Newtown Lions Honor Mike Porco

The Newtown Lions Club has purchased a seat in the Tercentennial Edmond Town Hall Theatre Seats Program in the name of Michael Porco, Sandy Hook developer and entrepreneur.

Dick Kovacs, first vice president of the Newtown Lions, presented a certificate to Mr Porco, recognizing his instrumental role in the club’s staging of the annual Great Pootatuck Duck Race and other activities.

This year, except for the dumping of the ducks over the bridge in Sandy Hook Center, all the activities were held in Mr Porco’s large lot on Glen Road. Having all of the exhibitors and community groups together in one location made quite a difference and it proved to be the most successful duck race the Lions have held.

Mr Porco and his wife, Sylvia, daughter, Tina, and son, Mike Jr, came to Newtown from Bridgeport where he had a successful career as a contractor and was president of the Fairfield County Remodeling Contractors Association.

Soon after arriving in Newtown, Mr Porco, who was a Vietnam veteran, noticed that the Soldiers and Sailors Monument at the head of Main Street only listed servicemen through World War I. He felt the monument should be updated to include the veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. He formed a group that combed the records to develop as complete a list of veterans as possible. These names were added to the monument.

Around the time he completed this project, Mr Porco purchased three buildings on the north side of Church Hill Road in Sandy Hook Center. He renovated the buildings, which now house a Subway sandwich shop, a toy store, and other companies.

Mr Porco is certified karate instructor and a fourth-degree black belt. His karate studio is housed in one of the buildings.

During this period, he also worked on the Sandy Hook Streetscape project, trying to upgrade the buildings as part of a revitalization of the area.

By 2001, he had acquired Warner’s Red Brick Store as well as two buildings on Glen Road north of the store. He turned the former Red Brick Store into the Red Brick Tavern. In restoring the building, he included a tin ceiling and tried to replicate materials of the era of 1830 when the building was constructed.

Next to the tavern on Glen Road is Mocha, a popular coffee shop, and a new gift shop, Tre Ragazze. Behind Tre Ragazze, Mr Porco hopes to construct another building for retail shops. To the right is an entry to the large lot along the river with ample parking and a stage for activities such as the farmers market that takes place each Sunday. Mr Porco has made the area available for events like the duck race, craft fairs, and antique shows.

For his support of the Lions Club, his entrepreneurial spirit, and ardent interest in upgrading Sandy Hook Center, the Lions purchased a theater seat in his name. This is seat number 268 of the 411 that will be replaced.

Anyone who is interested in buying a seat or contributing to this tercentennial project should call Gordon Williams at 426-6443.