Tuesday, January 8, 2013
The Sandy Hook school shootings had a profound effect on columnist Elizabeth Fish. The New Year offers the opportunity for change.
The Newtown shootings have affected me even more so than Columbine, the movie theatre shootings in Colorado or any of the dozens of other shootings that have been in the news this year. Newtown really hit me very hard. The fact that a person went to a local elementary school, shot his way in and killed every adult and child in his way, for little, if any, apparent reason is devastating. Maybe it is because I have a first grade child at a local elementary school. And there was little that could have been done at Sandy Hook or any other elementary school to prevent such a tragedy. I still get teary thinking about the shooting and cannot fathom how President Barack Obama named each victim in his speech at Newtown days after the shooting. It …
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Following the deaths of 28 people in Newtown, Conn., as an unbearable heaviness lingers across the country, Sally Higginson takes a moment to appreciate the everyday aspects of raising children.
The country is still stunned, saddened and sober, focusing on the same things: How to talk to children about fear and death. How to assure them that what happened at one school won’t happen at their school. How to explain to children the difference between the reality of gun violence in our world versus the fantasy of gun violence in so many shows and games. And we parents ask ourselves: how do we continue to wrap holiday presents for our own children while our hearts are at half-mast for the families who have most recently lost theirs? How do we let go of our children as they walk out the door each day, heading beyond the safety of our controlled walls and into the world of concealed, and once again revealed, danger? Not that much has …
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
A year ago, readers felt a Northbrook Court jewelry store was right to have an armed security guard. Patch wants to know readers’ views in light of the shootings in Newtown and Oregon.
(Update on Dec. 18 at 5 a.m.) Friday’s murder of 26 people including 20 children by a gunman in Newtown, CT, and more gunplay at a mall outside Portland a few days before prompted Patch to take a new look at the use of an armed guard at C.D. Peacock’s Northbrook Court jewelry store. A year ago, Patch observed the guard and asked readers how they felt. A majority supported the idea. Patch wants to know if recent events have changed minds in the area. Patch is running a new poll and will publish the results next week. Patch contacted Peacock President Bob Baumgardner for a comment. He did not return the call. A year ago, state Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) questioned the wisdom of the use of an armed guard in a mall store. Now, she …
Monday, December 17, 2012
After the tragic mass school shooting in Newtown, Conn., there are ways you can help.
The horrific school shooting Friday at Sandy Hook School that left 26 dead, including 20 young children, has stirred the hearts of people across the country and around the world who want to know how they can help. The Newtown Patch reported that people from Connecticut, California, Canada and even Australia and India have sent an outpouring of support. People in Illinois also want to know how they can help. People who want to donate to help the families affected by the tragedy can donate in one of these ways, according to Internet sources and information compiled by Pam Wegner Pavlik of Grayslake: Sandy Hook School Support Fund - mail a check to: Newtown Savings Bank Sandy Hook School Support Fund 39 Main Street Newtown, Connecticut 06470 …
Friday, December 14, 2012
Local and state police in Newtown, Conn. were called to an elementary school at about 9:30 this morning after a gunman allegedly opened fire at the school.
NEWTOWN, CT -- Connecticut police said Friday afternoon that 26 people, including 20 children, were killed at an elementary school after a gunman opened fire. Another adult was killed at a second location. The Scene Police in Newtown were called to the Sandy Hook School at about 9:30 a.m. after receiving a 911 call Friday morning. Authorities said the gunman was found dead inside the school. He was reportedly armed with four guns and a high-powered assault rifle. Authorities said during a press conference that they have retrieved three weapons from the scene. A parent interviewed on CBS News told the network on Friday that his 8-year-old daughter said she heard an argument and cursing over the school’s loudspeaker, apparently coming from…
Terri Olian
9:31 am on Saturday, December 22, 2012
So well expressed, Sally. Amen. more ›