Newtown's first selectman says the next few weeks will be difficult and she is asking residents to quietly mark the anniversary of the December 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School by coming together and supporting local businesses.

First Selectwoman Pat Llodra says in a blog post that Newtown is not planning any townwide events to mark the anniversary.

This is the full posting by Llodra on her bog:

"These weeks are very difficult for our community. We are gearing up for the release of the investigation report, will learn of the disposition of the tapes of the 911 calls, and will experience the first anniversary of the tragedy at Sandy Hook School.  Each of these happenings has the potential to feel like a body blow – it takes our breath away and we struggle to regain our balance.  No one experiences these events more deeply and more painfully than the families of the victims. Consider too the cumulative emotional impact of this past year as felt by every parent of every Sandy Hook student, by their teachers and staff, and by those who love and care for them.  Part of our despair is that we can do little to ease their personal pain. We cannot stop the drip-drip-drip of leaked information – a problem that has plagued us for months and months. Is it possible that those persons who feel compelled to speak without authority and without permission do not know the harm they do?  And we cannot stop the release of whatever information the courts determine must be released. And we cannot, despite massive efforts of many, ensure that we will not be overrun by media on December 14. 

So, what can we do?  We can tap into that inner strength we have called upon again and again over this past year to confront what we must, manage that hurt as best we can, and put it behind us somehow.  We can be sure to not let others control our destiny. We cannot change what happened at Sandy Hook School; we can only choose how we respond.  We have a choice on December 14.  We have called upon every person to honor those who lost their lives that day in a personal, kind way.  We ask, too, that you not let the specter of media overload destroy again our Sandy Hook commercial village.  Come to shop, to dine, and enjoy the beauty of the village on December 14. Our presence there in support of these businesses shows that we will make the choice to not be deterred on our journey of recovery."