From Our Woodworking Colleagues

Our colleagues at The Taunton Press sent out this message regarding the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, and we feel moved to pass it along to our readers.  Taunton, and specifically the folks at Fine Woodworking Magazine, are competitors but this initiative is the sort of thing that far transcends any sense of business competition.

We at the Journal offer our condolences to the staff at Taunton and the wider Newtown community. And if it is in your heart to help out with a donation (see link below), we offer our thanks to you for your kindhearted generosity.

Larry Stoiaken (publisher),  Rob Johnstone (editor in chief) and the staff at Woodworker’s Journal magazine

Dear Friends, Last Friday’s tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, shocked the nation. Here at The Taunton Press, the events of December 14 were all too close. Newtown is not just a place on the news for us. It is our home. The Taunton Press is a family-owned company located in Newtown since its start in 1975. We have deep roots here. Our founders, Paul and Jan Roman, raised their family in Newtown and live here along with two of their five children. Five of their grandchildren attend Newtown schools. Many of our 230 employees are Newtown residents; we have long been closely involved with our community as individuals and as a company. Many of you have reached out to us, knowing our connection to the town, offering condolences and prayers to the community. We thank you for your concern in these dark days. People across the nation are asking how they can help in the wake of this tragedy. The community is receiving generous help with immediate needs. But we also know the community will need help long after the news coverage has faded, so we want to focus on what comes next. We have established a fund with the Fairfield County Community Foundation* with a clear purpose of helping with the ongoing needs of the Newtown community. The fund is called “The Taunton Press Newtown Children and Families Fund.” It is, in part, a memorial to the victims; it is also an affirmation of the importance of families in Newtown and the surrounding area. The Roman family and The Taunton Press have made giftsto establish this fund. The fund will have an advisory committee that will consist of family, company, and community representatives, who will direct support where it will have the most lasting impact. If you’d like to demonstrate your support for the Newtown community, you can make a tax-deductible donation by visiting here, or simply click the link below.If you would prefer to send a donation by mail, please mail to: Fairfield County Community Foundation 383 Main Ave.Norwalk, CT 06851 Attn: The Taunton Press Fund On behalf of the entire Roman family, the employees of The Taunton Press, and our Newtown friends and neighbors, thank you for your support. Sincerely,Tim Rahr President *The Fairfield County Community Foundation is one of over 700 community foundations throughout the country, which promote responsible and effective philanthropy. FCCF is a federally recognized public charity with over $150 million of permanent assets under its care and it is able to handle gifts other than cash, such as publicly traded securities. Please call them at (203) 750 3200, if you have questions.