FIDDLER'S GREEN 280 Shippan Ave., Stamford, CT
Dear Ones:
There it was--the 'proof'.
More proof, I mean...that Stamford is an 'okay, stand-up, sentient, helpful and fiercely friendly' community.
And this, on, of all days, an early Christmas morn, filled with anything but the happiness and good-tidings the day ordinarily implies.
This year, 2011, hosted a most horrendous tragedy, the Badger-Johnson fire, which saw to the loss of three children Lily, Sarah and Grace Badger along with their grandparents Lomer and Pauline Johnson.
A frantic Stamford Red Cross worker taxed with the duty of 'canteening' Stamford firefighters and their fellow first-responders, did not know where to look on this December 25, 2011 for FOOD and DRINK for those she has dedicated herself to serve.
Then she found FIDDLER'S GREEN ON SHIPPAN AVE. Read here in Angela's own words:
"I had the task to find food for our canteening efforts on a day when
most local restaurants were closed," Red Cross volunteer Angela
Malizia told Patch. "I was hopeful to see the open sign lit up on the
front window of Fiddler's Green. They did not hesitate to help as soon
as I walked in and told them what was happening just a few blocks
away.
The owners and customers went above and beyond with the immediate
action of cooking and donating of the food, loading my car and giving
comforting assurance that we had a place we could rely on if we needed
anything else."
READ THE REST HERE:
LINK: http://stratford.patch.com/articles/fatal-christmas-day-fire-in-stamford-ruled-accidental-in-nature
After days, now weeks of blogging and posting and commenting about our tragic Stamford fire as a neighbor, I'd inadvertently found myself in some unsavory areas of cyberspace which left me kind of...well...kind of 'territorial' about Stamford, if truth be known.
LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2011/12/in-memoriam-for-badger-johnson-families.html After days, now weeks of blogging and posting and commenting about our tragic Stamford fire as a neighbor, I'd inadvertently found myself in some unsavory areas of cyberspace which left me kind of...well...kind of 'territorial' about Stamford, if truth be known.
This surprised me, as I no fan of many things about Connecticut, even after 33 years, although I do love the people I know here. But in the aftermath of this fire, there I was 'defending' 'everything Stamford'--from firefighters' responses to those by the Badger and Borcino parties and all with a weather eye on what is in my basic nature:
Fighting for justice as my Christian faith mandates, while looking through the lens of own role as an emergency first-responder as a member of the Medical Reserve Corps based in Stamford, CT.
I don't suppose it will be a surprise to you that I ruminate regularly on what to expect from our community should a 'worst case scenario' actually transpire.
From an 'emergency-preparedness' standpoint and cold, clinical analysis, I'd say that we are, in this area, very well staffed and positioned to deal with come what may.
This is a good to know considering how close we are to 'Ground Zero'.
We've got 'brains', we've got 'brawn' (often in the same package!) and we've got resources.
Yet, I've still challenged myself with evaluating just how THE STAMFORD COMMUNITY would pony-up at crunch-time, when catastrophe strikes.
And I must say that the response to the tragic Stamford Christmas fire has given me a shot of confidence that we are in good stead regarding our ability to handle 'tragedy', large or small.
As importantly, the kindness and generosity of FIDDLER'S GREEN has gladdened my heart no end!
So, I would like to publicly THANK FIDDLER'S GREEN of STAMFORD for so generously and selflessly aiding Stamford Red Cross worker Angela Malizia and crew in order to provide provisions for Stamford firefighters and other first-responders early on Christmas morn 2011.
GOD BLESS YOU FOR THE WORK OF YOUR HANDS AND HEARTS. THEY WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN.
I enter this New Year not only with a greater awareness of fire safety, but with a renewed sense of the goodness of Stamford.
So, no matter what 'negativity' you may hear or read about in the press after this 2011 Christmas fire in Stamford, remember that we are going to work through our grief together.
Come what may, we live in a city where--even on Christmas--there is not only 'room', but a whole load of compassion at 'the Inn'.
May God Grant You Many New Years Blessings
Rev. Barbara Sexton
"The Biblical Biochemist-Where Science Meets the Cross"
email BarbaraKSexton@aol.com
IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US ALL TO BECOME 'CHAMPIONS OF COMPASSION'? I pray so!-Rev. Barb
IN HONOR OF LILY, SARAH and GRACE, FROM THE FAMILY
Thank you for all your prayers and support during this very difficult time.
The funeral for Lily, Sarah and Grace will be held Thursday, January 5th at 10:30am at St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets in New York City. All are welcome.
The funeral for Lily, Sarah and Grace will be held Thursday, January 5th at 10:30am at St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue between 53rd and 54th Streets in New York City. All are welcome.
Donations can now be made to The Other 364 Foundation, a foundation
that has been developed in honor of Lily, Sarah and Grace, whose mission
is to champion compassion every day of the year. Checks can be made
out to:
The Other 364 Foundation
c/o Badger & Winters Group
135 Fifth Avenue 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10010
c/o Badger & Winters Group
135 Fifth Avenue 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10010
ROYALTY-FREE MEMORIAL IMAGES:
LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2011/12/god-rest-their-souls-as-stamford.html LINK: http://dearoneshealingministry.blogspot.com/2011/12/in-christian-sympathy-for-those-lost-to.html
To Madonna & Matthew Badger: Nothing, but nothing, will separate you from your daughters eternally. I grieve with you, and pray that God will see that you have the strength to persevere for the relatively short time we have left on earth. Draw upon the strength of your fellow brothers and sisters in faith in all things. Surely the Lord has made you 'living witnesses' for reasons we simply cannot understand. That is God's Way. Someday, when you die, you will know and understand all this, I promise. (I say this having had a near-death experience myself.) Thus, I am trying to help you not worry so much about your deceased loved ones, and concentrate on healing yourselves with Heavenly help. With Love in Christ, dear sister-Rev. Barbara Sexton, Stamford, CT Shippan
ReplyDeleteMichael Borcina: You will be 'vilified'- right or wrong and no matter what you do or say. All I can say is that man's law will first prevail, most likely, especially while we are all on 'God's green earth'. But, ultimately, God's law and judgement will prevail. I pray that your intentions were nothing but 'good' and that the intention of whoever discarded those cinders/ashes/embers from the fireplace did so reasonably and with good intentions. Your 'cross' will be to bear up under those who will condemn you no matter what. Your challenge is to lead as good a life as you can, so as to silence and shame your 'enemies' if you be innocent of any deliberate negligence or worse. My heart is with you, Michael, because if, indeed, the girls were concerned about 'Santa getting burned' and you had a hand in consoling and assuring them this would not happen...Then this shows that you CARED very much for them. You are in my thoughts and prayers and I urge you to allow your family & friends to surround you with support and love. Blessings-Rev. Barbara Sexton, Stamford, CT Shippan
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