Great Pootatuck Duck Race Is Heading Our Way

Take a walk down to the Pootatuck River this week and you might be amazed at the amount of water that is flowing in this usually quiescent tributary. If Lions Club of Newtown members were to put the ducks for the Great Pootatuck Duck Race in this weekend the duckies would be in for a wild ride!

Fortunately, the annual Great Pootatuck Duck Race is not until Saturday, May 24, so we don’t need to worry about this week’s rapid waters. Sponsored by Newtown Lions Club, the eighth annual Great Pootatuck Duck Race will, as usual, be from held from 10 am to 2 pm and will be held at Mike Porco’s large lot on Glen Road. And, also as usual, all the money raised through the sale of duck race tickets will be donated to Newtown charities.

Numerous community groups will be present, talking about their activities or selling their ware. Musicians, singers and dancers will be performing on the stage, while magicians and face painters from the Leo Club will be working the crowd. There will also be a number of children’s games including a moon bounce.

Attendees won’t go away hungry, either. Tony from Andrea’s Pastry Shop will once again be handing out cookies especially baked for this occasion. Newtown United Methodist Church will also be present, selling hot dogs, hamburgers and other snacks. (The church is also planning a tag sale to be held the same day.)

Twenty terrific prizes will be awarded this year. First prize is a 42-inch flat screen HDTV with 1,000W surround sound DVD player; second is a weekend in New York with hotel, dinner and theater tickets; third is a Sharp Ray High definition DVD Player; fourth is a gift certificate for Sapphire Teeth Whitening Service given by Dr Richard Fisher at a value of $600.

Other prizes include karate lessons, membership certificates for the Gym at Newtown, two year subscription to the Bee, ten movie passes for Edmond Town Hall and gift certificates to a multitude of Newtown restaurants including Carminuccio’s, Firehouse Bar & Restaurant, Mona Lisa, My Place Restaurant, Pizza Palace, Sal & Pepe, The Inn at Newtown, The Villa, and Roberto’s (in Monroe).

Tickets are still just $5 each and can be found many places including Bagel Delight, Booth Library, Berkshire Motors, Dodgingtown Liquor, Drug Center Pharmacy, Fun Cuts, Katherine’s Kitchen, MC Cleaners,  Mocha Coffee House, Newtown Car Wash, Newtown Deli & Catering, our green barn, Red Brick Tavern, Sandy Hook Barber Shop, Sandy Hook Diner, Sandy Hook Hair Company, Sandy Hook Liquor, The Toy Tree, Village Barber Shop, and Yankee Wine & Liquor. Most Lions Club members are also selling tickets.

If there are any tickets left they will be sold the day of the race.

Chairman of this year’s Duck Race is Bob Schmidt. Contact him for additional information at 426-1222.