, MD, the E&T Marks family, Stephen Hoffman, DMD, Hilton Gardens Hotel, Avance Esthetiques, The Newtown Bee, Newtown Subway Shop, Snow-Tara Kennels, Italian Garden Restaurant, Edmond Town Hall Theater, Newtown Parks & Recreation, and Newtown Tan & Body.

Special thanks go to the Newtown Chamber of Commerce for its help. Without the support of the Chamber and of the various businesses who sold duck tickets the event surely would not have been as successful. Ticket sellers include Advanced Real Estate, Newtown Health & Fitness Club, Dr Gellert’s office, Drug Center, Fleet Bank, Sandy Hook Deli, Newtown Florist, and the C.H. Booth Library.

The Sandy Hook village merchants were very supportive of the event, which would not have been possible without their cooperation. We would especially like to thank Mike Porco for the use of his property and his help. We also appreciated the support of volunteer groups who despite the inclement weather helped enliven the Duck Race: The Newtown Garden Club, VFW Women’s Auxiliary, the Newtown Historical Society, Women in Newtown, Diabetics Support, Newtown Ambulance, and Sandy Hook Hook & Ladder.

We would like to mention Eric Bagger, guitarist, who through the rain, thunder, and occasional lightning provided the music that enlivened the event, and Matt Cole who animated the duck costume, which was generously lent to us by Stew Leonard’s.

Thanks again to all those who came and enjoyed the race.

Sincerely,

Jim Larin

Chairman, The Great Pootatuck Duck Race

3 Roosevelt Drive, Newtown                                              June 4, 2001