To the Editor:

It can be tough for busy citizens to keep up with all the people running for various offices on Election Day, and to know who will best serve the needs of our town. I’d be happy to help make my fellow voters’ decisions a little easier when it comes to casting their ballots for the Board of Education this year.

For those of you in town who are not yet familiar with Lillian Bittman, let me tell why she gets my vote and enthusiastic support. I know Lillian because she has been the parent leader for the school newspapers both at Sandy Hook and Reed schools for the past eight years, which two of my children have been fortunate enough to write for. Lillian teaches the kids a true journalism course, adapted to the level of elementary school kids. There is always a substantial waiting list of students who want to get on the paper at Sandy Hook. This is because Lillian elicits excitement and enthusiasm for writing in her students and the result is a fun, impressively assembled, truly kid-run newspaper our whole school can be proud of.

It’s clear to me from working with her that Lillian takes everything she does seriously. She goes about her work in a careful, responsible manner; from these school papers that she runs on a volunteer basis to raising three children spread out among three schools in Newtown, and at one point even running her own magazine. Her warm, caring, friendly personality makes her a pleasure to work with and get to know.

 I am confident that Lillian will carry these traits and more with her if she is elected to retain her seat on the board of education for four more years. Please join me in voting for her on Election Day. I promise that you will be doing a favor for our town.

Sincerely,

Miranda Pacchiana

Sandy Hook, October 23, 2007