Borough Clock Fund II reached its $200,000 goal!

The July 29th Games on the Green event, to benefit restoration of the Stonington Borough Clock and Tower in Stonington, Conn., was a huge success for both fundraising and fun raising.

It was really exciting to be a part of an event that brought together volunteer efforts from the community at large, from residents and local restaurants to businesses outside the immediate community like Enfield, Conn. cabinet maker Rome Polaski, Big Y, Jonathan Edwards Winery and the Lebanon Lions Club.

The day’s highlights included cool kids’ games that were the envy of all the adults like potato sack races and tug of war, a nailbiting croquet tournament, tons of belly-filling treats, fabulous raffle prizes such as Front of the Line passes for Borough hotspots and an olde tyme seranade by local barbershop troupe, the SeaNotes. We had expected about 15 SeaNotes and 24 showed up for the event! The media didn’t disappoint as well and included The New London Day, the Westerly Sun and Fox 61 News at 10:00. We were only on Fox for a millisecond which is a bit disappointing considering co-chair Kate Love gave a great interview but, hey, I’m just happy I was able to entice them enough to show up!

The biggest hiccups of the day included rocks in the bubble machine and a round of croquet that ran quite a bit longer than the players would have liked (next year we’ll do lightening rounds). Other than that, the whole event was just as the event committee had hoped - a fun, relaxing Sunday afternoon filled with friendly competition and a step back in time to the casual gatherings that draws a community together at the town green.

Heading into the event, the committee had raised $197,000. During our event, we had a crowd of both day long participants and passersby that reached about 150 people, but those folks helped raise over $2,000! One of the biggest compliments we received was from an anonymous donor who was unable to stay for the festivities but offered to provide the remaining funds needed to help us reach our goal. This donor hoped that by closing the gap on the final monies required through this event that it would encourage more celebrations of this kind in the future. It worked. We’re already gearing up for next year’s event.

Thank you anonymous donor and all the folks that helped us celebrate on Sunday. Your support has saved a treasured Connecticut landmark and has sparked a tradition - old-fashioned fun that breathes new life into community spirit!

Welcome WHUS listeners!

This a.m. I was invited by Mister G of Green Arrow Radio to join his funky, free flowing show on 91.7 WHUS. Thank you Mister G and listeners for allowing me to bend your ears about our charity fundraiser, Games on the Green. For any of you listening right now or soon thereafter, here is the quick skinny on the event and be sure check out the cool photo in our poster below - games on this green were meant to be!:

Games on the Green
Sunday, July 29, 1-5PM, Wadawanuck Square, Stonington, CT (located at the Stonington Library in the Borough)

To benefit restoration of the Stonington Clock Tower via the Borough Clock Fund II, on Sunday, July 29, from 1-5PM, local supporters will transform Wadawanuck Square in Stonington Borough from town green to an early 20th century Great Gatsby style spread. The day will include:

• Pay-to-play Croquet Tournament for two-person teams
• Fun summer lawn games including pick-up bocce, chess and checkers
• Old-fashioned children’s games such as sack races and a treasure hunt
• Unique raffle prizes (from Front of the Line” status at local Stonington restaurants to concert tickets)
• Serenade at 3:00 by local barbershop troupe the SeaNotes
• Ice cream with homemade fruit toppings
• Lots of lemonade and baked treats for sale

Cost for the Croquet Tournament is $15 per person and includes refreshments and raffle tickets. Other adult and kids’ games are free and open to the public. Croquet teams can register in advance with Suzi Edwards (suzi@wallflymarketing.com; 860-384-4480) or sign up at one of Stonington borough’s four main restaurants, all located on Water Street: Noah’s, Water Street Cafe, Skipper’s Dock and Yellow House. Note that registration for the tournament on the day of the event will close at 1:30.

Photo: “Tennis at the Wadawanuck Hotel, Stonington Borough,” courtesy Katherine Love, Borough Clock Fund II Co-chair

For more on the Games on the Green event, read The New London Day article.