Library story hour has a romantic ending

Marissa Ciullo accepts a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Joseph Correia, during a story hour at the Huntington Branch Library in Shelton. Marissa Ciullo accepts a marriage proposal from her boyfriend, Joseph Correia, during a story hour at the Huntington Branch Library in Shelton. Photo: Contributed Photo Photo: Contributed Photo Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Library story hour has a romantic ending 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

SHELTON — Joseph Correia turned a children’s story hour into a fairy tale romance at the Huntington Library recently.

Correia added a romantic epilogue to the program last Friday by asking his girlfriend, family services librarian Marissa Ciullo, to marry him, to the delight of about 75 children and parents.

“I surprised my girlfriend,’’ Correia said by email. “At the end of her Trick or Treat Story Time, I told everyone that ‘there was one more activity’ — Miss Marissa needed to close her eyes. Then I was going to ask her a question, and if she answered yes, she would get what was inside the box.”

Ciullo, who was dressed as Alice in Wonderland for the Halloween program, said “yes.”

Then her boyfriend got down on one knee, and held out a ring box, to pop the question.

The librarian seemed genuinely surprised, but quickly accepted the proposal as cheers erupted in the room, and another library employee led everyone in singing “Going to the Chapel.’’

“Everybody gets candy,’’ a beaming Correia said.