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Petition Under Way To Rename Street After Fallen Teacher Victoria Soto

A Stratford High School graduate wants to change the name of a local road, North Parade Street, to Victoria Soto Way, in honor of the fallen hero teacher from Stratford who died protecting her students in the Newtown shooting.

A petition on Change.org aims to ensure that the heroic actions of Sandy Hook Elementary School teacher Victoria "Vicki" Soto are never forgotten.

As of Monday night, the petition had garnered more than 2,200 signatures.

The description reads: "Honoring Victoria Soto by changing the name of North Parade (the street that runs in front of her alma mater, and mine, Stratford High) to Victoria Soto Way will ensure her actions will never be forgotten."

Soto, who graduated from SHS in 2003, was laid to rest last week. At the funeral service, Soto's sister, Jillian, spoke between sobs.

"You are in so many people's hearts," she said. "For the 19 children you protected you were an angel [and] you've been my hero my entire life. I'm so proud of you and all you did in your 27 years."

Bob Ready December 25, 2012 at 03:40 pm
It would be a fitting gesture for a fallen hero. We need to keep her memory alive in our minds and in our hearts. Never forget the 26 vicitms.
Bob Ready
Nima December 26, 2012 at 02:56 am
I agree. Let's get this done. I would love to be a part of making this happen. How can I get involved?
Kara Fedak December 26, 2012 at 03:02 am
Chris Barbie started this petition on Facebook, he's truly amazing for starting this.
Walt December 26, 2012 at 08:51 pm
If an off-duty fire man can have a street named after him, surely a true hero can have one named for her
Dave Grocott December 27, 2012 at 09:37 pm
Yeah,,she deserves some long term recognition. She IS a hero.
EH Resident December 28, 2012 at 08:10 pm
I hate to be against the name change due to the tradgey but we have so many service men and women that died protecting our country that never get any recognition from what they did in the service of our country. Yes, some situations were saving children while others are not.
Newtown never should have happened and never would have if the mother never bought the gun that was used. It is a tradgey but I don't think tax payer dollars should be used to change a street name.
Baffled Resident December 28, 2012 at 11:59 pm
Are you serious? Taxpayer dollars were used to educate you. Tradgey<sic> that you skipped the spelling lessons though.
EH Resident December 29, 2012 at 01:49 am
Baffled, I am sorry that my spelling was not up to your standards and I am actually baffled that you focused more on that than my actual point of view. This is an open forum for viewers to express their point of view - not to be attacked for spelling errors.
You have no idea what my vision limitations may be that can affect how I type but heh, you can type perfect so I guess that's all that counts. Too bad you like to find fault in others than to stick to the subject matter. I hope my spelling and grammer are up to your standards this time. If not, you might want to take a class in etiquette because you can use it.
Baffled Resident December 29, 2012 at 02:25 am
OK, i won't discuss grammar.
Now, let's get back to your point regarding our servicemen saving children and not getting "recognition". They signed on to carry out duties like that, and it's expected of them. School teachers don't sign on to carry out duties like that, and it isn't expected that they'll lay down their life. That's why many people feel that Ms. Soto is deserving of this recognition. Do you still disagree?
EH Resident December 29, 2012 at 03:23 am
Baffled, to answer your question, yes, I still disagree. Even though Ms. Soto was a prior resident and graduate of Stratford she did decide to move out of the area and teach elsewhere. Nobody deserves what happened to them in that shooting, but she chose to move out of town and I feel that if anything is done to honor her and the other people/children that died there should be done in that town.
There has been some talk about never using that building as a school again. If that is true then it would be nice to tear the building down and make it into a memorial park listing all the names of those that lost their lives. It would honor all the one's that lost their lives in the town where it happened. You obviously feel differently about this along with all those who signed the petition. Just because there are a lot of people that feel in favor of the change doesn't mean we all have to feel that way. The one great thing about democracy is that when we vote, the majority wins. When the street name change goes for its vote, the public will determine if its changed or not.
Baffled Resident December 29, 2012 at 10:02 am
Barbara, when did Ms. Soto move out of town? Are you aware of something that the rest of us are not?
EH Resident December 29, 2012 at 02:17 pm
Baffled, If I am mistaken about her residency then I apologize but from my understanding she no longer lived in town.
Even if she is still a resident I still feel she should be honored at the Newtown site since that is where the tragedy occurred. I also don't think this needs to continue to go back and forth between the two of us. It is starting to take away from her memory and that was not my intention. My opinion does not agree with yours and as I stated before a vote for the street name will determine if it gets changed or not.
Beetle Bailey December 30, 2012 at 11:47 pm
Enough said from both of you. The poor woman is DEAD. No bickering from you will change that. Whatever will be will be. Does it really matter whether or not a street or park or anything is named after her. She will remain in our hearts for what she did. God bless her.
Baffled Resident December 31, 2012 at 12:13 am
Enough said?
Excuse me? I'm not bickering at all. I was trying to understand Barbara's rationale on this.
Baffled Resident December 31, 2012 at 12:17 am
Wow Beetle, this is an interesting Patch post of yours:
(Beetle Bailey 8:22 am on Wednesday, December 26, 2012 Typical minority. Always looking for something racial to bitch about. Get over it. It's a correct way to spell it. Look it up!)
Steve Raguskus December 31, 2012 at 04:01 pm
Victoria Soto had a split second to react to the situation. She had no time to think, merely was able to do what was in her heart and soul. If we all could live the way Vicki Soto lived, putting others ahead of our own self-interest, the world would be a much better place. And educating our children in a school on Victoria Soto Way seems like a way to acknowledge that. If you agree, please join the over 6,000 people who have signed the petition.
Barbara, I'm sorry that you have vision problems. But if you head over to Academy Hill, you will see numerous beautiful memorials to brave residents who have sacrificed for our country. Should those monuments be placed where these heroes died? Of course not. We remember them in the town they called home. Whatever is done to honor Victoria Soto will not be decided by popular vote. Our elected officials will decide what should be done. Hopefully they agree with everyone who has signed this petition, including Vicki's mother, and give this lasting tribute to a true hero and role model for us all.

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Ashley Riera June 17, 2013 at 03:02 pm
To clarify, for those who are wondering why we can't just take the two cats up with us, we alreadyRead More have four cats, and a dog. We could only take two of the four cats with us, plus the dog (who is 14yrs. old.) The limit for the rental is three pets... this was a hard decision for us all. We would have taken them all if we could.
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Edit: Bunny was stolen WITH the truck. Suspect is Caucasian male in his 50s. Truck is red Dodge RamRead More with dent in rear passenger side cab. Please help! Call 203-257-3001 or 203-645-1282 with any information. No questions asked.
bpiretti June 13, 2013 at 12:15 pm
Found!! https://www.facebook.com/BringBunnyHome
Shirley B. Backus June 13, 2013 at 11:05 pm
Another example of why to never leave your pet unattended in your vehicle!
A photo of Sam (Credit: Contributed Photo)
Amy Taylor June 13, 2013 at 12:25 am
Thank you so much! You have no idea how grateful we are! You are very special people!!
Kathie June 13, 2013 at 03:58 am
Now that Sam has been found, the reason he ran off was due to the sound of gunfire at RooseveltRead More Forest in the early afternoon as his master was getting ready to take him out of his car. All had been quiet, the park was open, so the loud bangs were a surprise - both to Sam and his "Dad". To the best of my knowledge, when the shooting range is used by the Stratford PD, the park is closed to the public. It was that way always and I believe still is. But now, with non-Stratford police personnel using the range, obviously the Park is NOT closed as was observed/heard yesterday at 2 separate time periods of the day. The range is used by at least one other police department. Of course, there could be unauthorized people using the range too. I just don't know. But what I do know that yesterday (Wed), there was shooting early afternoon, and then again around 6PM. I observed at around 5:00PM, a little boy running up the dirt road that leads to the shooting range. The park remained opened all day! The shooting was NOT being done by the Stratford Police. People do not always stick to the trails, and as we all know, children can be quite curious. Who is to say a child and/or adult gets near the berm or behind it and someone shoots over the berm? What goes up, has to come down. I also was told that neighbors say there is shooting going on quite frequently, even on Sundays. I doubt that this is from Stratford PD, because outdoor shooting usually occurs for a week or so, twice a year. Tighter controls must be done! Surely, the parking area can be checked for vehicles... but I observed yesterday people entering the parking area (adjacent to the driveway leading up to the range) on foot, on bicycles, and motorcycles. So people could be in the park even when no vehicles are observed in the lot. Safety is key here! Procedures need to be put in place and perhaps limitations on when other police department(s) can use the range. It is not fair to the surrounding residents to have to hear the bang bang bang on Saturdays and Sundays. It scares some of them, and I know that one person who lives nearby says her dog gets scared right inside their house! What will it take? A child or an adult wandering near the range, thinking it is OK because the Forest is open... and then, all of a sudden, there is shooting and one gets shot, especially a child? This may sound extreme, but children can move quick and suddenly. I think of that little boy running up toward the range. He could have very well traveled through the woods. I can picture bullets being shot over the berm, not on purpose, but it can happen. Or shots go to the left or to the right; and people could be in the same general area - out of sight of the shooters. Bottom Line: The "public" can not be in the park while the range is "live", or in other words, when there is shooting taking place. As how to ensure that the public is not in the park, is not for me to determine. But the Town has to step up to the plate and address this very important issue.
bpiretti June 13, 2013 at 11:17 am
So happy to hear that your dog has been found! :)
ShirleyJ June 11, 2013 at 09:00 pm
Great shot! We were looking for the rainbow!!!
samgranata June 12, 2013 at 08:12 am
Great shot! One of my favorite places to take pictures of weather
Jaimie Cura (Editor) June 12, 2013 at 02:03 pm
That's beautiful Carol! I'm surrounded by land so this is so great to see!
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Mike Reynolds June 10, 2013 at 10:25 pm
Robert Chambers...a voice of reason in Lordship.
Truckie June 11, 2013 at 09:54 am
What a wonderful town we live in that the only problem we have worthwhile to discuss is golf cartsRead More driving down the street! WHO CARES? I have kids riding their go carts and mini bikes around our neighborhood. They learn how to fix them and have some fun which doen't include stealing or damaging my property. Actually I enjoy helping them and occasionally lend them a tool or two. The parents make them be considerate by not allowing them to ride around early morning or late evenings. SO WHO CARES! I guess you will want to stop all the people at Oronoque condos from driving across the road up there too? Hey..on the road is on the road. Again, WHO CARES? Get informed and worry about a real problem facing us here in town!