Shelton Butterfly Project 2011 [Video]

This past Sunday, June 12, the Shelton Butterfly Project (SBP) held its second annual butterfly release at the downtown Riverwalk. The event was created by Dee Tutka in memory of her daughter Viviana Rose Cavalli, who was killed in a 2009 car crash at the age of 18.

The SBP is "a local cause to raise awareness within the community about the dangers of drinking and wreckless driving, the impact it has on loved ones and those that are left behind." The Cavalli-Tutka families "proudly support !MPACT and MADD in hopes of saving our children's lives."

Tutka said her daughter loved butterflies, which was the inspiration behind the project's theme. Community members and organizations come to the event in their mission to open communication between peers and to support positive, charitable local efforts.

Donations were $20 per butterfly. Butterfly Bags stuffed with goodies could also be purchased for $10. All of the proceeds are put toward the SBP and the Viviana Rose Cavalli Scholarship Fund at . Applicants of the scholarship had to write an essay answering a two-part question on the dangers of drunk driving. This year's winner is Colleen Gurn.

About 75 people attended, most friends and family of Tutka and Viviana. A handful of volunteers and vendors were also present to add to the uplifting mood. James Zap was the afternoon's musical entertainment with his acoustic covers of songs, Ruth Gordon of Fantasy Faces by Ruth provided free face-painting fun for kids, served sandwiches and Bella Cakes sponsored the bake sale. RJS Designs, LLC also had a booth where they sold butterfly ornaments and decorations.

Not to be left out of the cause, tons of pet friends accompanied their families, and the SBP hosted booths for them, too. of Shelton was on hand to answer questions on pet behavior modifications, while Guardians of Rescue brought dogs for adoption and sold T-shirts to raise money for their animal advocacy missions. The had a demonstration on using fire/smoke masks for dogs.

Jo Claire Wilson, chaplain for Griffin Hospital, blessed the butterflies before they were handed out to be released. After reminding the crowd of the importance of celebrating life, she offered the following prayer:

"Oh holy one, as we gather this day in the midst of the cool breeze and the power of your world around us, we ask your blessing on these butterflies and on the memories they represent for those gathered here. We ask, oh God, that you would give us the power and the courage and the strength to continue to love and to honor and to always keep holy the memory of those who we remember here today; that their lives will continue to touch us and to guide us and to inspire us to work so that others might not have to suffer at the hands of persons who are not always careful in their life. And so we ask your blessing on these butterflies, on these lives, and on the lives of all gathered here that you might help us remember the transforming power of grief and love bigger than this world. We ask these thanks in the name of all that is holy, Amen."

Chris Jones, a Shelton volunteer firefighter planning to run in the city's next mayoral election, gave a welcoming statement after Wilson's blessing and called for a moment of silence in memory of Viviana.