Letter to the Editor: Welcome Back Party -- Thank You

Dear Winchester Patch,

On behalf of Winchester’s Family Action Network (FAN), we are writing to express sincere gratitude for the generosity of the local culinary businesses who donated delicacies, wine and beer for FAN’s 2011-2012 year kickoff cocktail party — Cafe Piazza Dolce, The Chocolate Truffle, Deb’s Cookies, The Greek Grille, Mamadou's Artisan Bakery, Pairings Wine & Food, Sakura Japanese Restaurant, Sam Adams Brewery, Simplicity Chef/Joseph Letteri, and Sweet Lolo’s. Guests were lucky enough to sample food and drink from each of these amazing local establishments, and were introduced to (or reminded of) some of the phenomenal businesses that call Winchester home.

Also, FAN and party guests send a special thanks out to Marie and Joost Vrakking who so graciously opened their beautiful home for the event. What a spectacular setting in which to spend an evening with old and new friends.

With approximately 75 guests from Winchester, we were thrilled to welcome several new-to-town families, new-to-FAN families, and many people who have been participating in FAN or volunteering with the organization for years. The spirit of the evening was celebratory and filled with excitement about making new connections, strengthening old friendships, and an overall spirit of hometown pride because of all the wonderful programs and resources in town, many of them available thanks to the seemingly limitless dedication of so many volunteers.

FAN starts its year off with robust membership numbers thanks to brand new members as well as renewing member families and a jam-packed lineup of events on deck for the fall, such as our upcoming Families and Fire Trucks event, our always-popular Preschool Informational Fair, a baby shower for new and expecting moms, a Parents/New Members Night Out at Masa, and a downtown Halloween Costume Parade and Party at town hall.

Thank you, FAN, for yet another great party, and for doing so much to help make Winchester an amazing community in which to raise children and for making it so easy for families to connect to each other!

Warmly,

The FAN Parent Events Committee