92-Year-old Mystic Resident Releases Second Children's Book

Author Alison Mitchell may be 92, she but isn’t letting age slow her down. In fact, she has just released her second book in as many years. Townsend: The Positive Dog of Mystic Senior Living is the tale of “Townie,” a mutt who resides at a senior living community, the people he looks after and the activities that they do together during the course of a week.

While the colorful adventures of Townie and his friends are fiction, they were inspired by the busy lives of actual canine residents of StoneRidge Senior Living in Mystic. “This was a fun group effort as I had plenty of StoneRidge friends suggesting names and activities for Townie to encounter,” said Mitchell.

The 32-page book was written by Mitchell in collaboration with sisters Edie Twining and Kinny Kreiswirth. Twining illustrated the book and Kreiswirth served as the editor. Both women retired to Old Lyme after professional careers in design and editing, respectively.

StoneRidge Senior Living is inviting the public to meet the author at a special presentation at 4 p.m. on August 22. Tickets are free but seating is limited and advanced reservations are required. Call (860) 780-0741 for tickets. On September 9 at 1 p.m., Mitchell will give a presentation at the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, located at 4 Lyme Street.

Townsend: The Positive Dog of Mystic Senior Living sells for $16 and can be purchased at Bank Square Books (80 Stonington Road) or at the StoneRidge Country Store (186 Jerry Brown Road) in Mystic.

The book was published by Twining Design of Old Lyme.

All profits from the sale of the book will be donated to the StoneRidge Scholarship Fund which recognizes full-time employees and children of full-time employees who are pursuing a post-secondary education. This year, the committee granted awards to 23 students who were selected on the basis of financial need, academic achievement, scholastic potential, and their commitment to career goals. This year, the committee of generous StoneRidge residents awarded $211,000 to deserving students.

About StoneRidge Senior Living

StoneRidge is a senior living community set on 32 beautiful acres less than three miles from downtown Mystic, StoneRidge offers residents the best of both worlds: a fulfilling lifestyle in one of the most attractive spots on the Connecticut coast. Here, residents have a choice and a voice in how they live. Established in 2004 as the first Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC) in southeastern Connecticut, StoneRidge offers the security of lifelong care, including assistance-in-living, assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation. It all adds up to a quality of life unmatched in the region.