Cultural Events

Bunny Watch Rides Returning To Fairfield Hills

Published: Mar 24, 2015 12:00 AM

Newtown High School’s Odyssey of the Mind Team, coached by Robin Fitzgerald, is set to host the annual Bunny Watch on Friday, April 3, and Saturday, April 4, at Glander Field on the Fairfield Hills Complex.

This is the fifth year the Bunny Watch will be held to raise funds for a high school Odyssey of the Mind Team to attend the World Finals. This year’s event will be held at Michigan State University, May 20-23.

Odyssey of the Mind is the largest intellectual competition in the world. Teams of up to seven students select and solve one of five long-term problems that they present at the annual state competitions. The top 30 teams in each competing state then head to World Finals, where teams from more than 30 countries come together in the spirit of international competition.

This year’s Bunny Watch will include wagon rides pulled by antique tractors for $5 per person to spot and count bunnies, rides on an inflatable slide from Super Fun Inflatables for $3 for a hand stamp for unlimited rides, and photo opportunities with props provided by Newtown Parks & Recreation.

The Bunny Watch will run from 10 am until 4 pm on both days.

Members of the NHS Odyssey of the Mind team Problem 5 are captain Zach Weiland, Jake Emmerthal, Hannah Fitzgerald, Ryan Fitzgerald, Lily Holmes, and Michael Ziluck.

The Bunny Watch ride coordinator and organizer is Rob Emmerthal, with assistance and antique tractors from George Birch, Milt Adams, Molly Emmerthal, and Kasey Roman. According to Mr Emmerthal, Silberman’s Farms is providing the wagons for the event.

While Bunny Watch wagon riders will be challenged to count all the bunnies they see during a ride, the Easter Bunny may make an appearance for riders, depending on his schedule, according to Mr Emmerthal.

Mr Emmerthal also said this year’s Bunny Watch is the high school Odyssey of the Mind team’s only fundraiser for the team’s trip to World Finals. It costs each team member $500 for room and board for the three-day event, according to Mr Emmerthal.

Last year the team came in sixth at World Finals.

During the 2014 Bunny Watch, Zachary Weiland, left, and Ryan Fitzgerald, right, stood with the bunny who waited along the trail for the Bunny Watch wagon ride at Glander Field, within Fairfield Hills. The event will return for its fifth offering on its traditional schedule: Good Friday, when schools will not be in session, as well as the following day.

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There are many considerations as it relates to the development of the Castle Hill property as noted. I am supportive of the proposal and to approval process as it is sensitive to concerns being raised. The proposal provides another housing and lifestyle option for long time residents and newcomers with great accessibility to town. The developer is a long time resident with a solid reputation and the best interest of town at heart. It is not wise to make gross assumptions but I would think it would be a net positive (will attract empty nesters) to the tax base versus incremental town costs required. Net positive tax base growth supports continued investment in our great school system. Working in partnership with historical groups, bike and trails, the borough and others could actually add another great part of our amazing town.

Proposed Castle Hill Development Is Wrong For Newtown

EDITOR'S NOTE: We do not publish everything that goes into print on our website. We never have. It's a longstanding policy that our print subscribers benefit by being able to read every feature, article, press release, etc, and see every advertisement, thanks to their paid subscriptions. Many stories are posted a few days after each print edition is published but some are never shared online. The Board of Education vacancy created by a resignation on February 20, which was filled on March 19, was covered in the March 22, 2024 print edition. Sorry you missed those stories.

Unhappy With Meeting Coverage

I am on the Newtown Bike and Trail Committee and we have been promoting and maintaining this trail for years. It literally goes through the middle of 20/60 Castle Hill Rd., and was added to the register of historic places around 2003: https://npgallery.nps.gov/AssetDetail/NRIS/02001679 . That said, I think nearby development and trail preservation could be compatible, depending on the plan.

Its not just this meeting - its pretty much all town meetings. When was the last time you saw an article on the Bee's website regarding P&Z or BOE? Did you know that a BOE member resigned in January and a new one was appointed? These used to be featured articles on the Bee website after they went into the print edition. Unfortunately, things have changed a lot at the Bee since Mr. Voket left.

I have lived in Newtown for over 60 years and this is the first I have ever heard of the Rochambeau Trail. When I checked with the National Park Service and our state only Nationally Historic Site the official records of the Rochambeau Trail administrated by NPS does not travel through this property. If you are arguing it is "Near" the trail then where was the outrage when Big Y was built? The new development on 6 and 25 or even the Starbucks.

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Bunny Watch Rides Returning To Fairfield Hills

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