Supporting A Great Holiday Tradition

To the Editor;

Again we celebrate the tradition of the 22nd Annual Holiday Festival benefiting Newtown Youth & Family Services’ positive youth development programs and state licensed counseling for individuals, children and families. This festival truly brings out the best in our community and offers NYFS the opportunity to thank many people without whose help this event would not be possible.

We thank our sponsors: Aqua Environmental Lab, Associated Refuse, Century 21 Fine Homes & Estates, the Jerry Walton Family, Nanavaty, Nanavaty & Davenport, Newtown Savings Bank, Prudential Connecticut Realty, The Taunton Press, Webster Bank, William Pitt Sotheby’s International Realty, and William Raveis Real Estate.

Thanks to the homeowners of the five tour homes — Shane and George Miller, Birgitta and Richard Cole, Roger and Anna Saterstrom, Richard and Anne Spillane, and Sterling Associates LLC and Risko Foundations LLC. Thanks to our talented home decorators: Billy Ceglia Designs LLC, Truly Yours LLC, Holmes Fine Gardens, Mary Fellows, Our Green House, Diana Baxter, Planters Choice LLC and Chelsea Treasures. Special thanks go to Cyndy DaSilva for her diligent work in securing the homes, coordinating the decorations and the tours.

Thanks to Trinity Episcopal Church for support throughout the years and for their festival day activities; to St John’s Episcopal Church for providing a new home to Newtown Choral Society’s Winter Concert. Thanks to Jennifer Johnston and her dancers for the marvelous ballet. Thanks to the many volunteers who sold tickets and provided assistance before, during, and after the festival.

Thanks to the cast and crew of A Christmas Carol: Cristin Carlin, director; Beth Agen, producer; and all the exceptional performers. Thanks as well to the staff at Reed Intermediate School for their enthusiasm and help. Thanks to Janet Woycik and the library staff for their wonderful help with the Festival of Trees; to Judy Loose and Linda Jones for coordinating music at the Victorian Tea and at the homes and to all the musicians who performed.

Thanks to Maureen Birden and Carol Mahoney for their wonderful coordination of the Victorian Tea and to the many bread and scone bakers and the volunteers who worked at the tea. Thanks to Denise Rodriguez for chairing the Festival of Trees and to the young women of Cadette Troop 50809 (and their mothers!) who ably staffed the tables during the event.

Thanks to Laura Miller for inaugurating our first Gingerbread House Contest and to the participants. Thanks to Santa’s representative, Earl Smith; to photographer Stephane Colbert; to Alana Bennison for reading stories in the gym. Thanks to the bus drivers and to the Newtown Police for their service, as well as to the staff of Edmond Town Hall. And finally, to the staff of Newtown Youth & Family Services, Inc, for all their help in making the festival happen while at the same time moving to a new facility three days before festival day!

Sincerely,

Chris Gardner

Chairman of the Board of Directors, NYFS

Layne Lescault

Holiday Festival Chair

Church Hill Road, Newtown                                     December 5, 2007