Another Great

Rooster Run

To the Editor:

Thanks to all that turned out on Saturday, May 31, to support the Newtown Parks and Recreation 34th annual Rooster Run/Walk 5K. We had an unbelievable 358 finishers! It was a great way to start the summer season here in town. As a physical education teacher at Reed Intermediate School, I enjoyed seeing all of the families that came out to promote living a healthy, active lifestyle.

The race proceeds support the Newtown Scholarship Fund. The event could not happen without the generous support of our sponsors. Bagel Delight and Dunkin’ Donuts provided all of the bagels and muffins, Stop & Shop all of the bananas, Big Y all of the oranges, Crystal Rock supplied the water stations, and Coca-Cola of Naugatuck provided the postrace beverages.

Thank you to our tremendous sponsors, please support them. They are: Pizza Palace, Newtown Diagnostics, Ricci’s Salon, Newtown Sports Podiatry, Churchill Physical Therapy, The Bee Publishing Co., Vasi’s International Gymnastics, Newtown Center Pediatrics, JP Maguire Associates, Joshua Baum, DMD, Dr Della Schmid, Dental Associates, and Starbucks.

Special thanks to Sherri Baggett for her help and to the Newtown Scholarship board members (Cheryl Meisel, Debbie Osborne, and Terri Ann Martocci ) that volunteered at registration and at strategic locations on the race course. RoseAnn Reggiano and Parks and Recreation do a great job getting everything ready; Ron and Rich, custodians at Reed Intermediate School, do all the set up; and Aaron Blank and Kelly Conte were vital to race organization.

The participants of the Girls on the Run program set a great tone for the race. This year 19 girls and their sponsors completed the course.

Another great addition to the race was the presence of Club NewFit. Dorrie Carolan and the new fitness club here in town sponsored over 50 runners. It was fantastic seeing both groups out there in their team shirts.

Thank you to the Newtown Police Department and the Newtown Ambulance; you did a wonderful job of keeping everyone safe. It is truly appreciated.

 I am so happy to thank all of the Reed Intermediate students and parents that volunteered their time and energy on race day. They were so helpful during registration, manning the water stop and serving as runners for our race timer. Thank all those kids out there wearing their red volunteer shirts! Thanks to HiTek racing for a job well done. Thanks to Relay For Life and Guiding Eyes for the Blind for their representation at our event.

If you enjoyed this run, keep in mind the Newtown Road Race 5K benefiting Newtown Youth Services on Saturday, August 30.

I look forward to seeing you next year at the 35th anniversary of the great Rooster Run in 2009, and wish good health to all.

Sincerely,

Mark Gerace

Rooster Run Race Director

23 Hall Lane, Newtown                                                      June 4, 2008