Ryan...I love you and miss you so much.

NEW CASTLE - After a car accident left her paralyzed from the neck down, Anita Conant, beloved postmistress of New Castle, is recovering with support from her friends and family.

Anita’s car was reportedly rear-ended by a dump truck on May 20 while she was sitting at a red light in Pennsylvania, where she attended her father’s funeral. Her spinal cord was severely injured, and she remains dependent on a respirator.

Anita’s husband, Jim; sons, Todd, 24, Sean, 23; and daughter, Ashley, 18, have shifted the focus from getting the family electrical business started to caring for Anita. But they have received much support from friends in New Castle and elsewhere.

"Without all of this support, who knows where we’d be today," Jim said.

From lemonade stands to gifts from the local elementary school’s sixth-grade class, support is coming from all age and income brackets. Island residents Peter Rice and Debbie Vorce have taken it a step further and organized a special way to raise awareness about their postmistress’s unfortunate circumstances.

"It’s amazing how simple this little yellow piece of paper is, (how much) ... generosity that it has sparked," Rice said. Rice and Vorce mailed a yellow pamphlet detailing Anita’s situationto all New Castle residents.

According to Rice, the expenses associated with the tragedy are beyond comprehension. A negligence lawsuit is being filed but could take at least a year to settle. To compound matters, Anita’s health insurance company has refused to cover any expenses until the lawsuit has been resolved.

New Castle residents have raised about $40,000 for Anita and her family, while the bandstand committee in North Hampton took up a special collection during a special performance by the 39th Army Band in July. Anita was on the committee for several years while living in North Hampton.

"Everyone was very responsive, and we raised about $876 for Anita," said committee member Dolores Chase, a friend of Anita’s.

For now, Anita receives therapy at the Shepard Center in Atlanta.

Her family has set up a Web site for those who would like to keep up with Anita’s progress. It is www.geocities.com/anitaconant/recovery.

Anyone interested in donating can send checks made payable to the Anita Conant Fund, P.O. Box 3000, New Castle, NH 03854.



I don't have much money, I know my friends don't have much money either but even a dollar counts. I don't know really what else to do for my Aunt. Even cards are welcome. Just mail them to me and I'll send them her way. Ali Simonds 522 N. Main Street Brewer, Maine 04412