21
Friday, November 6, 2009 — The North Haven Citizen
Festival Continued from page 6
Brockett who lived in a hut at the northern base of the mountain. “Peter’s Rock is sentimental to me because it was a favorite place for my parents,” recalled Audrey McClure, secretary to the association and long time town resident. “When my father was courting my mother, he carved their initials in a tree along one of the trails back in 1918. I love this place very much.” Nearly 120 people attended the festival. Throughout the afternoon, there was a constant flow of visitors who came and enjoyed delicious food provided by Guilio’s Restaurant, took guided or self-guided hikes along the different trails, including the scarecrow trail which was very popular. The children enjoyed selecting pumpkins from the pumpkin patch and decorating them with markers and stickers. They also had the chance to guess how many miniature pumpkins were in a container. Everyone who guessed received a complimentary prize, and the winner received an additional reward. “The children enjoyed decorating the pumpkins and the guessing contest,” said Joanne Chvisuk, a board member. “There were decorated pumpkins ranging from the scariest to the prettiest. This was a creative idea I got from being a mom. The children had a lot of fun and so did I.” Many people remarked on the beauty of the park, and the brick memorial walkway
near the pavilion, as well as the nicely built bridges on some of the trails. Others commented on the convenient location and expressed how they enjoyed coming to the festival with their families. “Peter’s Rock is a special spot for families to gather, take a hike, and to appreciate an esthetic place located in North Haven,” said Selectman Michael Freda. “The kaleidoscope of foliage at this time of year adds to the overall beauty of this majestic place.” “The park is a great overview of the New Haven area,” said Hugh Davis, a member of the association. “A person can partake in good exercise while hiking the trails and admiring the beautiful vista.” The fall festival was a wonderful event that took place on a picture perfect day, and it was a fine way for the association’s board members to express their gratitude to the community for their assistance and appreciation of the park. Many who have hiked its trails have often said that Peter’s Rock is truly North Haven’s crown jewel of open space. “It was a spectacular day to climb to the top,” said Jeanne Collier, a North Haven resident. “My daughter Kristine Roberts and I enjoyed the lovely view. We tend to the organic garden and it’s a labor of love. We are happy to have this wonderful place in our town.” For more information on Peter’s Rock, please write to Peter’s Rock Association, Inc. P.O. Box 762, North Haven, CT 06473 or visit w w w. p e t e r s ro ck a s s o c i a tion.org.
silent auction will include at least 10 high-end items. The regular raffle will include at least 35 items, and there will also be a 50/50 raffle. McKenna added that many people involved with Johnson’s landscaping side business have also helped. Luigi’s Apizza owner Joseph Abate is holding a raffle to benefit Johnson’s family, with prizes including a 32-inch, flat-screen television, a Vine’s Wine gift basket, and restaurant gift cer-
tificates. For Abate, the impetus to help came from a personal experience with tragedy. “Back in April, my son-inlaw Sgt. Andy Sanchez passed away from cancer,” he said, “and people rallied around me and my daughter. People held a motorcycle run in his memory, and it was very successful. There was so much support. The funeral was awesome. There were hundreds of police officers and other people.” “So when I see something like that, it touches me,” Abate continued. “Because of all the good that people
Send us your news: news@thenorthhavencitizen.com
Cit iz izen en
Veteran Continued from page 7
The North Haven
did for us, I wanted to give something back.” Abate added that like Johnson, his son-in-law was also a veteran. Raffle tickets can be purchased at Luigi’s Apizza. All proceeds will benefit Johnson’s family. The drawing will be Dec. 14, with winners announced by phone. Donations can be mailed directly to the Johnson Family Fund at 7 Musket Drive, North Haven. For more information on the benefit dinner, e-mail McKenna at Mollyo_mck@sbcglobal.net. To contact Luigi’s Apizza, call (203) 234-9666.
phone: (203) 234-3750 fax: (203) 234-3751
SPEEDIER ADMISSIONS. QUICK RECOVERY TIMES. (BUT THE REST OF YOUR SHORT STAY CAN BE AT YOUR NORMAL PACE.)
We see it every day in the acute hospital care unit at Masonicare
Cub Scouts collecting donations
Health Center in Wallingford: Attentiveness helps speed the
Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from Sleeping Giant District (Southington, Wallingford, Meriden, North Haven and Hamden) are collecting non-perishable food items on Saturday, Nov. 14, as part of their 21st annual “Scouting for Food” program to collect food for the needy. Notices are being distributed the weekend of Nov. 7. If you received a bag or notice that food will be collected at your home, then please place a bag containing nonperishable food items (cans or boxes, no glass containers, please) on your front porch or step by 9 a.m. The bags will be picked up before noon. Donations can also be dropped off on Saturday, Nov. 14, between 9 a.m. and noon, to the North Haven Congregational Church, 28 Church St., for the North Haven Food Pantry. All donations will stay in the town in which it was collected. For more information contact Garry Desjardins at desjardins1@comcast.net or (203) 623-9601.
healing process. Our high nurse-to-patient ratio, full-time physician coverage, state-of-the-art treatment and warm atmosphere all contribute to recovery times that are better than the national standard. Ask your doctor about the acute care unit at Masonicare Health Center or call 679-5100. (Or go to HospitalCareForSeniors.org) 1134935
HOSPITAL CARE FOR SENIORS AT