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Norwalk Sen. Duff Hosts Ice Cream Social, ALS Challenge

NORWALK, Conn. - State Sen. Bob Duff (D-Darien/Norwalk) surprised his guests Sunday afternoon, Aug. 24, when in addition to hosting a biannual ice cream social party, he dumped a bucket of cold water over his head for the ALS Ice Bucket challenge. 

Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff and Ridgefield's Dr. Shawn Tittle both dumped buckets of ice water over their heads in response to their ALS Ice Bucket Challenges.

Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff and Ridgefield's Dr. Shawn Tittle both dumped buckets of ice water over their heads in response to their ALS Ice Bucket Challenges.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
Nearly 200 people showed up at Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's house Sunday afternoon for a bi-annual ice cream social.

Nearly 200 people showed up at Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's house Sunday afternoon for a bi-annual ice cream social.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
Nearly 200 people showed up at Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's house Sunday afternoon for a bi-annual ice cream social.

Nearly 200 people showed up at Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's house Sunday afternoon for a bi-annual ice cream social.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
Nearly 200 people showed up at Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's house Sunday afternoon for a bi-annual ice cream social.

Nearly 200 people showed up at Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's house Sunday afternoon for a bi-annual ice cream social.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
Nearly 200 people showed up at Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's house Sunday afternoon for a bi-annual ice cream social.

Nearly 200 people showed up at Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's house Sunday afternoon for a bi-annual ice cream social.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
The Karlehag family has gone to several of Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's ice cream socials over the years.

The Karlehag family has gone to several of Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's ice cream socials over the years.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff and Ridgefield Dr. Shawn Tittle both dumped buckets of ice water over their heads in response to their ALS Ice Bucket Challenges.

Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff and Ridgefield Dr. Shawn Tittle both dumped buckets of ice water over their heads in response to their ALS Ice Bucket Challenges.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff and Ridgefield Dr. Shawn Tittle both dumped buckets of ice water over their heads and several of the kids in attendance Sunday, in response to their ALS Ice Bucket Challenges.

Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff and Ridgefield Dr. Shawn Tittle both dumped buckets of ice water over their heads and several of the kids in attendance Sunday, in response to their ALS Ice Bucket Challenges.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling joined the dozens who stuck around State Sen. Bob Duff's ice cream social to watch the senator dump ice water over his head.

Norwalk Mayor Harry Rilling joined the dozens who stuck around State Sen. Bob Duff's ice cream social to watch the senator dump ice water over his head.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
Dozens stuck around State Sen. Bob Duff's ice cream social in Norwalk Sunday afternoon to watch the senator dump ice water over his head.

Dozens stuck around State Sen. Bob Duff's ice cream social in Norwalk Sunday afternoon to watch the senator dump ice water over his head.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
Nearly 200 people showed up at Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's house Sunday afternoon for a bi-annual ice cream social.

Nearly 200 people showed up at Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's house Sunday afternoon for a bi-annual ice cream social.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith
Nearly 200 people showed up at Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's house Sunday afternoon for a bi-annual ice cream social.

Nearly 200 people showed up at Norwalk State Sen. Bob Duff's house Sunday afternoon for a bi-annual ice cream social.

Photo Credit: Alissa Smith

Every other year, Duff invites Norwalk and Darien constituents to his house and offers them ice cream as a way to open the lines of communication to himself and other Democrats in elected positions. 

"This is an opportunity for voters to come to our house and talk to us in a very relaxed setting," Duff said. 

For Beth Ann Karlehag, a neighbor and Duff supporter, the ice cream social is a great way for her family and others to get involved. 

"We love to support Bob," Karlehag said. "He just gets things done. You couldn't ask for a better senator to represent the Norwalk area."

Others were new to the event and Duff said that he had seen a number of new faces between 1 and 3 p.m Nearly 200 people went to the senator's house on Toilsome Avenue home on Sunday.

"People have been coming and going," Duff said, as indicated by the number of cars that lined his street. 

And toward the end of the event, people began to gather in the middle of the yard as Duff and Redding resident Dr. Shawn Tittle set up several buckets filled with ice and cold water for their ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.

Duff told the crowd that he had been challenged six times and believed that everyone that could be challenged had been challenged so he challenged the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

He later challenged his mother Joanne Duff, wife Tracey and Justice of the Peace Mary Pugh. 

Tittle, a surgeon with offices in Ridgefield and Norwalk, challenged his two sisters and a cousin before both he and Duff dumped the ice water over their heads.

"That was cold!" Tittle exclaimed afterwards. 

Duff's children and others were then doused with the remaining ice water as the guests began to leave. 

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