The hottest new game in town this holiday season just might not be a video game, but something more delightfully old-fashioned that gets the family together around the table. How about a new twist on an old favorite, with area institutions, locations and businesses as the coveted real estate on the board? Welcome to West Hartfordopoly, which plays just like the traditional game. West Hartfordopoly has its own Facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/pages/West-Hartfordopoly/286485038056456

Says West Hartford Mayor Scott Slifka, “One of the signs that a community has made it is when we have our own version of Monopoly! We can say, ‘We’ve arrived!’ It’s really nice to be able to combine a game everybody loves with locations everybody knows and loves. This makes it that much more fun! I look forward to playing this with my daughter someday and being able to point out that it’s not some strange place like ‘Park Place’ that you’ve never heard of, but Your High School, or a restaurant you went to last week. It’s just very cool.”

Sacred Music at the Red Door, the music series of St. John’s Episcopal Church in West Hartford, developed the game this fall as a fundraiser that also celebrates and gives back to the community. Retailers are supported, along with St. John’s youth choir scholarships, the music series and the general support by St. John’s of area institutions. A complete list of the spaces on the board along with the game’s community patrons can be found at www.sjparish.net. The retailers are small local businesses unique to West Hartford (larger chain stores are not represented). The game is produced by Pride Distributors, a Michigan company that publishes the game by agreement with Parker Brothers.

The games are available for $25 each at St. John’s Church (679 Farmington Ave), Tangiers International Market (668 Farmington Ave), Toy Chest (975 Farmington Ave) and Blue Acorn Studio (10 Lasalle Rd).

For additional press information: Peter Stoltzfus Berton, Music Director, St. John's Episcopal Church.  music@sjparish.net or cell 508 826 5497.