<p>This past week I was talking to friends at work and the topic somehow turned to tv shows of our childhood. I love this topic as much as I love talking about my favorite childhood books. I shared that Magic Garden with Carole and Paula was my most favorite show. If you grew up in the NY area in the 70s/80s, you probably remember Magic Garden.</p><p>I loved this show. I can’t say that enough. I saw them perform live as child and many years later, when my children were small, I took them to see Carole and Paula perform live at children’s book day at Sunnyside, Washington Irving’s home.</p><p>A children’s tv show may seem like an unusual topic for a column about books but this show fits in perfectly here. On the show, Carole and Paula would open the story box (a giant trunk) filled with props for that day’s story. They would then use the props to tell their audience captivating stories. A few simple props became a magical tale with their ability to intertwine some magic….voices, accents, costumes, and the ability to keep their young audience’s attention. I loved their story time.</p><p>The oral tradition of telling stories is so important. As a young child, hearing those stories, I felt Carole and Paula’s excitement for the tale. I felt the magic of the story. I loved listening. I loved seeing their take on how the story came to life. I could never replicate it, but I can bring my own excitement to reading stories aloud to young listeners.</p><p>Many childhood books shaped me as a reader, but I would be remiss if I did not include the tv show Magic Garden in that list. Carole and Paula were a big part of my early childhood and they too shaped me as a reader. They presented stories in another way, and I learned from them that stories are so much more than simply words on a page. Those words on a page are so important but equally important are those stories we share. The ones that captivate the listener. The ones that might not be written down on any paper and might be told a little differently each time. They are passed on from storytellers to their audience.</p><p>I don’t remember the specifics of all the story box stories but I remember how it felt to listen to those stories (and I still remember the song “the stories are here, there all in here”). I remember that magical feeling hearing a story. For young readers and story listeners, the feelings of excitement, wonder, captivation that come from hearing a story aloud are the foundation of building a love of reading. Thank you, Carole and Paula, for making stories come alive for me.</p><p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Jessica Collins is an award-winning writer whose column "On The Children's Shelf" has garnered multiple Connecticut Press Club awards and has been honored nationally. Visit her blog online&nbsp;</em><a href="https://onthechildrensshelf.com/ivan-the-shopping-mall-gorilla/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;"><em>here</em></a><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">.</em></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

<h2 class="ql-align-center"><em style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Hillside Food Outreach Raises $30,000 to Combat Food Insecurity&nbsp;</em><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">&nbsp;</span></h2><p><strong style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Danbury, Conn. (May 2, 2024) –&nbsp;</strong><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Hillside Food Outreach recently hosted its 15th annual “Dancing with Our Stars” competition at The Summit in Danbury, attracting more than 100 supporters to the ballroom and raising $30,000 to combat food insecurity in the community. All proceeds from the benefit support the nonprofit's mission to provide high-quality, nutritious food to thousands of low-income families, seniors, and the chronically ill each month.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Four champions&nbsp;showcasing the most dazzling dance moves were crowned&nbsp;by a panel of judges&nbsp;amidst cheers and applause&nbsp;from the&nbsp;crowd.&nbsp;Billy Clifford&nbsp;and Arthur Murray dance pro&nbsp;Dolly&nbsp;Zurzusi&nbsp;wowed the&nbsp;judges&nbsp;with their Country Medley dance to Luke Bryan's "Country Girl (Shake it for me)," while Shelly Hardie and&nbsp;Arthur Murray Danbury owner&nbsp;Andy Cabel&nbsp;scored high&nbsp;with their Swing performance to Glen Frey's "The Heat is on."&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Taking home the Peoples’ Choice Awards – the dance duos who generated the most votes and fundraising dollars from the audience – were&nbsp;Stacey Cohen and Denzel Santos,&nbsp;who&nbsp;stole the&nbsp;show&nbsp;with their Hustle/Merengue style&nbsp;dance&nbsp;to Maroon 5's "Moves like Jagger," while Michael Grace and Yulya&nbsp;Zubava&nbsp;mesmerized&nbsp;the crowd&nbsp;with their Argentine Tango &amp; Paso Doble to "Spanish Tale for Two."&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">All of the participants partook in weekly dance lessons for three months at Arthur Murray dance studios, and were partnered with their instructor for the competition.&nbsp;&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Kathy Purdy, CEO and Founder of Hillside Food Outreach, expressed&nbsp;immense&nbsp;gratitude to all who&nbsp;supported the 15th&nbsp;Annual&nbsp;Dancing with Our Stars&nbsp;competition.&nbsp;“Dancing for a great cause is about as good as it gets, and this annual event directly helps&nbsp;change&nbsp;lives and offer hope to so many neighbors in need.&nbsp;Access&nbsp;to&nbsp;nutritious food is a right that everyone deserves,&nbsp;but unfortunately food insecurity is at a decades-long high, and too many&nbsp;vulnerable members of our communities are forced to choose between eating healthy or paying for basic necessities.”&nbsp;</span></p><p>Hillside is a delivery-only food pantry providing high quality, nutrient-dense foods, staples and essentials to nearly 1,000 households and over 2,000 individuals across Westchester, Putnam and Fairfield Counties, including elderly residents who find it difficult to travel and carry grocery bags; those who are housebound due sickness or disability; and people with health conditions such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension who require nutritious diets. The nonprofit fills the nutrition need while establishing both connection and engagement with those feeling hopeless, alone, or forgotten.&nbsp;</p><p>Hillside Food Outreach is headquartered in Mount&nbsp;Kisco, N.Y. and operates in Fairfield County, Conn. through its Danbury satellite location. It may be reached at 914-747-0095 or by visiting&nbsp;<a href="http://hillsidefoodoutreach.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(5, 99, 193);">hillsidefoodoutreach.org</a><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">.&nbsp;</span></p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">With lots of spring in their step,&nbsp;four hundred-plus people from the Greater Danbury area and beyond filled the Amber Room Colonnade at 7:30 this morning for RVNAhealth’s 23rd Annual Spring Breakfast. It was a true breakfast of champions and a celebration of a nonprofit that has been an essential part of communities for 106 years!&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(13, 13, 13);">As table hosts poured hot coffee for their guests, the room buzzed with lively conversation and laughter. RVNAhealth Board Member Andrea Gartner skillfully gathered the attention of the enthusiastic crowd, welcoming them and preparing for the morning’s program to commence.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(13, 13, 13);">Cantor Penny Kessler began the event with a heartfelt invocation. Senator Julie Kushner, a dedicated Danbury resident deeply aware of RVNAhealth's impact, took the podium next.&nbsp;Senator Kushner presented a special proclamation, recognizing the RVNAhealth Well-Child team for its remarkable achievements. She highlighted the team's vital role in providing medical care, nursing, translation services, and social services to over 500 underserved children and families in Danbury each year as part of the agency's longstanding commitment to Community Health &amp; Wellness programs.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(13, 13, 13);">Theresa Santoro, President and CEO of RVNAhealth, thanked the guests for their presence at this significant event. She highlighted the agency's comprehensive continuum of care, which now includes the newly launched Parkinson's Center, as well as dedicated support for dementia and hospice care.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">One of the morning's highlights was gaining a firsthand understanding of the pivotal role RVNAhealth plays in our community. Anne Mead, Director of Family, School, and Community Partnerships, shed light on the significant impact of RVNAhealth's Well-Child Program in the Danbury Public Schools, where hundreds of underserved school-aged children receive medical care and immunizations at no cost.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(13, 13, 13);">After Anne Mead's inspiring speech, Auctioneer Michael McGuirk realtor, kicked off the live auction. Attendees were invited to bid on an array of enticing items, including a summer getaway to the Cape, a once-in-a-lifetime trip to South Africa, an exquisite dinner party, Broadway, golf outings, and Major League Baseball.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Oh, what a morning! Thank you to the many local businesses and individuals who stepped up to make the morning’s raffle (there were more than 60 prizes) and the live auction was hugely successful!&nbsp;</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Funds raised allow RVNAhealth to fulfill its mission of providing a continuum of care when and where it is needed to residents of over 35 Connecticut towns regardless of age, diagnosis, or financial circumstances. Most importantly, it helps the organization make a lasting impact on the lives of those served. Some programs the funds will benefit include providing Well Child Clinics, flu vaccinations, and nursing and rehab care for senior citizens in need of these services. It is truly an inspiring morning and a great way to start the day!&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Once again, photographer Deborah O’Brien captured the morning beautifully! To view additional photos, check out our Instagram and Facebook pages.</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Visit RVNAhealth online&nbsp;</span><a href="https://rvnahealth.org/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204); background-color: transparent;">https://rvnahealth.org/</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">&nbsp;to learn more about this important nonprofit.&nbsp;</span></p><p><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">In attendance this morning were First Selectmen and Mayors (l to r): New Milford Mayor Pete Bass, Roxbury First Selectman Patrick Roy, Bethel First Selectman and RVNAheath Board Member Dan Carter, Ridgefield First Selectperson Rudy Marconi Danbury Mayor Roberto Alves, and Newtown First Selectman Jeff Capeci. They are shown in the photo with RVNAhealth President and CEO Theresa Santoro.</em></p><p>*All images courtesy Deborah O'Brien Photography. Learn more&nbsp;<a href="https://deborahobrien.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(2, 177, 151);">https://deborahobrien.com/</a></p>

<p>Immaculate High School is proud to present Disney's The Little Mermaid this weekend at Edmond Town Hall in Newtown.</p><p>Three performances are happening "under the sea" this weekend!</p><p>Friday 4/26 at 7pm</p><p>Saturday 4/27 1pm</p><p>Saturday 4/27 7pm</p><p>Tickets can be purchased at&nbsp;<a href="https://ihsfinearts.booktix.net/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Immaculate High School</a></p>

<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">It is our pleasure to invite you to join Rock n' Rescue on Wednesday, June 12th for a day of golf, dinner and fun to benefit RnR. The tournament will be held at Richter Park Golf Course in Danbury. It will begin at 1pm and will be filled with fun and excitement including contests for all golfers.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">After the tournament, players are invited back to Cafe on the Green for a full cocktail hour and dinner where we will have more prizes!</span><span style="color: rgb(117, 117, 117);">&nbsp;</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Don’t golf, come for dinner! Sponsorship opportunities available. Get our earlybird discount:&nbsp;</span><a href="https://bit.ly/49LmRXK" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 124, 137);"><u>https://bit.ly/49LmRXK</u></a></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 124, 137);">Prizes include:</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Swag bags for all</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Weekend golf getaway for 2 people for hole-in-one winner</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Closest to the pin winner</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Longest drive winner</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Beat the pro - par 3 hole</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Cocktail Hour and dinner</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Great Silent Auction prizes</span></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Early bird discount open until May 1</span></p>

<p>Join us Saturday, April 27th, from 10:00am to 4:00pm, for the 15th Newtown Earth Day Festival. Held annually, our festival provides a forum for local committees, organizations, and businesses to socialize their efforts, whether eco-initiatives like the Lions Club’s Lose The Litter cleanup, Newtown’s Recycling Center, or products to save you money while staying green.</p><p>New this year will be a hybrid/electric car showcase from 11:00am – 2:00pm. Local dealers and enthusiasts will display their rides and answer questions about tax breaks, fuel savings, and reduced maintenance costs. And let’s not forget about the inner warmth that comes from the environmental benefits of a reduced carbon footprint.</p><p>It’s not all business though! Live music is provided throughout the day on the Earth Day stage, great food is available from the Newtown High School’s Fair Food Project and the Colossal Kielbasa Homestyle Grille food truck. Additionally, we’ll have Sharon Audubon’s Animal Menagerie program to entertain kids of all ages.</p><p>Kicking off the weekend, Newtown Earth Day and Bridgeport’s WPKN will be screening Regenerating Life, a movie about how to cool the planet, feed the world, and live happily ever after. Following the movie, director John Feldman will host a Q&amp;A session.</p><p>The event is scheduled for Thursday, April 25th, at 7:00pm in the Edmond Town Hall’s Alexandria Room.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-screening-of-the-documentary-film-regenerating-life-tickets-871259890787?utm-campaign=social&amp;utm-content=attendeeshare&amp;utm-medium=discovery&amp;utm-term=listing&amp;utm-source=cp&amp;aff=ebdsshcopyurl" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent;">Tickets are $10 for adults and $5.00 for students</a>.</p><p>Learn more <a href="https://www.newtownearthday.org" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.newtownearthday.org/</a></p>