Last week, I issued a plea for donations to our Warm the Children campaign. Our goal is to raise $56,000 to clothe children of Middlesex County and keep them warm this winter, and we only had $25,000 by last week.

In just a short week, we have received an amazing $14,000! Our total as of today is
$39,396 - only $16,600 short of our goal.

With that in mind, I'd like to take a moment to say thank you to all of the people who have donated so far to this year's Warm the Children campaign. They are all listed below:

Berlin
Florence Kruvka

Cobalt
Marijke Kehrhahn
Lynn Kochiss

Cromwell
Jean Tatro
Richard & Alice Hodge
Barbara McDonald
Jamie Tomasso
Helen & Ann Majewicz
Dorthy Ann Brancifort
James Corbett
Merry Christmas Kathy McPherson
The Bentley Family
Pat Alsup
Virginia Dunham
Dick & Carol Baronowski
Mr & Mrs Alan Schumann
Stanley & Lucille Kalish
Mr & Mrs James Fucini
American Legion Aux Unit 105
August & Jean Reil
Cromwell Public School’s Employees
Glen & Diane Wiegert
Lillian Corvo
Ms Barbara Penney
Mr & Mrs George Schmaltz
Walter & Nancy Seagrave
Douglas & Patricia Sienna
Anne Cartelli
Knights Of Columbus of Cromwell
Gloria Roy
Stan & Sue Mackiewicz

Deep River
Joan & Paul Zaremba

Durham
Tim & Melissa Galonski
in memory of
Daniel & Iva Hauburger
Suzanne Boor
Tracey Flynn
Donna Noonan
Connie Drega
Agnes & Donald Shipley
Bob & Karin Thody
Lillian White
Noreen & John Baris
Carla & Steve Petruzzi

East Haddam
Charles & Deborah Farrow

East Hampton
John & Stasia Murray
Karen Moody
The Lessor Family
Jeanne Hubbard
Charles & Christine Scheer
David & Susan Rogers

Farmington
Carol & Joe Blancato

Guilford
Donna Golden

Haddam
Paul & Carol Ann Peloquin
In memory of
Benjamin Spencer Klimaszewski
Audrey & Scott Brookes
John & Kay Trabucchi
in memory of our son Roger Trabucchi
Vena Spencer
Lorraine Gowac Happy Birthday Wezzy
Lorraine Gowac
belated 75th birthday to Charlotte Stetson
Lorraine Gowac in memory of Ed Gowac Sr
Lorraine Gowac in memory of Richard Scully
Kay Trabucchi
in memory of my Brother Fred Thomas
Kay Trabucchiin memory of Roger Trabucchi
Marjorie Curtis

Hartford
Thomas Atkins Memorial Fund

Higganum
Hap & Ed Scovel
Frederick & Sally Hall
Carole Waz
John & Joann Rider
Hazel Kurlansky
Mary Ellen & Richard Larson
Kevin & Christine Fahey
Charlotte & Buc Stetson
In memory of Guy Thomason
David & Majorie Bengtson
Nicole Salafia
Patricia Harlow, Kate Powell &
Carolyn Macdonald (Apple Rehab)
Pat & Charlie Carlson
Melanie McPherson
on Behalf of Jim Corbett
Sarah & Amanda Commesso
Patrica Harlow
St Peter Church Ladies Guild

Ivoryton
Sal & Sally D'Aquila
In memory of
Ruth D'Aquila & Phyliss McGee

Killingworth
Catherine Brookes

Middlefield
Louis & Victoria Piscatelli
Michael Coonan

Middletown
Joan Richmond
Mimi & Charlie Rich
David Lenz
MS Kathryn Daly
Mary Louise Ross
Joan Russo
Eleanor Rogers
Angela Scripo
Ted & Kathy Ceplenski
Tom Witt
Victor & Dorothy Galgowski
Don & Mary Davignon
MS Evelyn Russo
Edward Waz
Josie Barone
Marie Sheehan
in memory of Felix Sheehan, M.D.
Fred & Kathleen Ellis
Lawrence School Staff
Enza Macri
Jeannie Broomfield
Carm Tomassone
Margaret & Tom D'Aquila
In memory of
Ruth D'Aquila/Amelia, Leroy Sr, Leroy Jr Strohla
Mrs Louis Damiata
Beth Bugai
F. Irene Ettre
Ted & Maria Combe
Dave Bauer Nancy Bauer
Eileen Mulawka
Carl & Helen Campisi
Golden Girls Card Club, Helen Campisi
Thomas & Patricia Hutton
Theresa Dixon
Mr & Mrs Richard Daniels
Peter Spinner
Judith & Robert Walsh
Philip & Louise Russo
Emaly Simone
MiddConn Federal Credit Union Employees
Cover Girl Salon, Brenda, Sheri, Pam, Jean Bousay
Ann Russo
Anthony Marino
James & Enza O'Connell
Anne Tommasi
Joe & Libby Carta
Vivian Flowers
David & Mary Cooper
Peg Arico
The Staff at Rice, Davis, Daily & Krenz
Mr & Mrs George Denison
Chris & Rosemarie Vecchitto
Bob & Pat Frederick
Augie & Claudia DeFrance
James & Leah Meyer
Stan & Kayoko Opalacz
Kathleen McPherson made in name of Jim Corbett
Gaetina Pattavina in memory of my Husband Sebastian
Michele Stanley in memory of Dottie Solek
Paul's Auto Body and Garage
St. Sebastian Church Corp
Employees Council at Middlesex Hospital
Eleanor Tomaszewski
Moody School Social Fund
Richard & Susan Engelhardt
Mary Ann Cannata
Kiwanis Club of Middletown
Louise Berchulski
in memory of Janet Zabicki & Happy Birthday Lorraine
Fred Schaffer
Astrid Bengtson
Mr & Mrs Douglas Ruimerman
Lucy Popalardo
James & Annette Silverman
Customers of Ford News
John Ott
Jim & Ursula Gardner
Mercy High School
Ladies Aux to Middlesex Post 583 VFW
Mary Ann Hall
Shirley Fell
Jane Grady
Shirley Milardo
Jonathan Mehr
Lois Poisant
George Greer
Art & Lucille Carbo
Middlesex Hospital Community Council
David & Lynda Larson
Robert Drouin
Clive & Judith Cowper
Ms Angelina Varato
Mark & Julie Nocera
Patrick Russolillo PhD
Joan & Edward Ohannesian
Barbara & Vincent Malone
Frank & Gloria Tringali
Jesse & Ann Salafia
Edward White
Nancy Rogalsky in memory of Carol Jones
Christine Salamone in memory of Pam Guarino
John & Beatrice Myjak
Edmund Rubacha
Lawrence School Faculty in honor of Dottie Solek
Lawrence School Christmas Gift for Enza Macri,Kathy Ellis, Karen Mosca, Amy Rumberger
Mrs. Roberta Johnson
Thomas& Maryann Serra
William & Katherine McRae
Ms Lillian Guilmartin
Charlie & Rita Souza
Camilla Harvey
Peter & Connie Gillies
Dorothy & Harold Kaplan
Sharen Winter
The Frederick Family
Lynn Baldoni
Aurelie Fitzpatrick
Eva Williams
Ms Barbara Watson
Don & Ann Pehota
Rose Labella
Lillian Bailey
Joe & Marie Serra
Ellen Woodward
Karen Thayer
Drew & Pat Brown
Harold & Lorraine Panciera
Staff of Wilbert Snow School
Ms Muriel Test
Susi Delldonna
John & Rosaanna Pandolfo
Robert & Gayle Peterson
Mr. & Mrs John Zajac
Michael Dipiro
Sally McMahon
Italian American Civic Order (men)
Betty Falco
Theresa Samolik
Edward & Susan Fenton
Middletown Lions Club
Arline Cardoso
The Schatz & Wells Family
John & Corinne Tillotta
Sandra Niemczyk
Angelo & Johnnie Bartolotta
Bob & Joyce Dezi
Paul & Lori Nosal
Fred,Betty & Rick Terrasi
Lucille & Guy Garofalo
Margaret Plosky
Irene Smith
Susan Stevens
Richard & Susan Bright
Anne & John Corbett
Barbara Hickey
Kathy & Jerry Rankin
Jane & Tom Fleming
Theresa Dixon
Ron & Teckla Chapman
Matt & Marisa Scarrozzo
Patrica Francis
Sarah Terrill
Maxine Thumim
Sebastian Santacroce
Millie Cordone
Anne Cannata
Jessie Trotta
Frances Calhoun
Henry & Elinor Novicki
Eleanor Trudelle
Frank & Katherine Ryczek
Jack & Joyce Conklin
Raymond & Josephine Augeri
Joseph Waite Jr
Elizabeth Johnson
Missy & Jerry Winzer
Thomas & Nancy Clayton
Dr & Mrs Daniel Belin
Italian American Civic Order,
Ladies Auxilary
John & Pauline Tosches
The Dutcher Family
Bob & Joan Kenefick
Shirley Douglas
Dave & Linda Maher
Mr & Mrs Ted Samolik
South Congregational Church of Middletown
St. Veronica Mothers Circle % Dorothy Rixon
Raymond & Louise Roberts
William Lawson & Ann Bauer Lawson
Lynne Reilly
VFW Middletown Post 1840 Inc
Philip & Diane Zambrello
Tony & Donna Jaskot
Alice & Austin Saunders
as a Christmas gift for Jim Corbett of Cromwell
Dress Down Day at Farm Hill School
Patrica Kukor
David & Joanne Smith
Elizabeth & Michael Bredefeld
Patrica Sullivan
Margo Gordon
Susan Dikes
Jennifer Gudelski
Elizabeth & Scott Sitz
Lisa Dipiro
Virginia Grasso
Richard & Maryann Notarangelo

Middle Haddam
Elva Creeger

Middlefield
Independent Day School 3rd Grade
Carl & Ceile Zanoni
Ms Sonja Cowett

Moodus
Skip & Pat Ziobron

New Britain
Sylvia Webb

Old Saybrook
Lenore Schumann

Portland
Violssi Family ,Ted & Michele
Howard Parmalee
Valley View Activity Fund
Len & Brenda Bell
Lori & Mitch Kogut
Bruce & Linda Prete
Loraine Taylor
Bill & Diane Russell
Helen Sutkowski
Mr. & Mrs Stuart Bevis
Babs & George Scheer
Precision Plastics Products ,Inc
Ms Louise Anthony
Laura Sutkowski
John & Louise Guiliano
John & Nella Bruni
Joseph & Elizabeth Rosano
Ron & Frani Lee
Mr. & Mrs. William Perruccio
Allen & Jennifer Kensel
Andy Sebula

Rockfall
Carol Blancato
Joan Mazzotta
Sylvia Arabasz
Francis Hunt
Josephine Morello
Rockfall
Ernestine Seaward
Frances Francesco
Lindy & Phyllis McGill

South Lyme
Nancy Cramer
In memory of Bob Cramer U.S National Guard,
by Wife Nancy
Nancy Cramer
In Thanksgiving for Mom Charlotte
Nancy Cramer
Thank You to our Soldiers

Wallingford
Paul & Margot Kawecki

Wethersfield
Chief Edward Brymer

Charleston, R.I.
Mr & Mrs Douglas Durham
In memory of Dorothy O'Brien

The Middletown Press is once again co-sponsoring the annual Warm the Children campaign to help keep kids in Middlesex County warm this holiday season.

Standing out in the freezing cold on Route 66 at the Sunoco station gas pump at 1 a.m. tonight, I wondered what I would have done if I didn't have a winter coat or proper winter boots - or just a scarf to wrap around part of my face as the icy winds kept trying to carry me away.

As our campaign has barely raised $25,000 so far this year, way short of its goal of $56,000 in order to clothe 700 children, I realized that many children in the Middletown area are going to be very cold this winter. About 200 children are still on the waiting list as we have failed to raise enough funds!

But I'm not giving up yet. We have until the end of the year!

So here's my plea: If you haven't yet done so, please help us by giving a donation to the Warm the Children fund. It is tax deductible. Whether you give $5 or $25 doesn't matter - a small amount from many people will add up quickly.

My pledge today will be $80 of my own money - enough for one child's shopping trip. I am writing the check out at this very moment to "Warm The Children" and will mail it out first thing in the morning to P.O. Box 2256, Middletown, CT 06457.

Will you join me in making a donation? All donors will be listed in The Middletown Press print edition, unless you choose to remain anonymous.

The Middletown Press is putting together a year-in-review story featuring the top five local stories of 2010. Below is a list of past stories we are considering, but we want to hear what YOU are thinking.

What local stories do you think were the most important in 2010? Comment below or send an e-mail to editor@middletownpress.com with your suggestions.

We are considering including:

* Kleen Energy explosion
* Removal and reinstatement of East Hampton police chief
* Police chief vote in Middletown
* Fight between Middletown mayor and Board of Education
* Xavier winning state championship

The Middletown Press is hosting its first Holiday Lights Contest. Submit a picture of your home - or your neighbor's - all decorated for the holidays, and you will have a chance to win a $25 gift certificate.

Some of the best photos may also be printed in a special section later this month.

Entries will be accepted at www.middletownpress.com/lights through Dec. 24. Voting will start at midnight on Christmas Eve and will end on Dec. 31. The winner will be announced in January.