Thanking the Easton Community for Its Involvement in the Easton-Sviatohirsk Alliance

Benefit Concert Saturday from 3 – 6 p.m. at Ashlar-Aspetuck Lodge

The Steering Committee for the Easton-Sviatohirsk Sister City alliance would like to thank all those who have helped to make a difference for our sister city in Ukraine. So far, we have raised over 20,000 of our 300,000 dollar goal and have been able to purchase a used dump truck and seeds for Sviatohirsk to begin planting their “Victory Gardens.” 

Many organizations and individuals around town have been active in helping reach the steering committee’s goals. Keri English Giddes, Director of The Easton Arts Center, and her students, Irv Silverman of Silverman’s Farm, Jake Conover of Silverman’s and Shaggy Coos Farm, Easton Public Library, Eric Farrell and the Lodge Brothers of Ashlar-Aspetuck, Global World Matters Club and Theater Group at Joel Barlow High School, Tracy and Dan Carlucci, and First Selectman David Bindelglass, who recently made a visit to Sviatohirsk through the auspices of Ukraine Aid International to meet with Mayor of Sviatohirsk, Volodymyr Ribalkin, have all been vital in helping our sister city rebuild. 

The steering committee and Ukraine Aid International had a wonderful storytelling event at the Easton Public Library on May 21, with recorded video presentations of the Mayor and Citizens of Sviatohirsk, telling their stories, with a special video message from CNN Senior Foreign Corespondent, Ivan Watson. The audience, made up of Easton residents, was very engaged and had many questions. 

Saturday afternoon, June 3, from 3 – 6 p.m., there will be a free outdoor concert at Ashlar-Aspetuck Lodge in Easton with wonderful bands and greeting from First Selectman Bindelglass and members from the steering committee and Ukraine Aid International. (See flyer in the slideshow below.)

On July 15, there will be a photo shoot fundraiser, hosted by Tracy and Dan Carlucci in front of the giant sunflower field grown by Irv Silverman, in support of Sviatohirsk and all of Ukraine. Please visit the Sunflower field and the giant thermometer made by students from Easton Arts Center, which will be painted in throughout the summer, as we reach our financial goals. You can visit the library sister city display case for more information on Sviatohirsk and by visiting www.UkraineAidInternational.org.

Tax-deductible donations can be made by credit or debit card, check or wire by visiting www.UkraineAidInternational.org/donate. Donors supporting the Easton-Sviatohirsk sister city partnership should choose the “Easton – Sviatohirsk Sister City” designation on the donation page, or write “Easton” in the memo line of a check or wire.

You may also purchase lawn signs, bumper stickers and buttons, by contacting Kelly Higgins at Kelly.higgins@cbmoves.com or by calling her at 203.650.3483.

Thank you everyone for all of your support and hope to see you at the concert on Saturday, June 3. Please park at the library and walk across the street at the intersection of Morehouse and Center Road to the Lodge. Handicap drop off only in the Lodge driveway. Bring a sweater, lawn chairs and a picnic basket.