Five Former Officials State Their Case Against Housing At Fairfield Hills In a Zoom meeting posted on The Newtown Bee’s YouTube channel, five former Newtown officials share their passion and reasoning for keeping the Fairfield Hills campus free from residential development.In a Zoom meeting posted on The Newtown Bee’s YouTube channel, five former Newtown officials share their passion and reasoning for keeping the Fairfield Hills campus free from residential development.Coming in at just under 50 minutes, the “Alternate Perspectives” webcast brought in former Police Commissioner Bruce Walczak, who is a local landlord, Lions Club officer, and current state independent party candidate for the 5th US Congressional seat; former Legislative Council member and First Selectman Pat Llodra; former Board of Finance and Council member Kelley Johnson; former Board of Finance chairman, selectman, and Borough of Newtown Warden James Gaston; and former Booth Library Board and Fairfield Hills Authority Chairman Robert Geckle.Trading off among themselves, the guests covered eight specific points related to a referendum question on the current ballot that asks “Should the Town of Newtown consider commercial proposals at the Fairfield Hills campus that include a housing component, provided that a housing component would be limited to no more than two of the existing buildings, and that the renovation is consistent with the architectural vision for the property?”While the question is technically advisory in nature, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal said results of the referendum would be binding as far as he is concerned. If the measure does not pass, he has said the town will likely move forward committing future bonding to razing most of the remaining buildings.Ahead of that question being developed by the Legislative Council, the first selectman hosted three community conversations starting in the fall of 2019 after the latest Fairfield Hills master plan review panel unanimously recommended including possible mixed-use development. That advisory committee work included a survey that took most of the possible future options for remaining institutional buildings on the campus into consideration.While the survey indicated many who participated opposed the idea of housing, many also said they favored revenue-generating development on the campus. However, Rosenthal noted there was nothing in the survey related to the future or disposition of those remaining buildings if they are not part of a mixed-use development proposal.“Those survey results have to be viewed in respect to the fact that they leave out a big question about what the town should do with the remaining buildings,” he said.Concerns and misinformation that quickly began circulating in the wake of those recommendations motivated Rosenthal to hit pause as he and other officials organized community conversations that reviewed the campus history, potential costs associated with remediating and demolishing all remaining unusable buildings, and implications of the recommended mixed-use proposal.Plans for holding a final info session with possible developers were delayed until October 5 due to COVID-19 restrictions. That virtual session was also hosted by The Newtown Bee and included input from two development company representatives who have been engaged in successful institutional-to-mixed-use projects around the country and here in Connecticut.The officials participating in the “Alternate Perspectives” webcast approached the newspaper saying that the series of information sessions had not addressed all the facts and long-term implications in the event the current referendum passes.Surveys Say 'No'The webcast commenced with Johnson and Geckle reminding voters that every survey in campus history has shown consistent opposition to housing. Geckle said that the original purchase of the campus was, ironically, completed because of local taxpayers’ opposition to seeing the former state hospital property, in some part, subdivided for housing.He also reminded viewers that all previous Master Plan reviews have rejected housing as a permitted use.“In 2001, the town exercised its right to buy the property due to public rejection of proposed residential development on the property,” Geckle said in his presentation material. “Every public survey since that time has reaffirmed the public’s aversion to housing on the campus.”Johnson added that the current review committee recommendation was not simply a general discussion about apartments in Newtown.“It’s about whether we support the development of apartments on public property,” she said. “I feel strongly town land should support town needs.”Johnson and Gaston went on to advocate for preserving Fairfield Hills as a “land bank” for community options to serve current and future generations. The two contended that incorporating apartment housing on the site would have negative implications for future social services, open space, recreational, band shell, arts, and cultural activities on the campus.“Strategic, long-range planning for land use is smart for the town,” Johnson said. “We will never be able to predict all the town’s future needs, but ‘we don’t need it now’ is a poor excuse to the future generation that inherits our legacy.”Gaston noted that the town will continue to grow, as will community needs. “Let’s leave the next generation some planning tools with which to work,” he said.Geckle and Llodra contended that converting even one of the viable buildings into apartments would change the character of the campus, and would compromise a community resource that distinguishes Newtown from other communities.Llodra pointed out that 18 buildings have been demolished or rehabilitated already on campus, and substantial infrastructure work has been completed, including the power loop, landscaping, ball fields, and expanding the trail system.“The vision for the campus has been realized with these successes,” Llodra said. She added, “Apartment buildings on the Fairfield Hills campus will diminish the likelihood that the campus will ever achieve its potential as the civic, social, recreational, and cultural center [envisioned] for the Newtown community.”Unexpected RevelationsWalczak and Llodra said that the developers, on their Bee webcast, described a scale for land use larger than expected, suggesting a need for expanding parking lots that could both diminish the aesthetics and consume substantial acreage.“Large parking lots and a sea of cars will greet all who enter the campus, replacing green space and open vistas,” Llodra contended.Johnson and Walczak also noted that as far as the referendum question is concerned, a mixed-use definition is unclear. They believe the current advisory question creates impression of apartments over retail, and that is not what has been discussed.“I’ve always worried the community expects a retail plaza with quaint shops and food when we are more likely to get the offices of the construction company,” Johnson surmised.Gaston and Llodra also expressed concern regarding potential conflicts between apartment residents and the public regarding campus use.Gaston, an attorney, said tenants who might occupy campus-based apartments with the full knowledge of the scope of nonresidential activities planned for Fairfield Hills, could still bring nuisance lawsuits against the community for noise and other nonresidential issues impacting their quality of life.“Apartments at Fairfield Hills will negatively impact recreational, arts and cultural events, and other community activities,” he said. “It’s human nature: When you move next to the airport, you want to close the airport.”Gaston and Walczak contended that yearly tax revenues may not cover cost of municipal and education services that apartments could bring, in effect, leaving all of Newtown’s taxpayers to partially subsidize the residential component on campus. And remaining buildings would still need to be taken down at taxpayer expense.“Housing is not a solution for Fairfield Hills, it’s an overall financial and community-use loss,” Gaston suggested. Walczak concurred, saying “The undeniable conclusion is that we give up far more than we gain.”According to Geckle and Gaston, a Yes vote leaves no future opportunity for taxpayers to approve or disapprove a specific project.Technically, that is not true, as any proposal for building redevelopment on the campus is subject to approval by various agencies in town that could individually or collectively reject specific projects for myriad reasons. And Rosenthal told The Newtown Bee ahead of the webcast that a future Master Plan review committee could, in fact, recommend removing the housing allowance before any future housing project comes to fruition.Nonetheless, Gaston said that once housing is approved, the campus vision has been compromised and introduces future pressure around similar proposals.“This decision is too momentous to give up decision making and control to just a few people,” Gaston added, mirroring closing remarks from Llodra.Five Former Officials State Their Case Against Housing At Fairfield Hills John Voket
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‘This Is Not Okay,’ Newtown Allies For Change Speak Out At Legislative Council MeetingMembers of Newtown Allies for Change joined together at the Legislative Council’s meeting, on October 21, to let their voices be heard against injustice in the community. Council members and the public attended the meeting both in person at the Municipal Center and using a call-in option.At the end of the Legislative Council’s agenda, the floor was opened to voter comments that did not have to relate to business discussed that evening.Kate Mayer started off by addressing the council as a whole saying, “I’m here today to tell you that I am tired of good people doing nothing… the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.”She explained that when bad behavior is rewarded, or when there are no consequences or criticism for those actions, it not only will continue but the acts will worsen each time after.“So when Black men are killed in streets in cities far away and not so far away, Newtown responded immediately with outrage and peaceful protests…” Mayer said, referencing gatherings held in June.“They stood on the steps of the Edmond Town Hall and said, ‘What about us? Listen to our stories. We are here. What are you doing to project us? We live here. This is our town,’” Mayer recalled. “And most good people did nothing.”She went on to cite multiple examples of cases where she felt people did nothing or not enough, one of which was in reference to a letter published by an elected Legislative Council member that she did not specifically name.Talking directly to the Legislative Council, Mayer said, “While there is freedom of speech, you are all united to work diligently to ensure that opinions like this do not seep into the work of the people... So it’s no surprise when our rhetoric gets ramped up in the absence of criticism, the hate gets more hateful, and the vandalism more scary — it’s just a sign, it’s just a letter, it’s just a bottle, it’s just Facebook.”She concluded her speech by bringing awareness to the recent Zoom meeting that was conducted in Newtown by State Representative Jahana Hayes, the first African American woman ever elected to Congress from Connecticut. In that meeting, Hayes was bombarded with racist remarks in the public chat section.“I’m asking you all to do something now. You owe it to the people of color here in town carrying the burden and the risk of inaction. You owe it to the past, to the present, and to the future,” Mayer said. She added that when good people do nothing, racism will continue to “spread and fester and grow unchecked.”Other members following her speech expressed the hope that something can be done to make a plan going forward for change and that people must no longer deny racism living in Newtown.For the meeting’s records, four speakers — Eric Paradis, Don Lococo, Ned Simpson, and Alex Villamil — read back-to-back the essay Congresswoman Hayes penned called “I’m Not Okay,” which was published October 13.In it she recounts the events of her meeting, without naming Newtown, and walks through how she and others were impacted by the racist remarks that included multiple people calling her the N-word and the repetitive blast of the phrase “Go pick your cotton,” in all capital letters.A portion of Congresswoman Hayes’s essay details, “I am not okay that this happened. I am not okay, that this is not the first time this has happened in my life or that I’ve had to explain that this happens. I am not okay, that I have to post a screenshot to prove it happened. I am not okay, that people will still doubt that it happened or the word of the forty or so participants on the call will be necessary to ‘verify’ the incident happened. I am not okay, that I will have to delicately explain to people that this happens — here. I am not okay, that many will try and separate/defend these words and actions and will not see that these comments are not about policy or politics — they are about racism and hate and challenge our decency. I am not okay! I said it — I admit it, I am not okay.”Following the recitation of the essay, Villamil added his own point of view.“Locally, just this past summer, a synagogue was defaced with anti-Semitic slurs, white supremacist propaganda was found stuck on light posts in downtown Sandy Hook, the painful recountings of life in Newtown [were] told by our high school students of color going to Black Lives Matter rallies, and lastly, some of the misinformed and apathetic responses in The Newtown Bee to the Black Lives Matter movement — these demonstrate that racism, intolerance, and a clear disconnect with the gravity of the problem is slowly gaining a foothold in our community,” Villamil said. “This is not okay.”He told the Legislative Council members that there is an urgent need for dialogue, learning, and proper representation in the community; and he urged the Legislative Council to make Newtown a more just town by setting the tone and making it part of their agenda.“Make inquiries and promote ongoing public participation with feedback until the goal is accomplished,” Villamil said. “The end goal would be the passing of legislation for the creation of a committee to address grievances for people being targeted because of their color, race, religion, or sexual preference. There and then we will truly be a nicer Newtown.”For information about upcoming Legislative Council meetings, visit newtown-ct.gov/legislative-council.Legislative Council October 21 meeting Alissa Silber
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Year Off For Move Does Not Dampen NPD Drug Take Back Message Newtown’s police department may not be participating in this year’s Prescription Drug Take Back Day activities October 24, but that does not mean they are dialing back concerns about the dangers of medications languishing in medicine cabinets and homes across the community.Newtown’s police department may not be participating in this year’s Prescription Drug Take Back Day activities October 24, but that does not mean they are dialing back concerns about the dangers of medications languishing in medicine cabinets and homes across the community.The local department is just in the thick of transitioning to a new headquarters that is scheduled to be occupied and open by early November, so they are referring local residents to Take Back Day services in neighboring communities including Woodbury and Monroe, according to Sgt Jeff Silver.“The Newtown Police Department believes that the DEA National Drug Take Back program is an important initiative, and we have participated in it for a number of years,” Silver said. “It offers a safe location to dispose of potentially hazardous substances and can help prevent overdoses and drug addictions.”Silver pointed out that according to the US DEA’s website, the Danbury, Monroe, and New Fairfield police departments are some of the closest collection sites in the area. The Woodbury resident trooper’s office also has a disposal box at 281 Main Street South.“You can consult the DEA’s Take Back website — takebackday.dea.gov — or contact your local pharmacy for [other] safe drop off locations,” Silver added. “Everyone is encouraged to safely dispose of unused medication in approved containers.”The National Prescription Drug Take Back Day addresses a crucial public safety and public health issue, the website states.The 2018 National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows 9.9 million Americans misused controlled prescription drug, and a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from home medicine cabinets.According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in 2017, young adults ages 18-25 had the highest rates of misuse, with 14.4 percent reporting nonmedical use in the previous year. Locally, 30 percent of teens who completed a survey reported taking a prescription medication from a family member in 2018.All medications can be harmful if they are misused, however opioids are extremely dangerous.In 2019, there were 1,200 overdose deaths in Connecticut, up 18 percent from 2018. Of those, 94 percent involved opioids (both prescription and illicit); 82 percent involved fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid.The data shows Connecticut is on a path for even more overdose deaths this year. Nationally, the October 2019 Drug Take Back Day collected 882,919 pounds — 441.5 tons — of unused prescription and over-the-counter drugs.Year Off For Move Does Not Dampen Drug Take Back Message John Voket
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Congressional Candidates Say Newtown Concerns Reflected Across 5th District Each of the candidates vying for Connecticut’s 5th District US Congressional seat spent about 20 minutes speaking with The Newtown Bee between October 18 and 20, responding to several specific questions.Each of the three candidates vying for Connecticut’s 5th District US Congressional seat spent about 20 minutes speaking with The Newtown Bee between October 18 and 20, responding to several specific questions.Incumbent Democratic Rep Jahana Hayes, Republican challenger David X. Sullivan, along with state independent party candidate and Newtown resident Bruce Walczak each talked about issues they are hearing about that are of the greatest concern to local voters; whether those concerns differ between suburban/rural and urban constituents; a couple of the most critical items they will prioritize if elected; and their thoughts on how they will move forward toward addressing those priorities depending on who is elected president.Hayes said she has found it interesting that across the district, some of the top constituent concerns are shared, regardless of where those residents live.“There’s a huge emphasis on COVID and health care — what are we going to do to get people healthy, what does that strategy look like,” Hayes said. “Rebuilding the economy is big, and a lot of people are really concerned about small businesses and small business owners.”The congresswoman said school-related issues also come up a lot, as well as “a recurring theme of civility, and how do we deal [with that] after a contentious election cycle.”Sullivan, who checked in from rural Morris in between campaign stops in Litchfield County, recognized that while the diversity of constituents across the 5th District is substantial, he is hearing similar concerns about health and safety — particularly in relation to addressing the pandemic fallout, and feelings that some constituents are feeling less safe these days in their own homes, schools, and even places of worship.“We’re at a crossroads,” Sullivan said, pointing to New York bail reforms that he says are churning people who have been arrested back out onto the street “in some cases, within hours.”“I’m seeing so many New York plates as we drive around today, even up here in Morris. You know people are afraid in New York because of safety concerns. In part it’s because of that policy, in part it’s because of defunding police and not supporting those who protect us,” he said.Sullivan, who said he joined the campaign hours after he officially retired as a 30-year federal prosecutor, also believes that Connecticut has never recovered from the recession of 2008.“Our GDP is still in the negative, and it’s going to take some diversity of thought in Washington,” he said. “I believe in working in a bipartisan fashion, but the fact is we’ve had five Democratic congressmen, and two Democratic senators representing not just the 5th District but the entire state for well over a decade. I’m not sure where we will be [after Election Day], but I am concerned where our national economy will be heading because the policies of our two presidential candidates couldn’t be more different.”A Fighting ChanceSullivan said Connecticut has a fighting chance to come out on top if the country “resumes a very sound economic course,” but if the national economy slows much more, “Where is Connecticut going to be at that point?”Walczak, who is a career relocation consultant and local landlord, said he is hearing most often the issue of partisanship in Washington.“To me that is a threat to our democracy, this perpetual win/lose environment there is dividing our country, and that division is keeping [elected officials] from creating and passing meaningful legislation that will help people in the 5th District,” he said. “Whether it’s enhancements to the Affordable Care Act, the relief programs for states or for those who lost their jobs — the Congress is at a standstill. They’re basically putting politics before the needs of the country, ideology in front of solutions. I’m hearing people say Congress needs to start working together.”Hayes said even issues like social unrest and policing seem to resonate equally among suburban and urban constituents. She said these issues “are as palpable in cities like Waterbury and New Britain, as they are in Washington Depot, Kent, and Southbury.”“I think the outlier in some of the smaller communities, I get questions about agriculture and farming, and what those things look like in the future,” she said.Sullivan said jobs seem to be a unifying concern no matter where he is campaigning, from suburban/rural communities to the cities like Danbury, Meriden, New Britain, and Waterbury.“Minimum wage jobs only create minimum wage lives,” he said. “We need real industry and business growth in Connecticut,” not revenue building through sin taxes on legal recreational cannabis, expanding gaming, and tolls. “That could generate money right off the bat, but it will cost us a lot more on the back end from damages that our communities could incur. It’s revenue, but it’s not developing a healthy economy.”Sullivan favors recruiting green businesses that create secondary benefits like those developing better technology for expanding the use and ownership of electric vehicles. He also thinks Connecticut can be a leader in public/private partnerships that will begin to develop widespread water filtration technology and products.“We need to compete for that business with other states, though, and I don’t think one party control is how to do it,” the GOP candidate said. “In Newtown we have kids coming out of high school, or returning from college, and they need and are looking for good paying jobs, and to live in Connecticut like they did when they grew up.”Walczak said no matter where he goes in the district, he is hearing calls for racial justice “loud and clear,” and “the issue of anti-Semitism is starting to look like systemic racism.”The inability to campaign door-to-door in the district, Walczak said, is not necessarily a drawback, because much of the campaigning he sees Hayes and Sullivan doing is happening among party faithful and town committees.“I just started my campaign two moths ago, so I have not been able to get out into the communities to rub elbows,” he said, although Walczak said he is getting constituent responses to issues he has presented in various forums and debates in which he has participated.Prioritizing ConstituentsIf reelected, Hayes committed to digging right in to constituent services. “I think this will be a top priority — making sure we build bridges and rebuild trust in government and in elected officials,” Hayes said, adding that she looks forward to getting back out and hearing from voters at the grassroots level.Hayes said unlike a lot of other candidates, she emphasizes meeting individuals throughout the district, which is an alternative to making herself available first and foremost to party stakeholders and municipal officials.“I really want everybody to feel like they have some agency in this whole process,” she said, “so that people don’t feel disengaged or disenfranchised and ultimately become angry. I want people to become part of the process and to have their voices be heard all along. I’m singularly focused on that kind of work.”Sullivan said he will hit the ground running to develop a national tax base that promotes reviving the economy post-pandemic, while keeping taxation at a reasonable rate. He also wants to see police reform, and sees a lot of crossover points between federal proposals coming from both major parties — but a bipartisan initiative needs to get some traction in the House.Walczak said there are three major issues he would dig right in to — shoring up national healthcare initiatives; re-engaging on the global stage to address environmental and climate change concerns; and how the legal system will move forward from local courtrooms all the way up to the Supreme Court.Regarding the divides that are separating voters and communities across the 5th District and nation, Hayes said she feels it is more important for her constituents to express their differences versus hearing her try to lead or influence the conversation.“I think it works when I can [say] to people, ‘I listened to what you said and this is how I advocated for legislation, or this is how [their concerns] are incorporated into what we have done.’ I’ll listen to people and say, ‘As we are rebuilding and coming up with new legislation, what types of things would you like to see reflected in that legislation?’”Hayes said she hopes to see legislation supporting child care workers that the House approved this year move to be approved by the US Senate in 2021 and signed into law.“That would be a game changer for so many families in this district. Research shows for every dollar we spend on childcare, seven dollars is returned to the local economy,” she said. She also hopes the school infrastructure bill and the larger Moving Forward Act will be signed into law.Sullivan said no matter who is elected president, he needs to represent the needs of his 5th District constituents.“I want to make sure my priorities align with the people of the district,” he said, adding that he also wants to maintain lines of communication with district municipal and community leaders.Address The ACAWalczak said divided views over the Affordable Care Act need to be addressed, and he generally prefers staying the course with that contentious piece of legislation.“We would not have the Affordable Care Act for employees. I think the future program is going to be choice, and I think the ACA will have to [accommodate] private insurance and Medicare,” he said. “I think the important thing is finding solutions so we can expand quality medical care to everyone at an affordable price, and to have a safety net for those who can’t afford those programs so they still have access to quality healthcare.”As a so-called “Reagan Republican,” Sullivan says he believes in civility. “I think you can be partisan and a gentleman at the same time,” he said, recalling a collegial conversation he had at the last Newtown Labor Day parade with Senator Richard Blumenthal.“I look forward to serving with Senators Murphy and Blumenthal and anyone else who is elected this year from Connecticut. We are, in fact, one team at the end of the day. You don’t put partisan politics in front of your state, your district, or your country,” Sullivan said.Hayes said getting sponsorship for key legislation and helping political opponents understand the legislation her constituents need will be part of her plan no matter which candidate wins the presidency this Election Day.“For me, I think every administration, whether it’s Republican or Democrat, is ultimately supposed to leave things better than when they came — we shouldn’t be resetting with each administration. So even with a Trump administration we still have issues with health care we need to work on, we need to build our economy back and make sure all the people who have fallen into unemployment are once again employed,” Hayes said. “And I would work with anybody to get those things done, and I would hope that any other Democrat would do the same because that’s what our communities need.”Reflecting on the number of presidents he has served under in his career, Sullivan admitted that Trump is contributing to the “entire atmosphere in Washington right now, but many other people do as well. He is the lightning rod because he is the president.”Walczak believes that no matter what happens, Democrats will sustain a substantial majority in the House, but Democratic congressional leaders need to do a better job working with GOP counterparts in both the House and Senate creating bills that have a chance to actually become law.“We’re spinning our wheels in Congress. If we don’t put in place bipartisan laws,” he said, “we’re going to see a continuation of a divided country.”The independent candidate says he favors looking at term limits in the House and Senate, and from the top down, campaign finance needs to be addressed.“If Trump wins, I don’t think we’re going to have much opportunity for top-down change to create more bipartisanship,” Walczak said. “If Biden wins, I think it’s in his bones to address bipartisanship, and begin to soften it. But I do believe by electing independents who can move freely between party positions, and who aren’t dependent on [party-driven] campaign financing, it begins opening up opportunities to work across the aisle.“Imagine if we had five independents in the Senate, they could control the debate because neither party would control the majority,” he said.Equity In EducationAs an educator and former National Teacher of the Year, Hayes said once the virus pandemic subsides she wants to see school systems reopening with expanded focus on equity.“I hope we don’t return to the normal we had in January because as COVID has revealed, there are a lot of equity gaps — a lot of schools weren’t connected with broadband [internet access], students didn’t have devices, teachers were not trained in different modes of virtual learning, and we didn’t have schools with good HVAC systems and air ventilation,” Hayes said. “There’s no way we can go back to business as usual with all these gaps revealed in such a pronounced way. We have to work together to close them.”The congresswoman said the initiative to begin restoring equity in education starts at the top.“We have to have a Department of Education that believes in public education, and believes in the federal government’s role, because many of these programs and [addressing inequities] I’m suggesting require some level of federal investment,” Hayes said. “If we want to rebuild our economy and military and foster diplomacy, we need to be graduating young people who are ready for the workforce, who are self-sustaining, who have some buy-in to our systems, and who pay taxes. Education is so critical to all those things, that to have a hands-off approach at the federal level — I do not think that’s the right way to go.”Sullivan said as he feels some degree of frustration about the ways things are being handled in Washington.“I think we need calmer voices,” he said, inferring that the president’s use of social media has great potential to incite divisiveness, instead of using it to do good. “At the same time I think we need louder voices saying let’s bring greater civility to this process.“I don’t want to point the finger at any one person and say they are the problem. The entire process has become a problem, and the people of our country and the 5th District are uncomfortable with what’s going on... with the rhetoric,” Sullivan said, agreeing that the president needs to set the tone.“It starts with personal discipline,” Sullivan concluded. “People do attack you in politics. And social media — boy oh boy — I know who I am and I know what I believe in, I know how I treat people, and I know that I can serve in Congress. I hope I am afforded the opportunity to show the people what kind of congressman I can be for them.”Walczak said he is running to help promote greater opportunities for independents as a means of eventually addressing and diminishing partisanship, even going as far as suggesting that his next political move if he fails to win this congressional race, could be to go head-to-head with either of Connecticut’s Democratic US Senators.Candidates Say Newtown Concerns Reflected Across 5th District John Voket
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Registrars Stepping In For Final ‘Friday Forums’ Webcast The final segment of The Newtown Bee’s “Friday Forums” web series October 30 will host Newtown’s Registrars of Voters Erica Canfield (R), and LeReine Frampton (D).The final segment of The Newtown Bee’s “Friday Forums” web series October 30 will host Newtown’s Registrars of Voters Erica Canfield (R), and LeReine Frampton (D).The two local top elections officials, who are each running unopposed on the November 3 ballot, will drop in via Zoom for the planned Facebook Live session that will also be archived for viewers and readers on The Bee’s YouTube channel.The abbreviated segment will cover the most important points that residents need to know if they are planning to cast their ballots in person on Election Day. A series of measures aimed at protecting both voters and poll workers was already successfully rolled out for the primary elections earlier this year, and the registrars will explain how those and other measures will apply at the various polling locations in town.This installment, the final of five presented by The Newtown Bee this election season, along with a separate informational video about absentee voting featuring Town Clerk Debbie Halstead, were produced to help inform voters about the State General Assembly candidates and modified voting procedures put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The October 30 webcast is scheduled to go live on Facebook at noon, and should run approximately 15 minutes. Anyone with specific questions for the registrars exclusively about Election Day matters can forward them to Associate Editor John Voket for consideration via e-mail — send them to john@thebee.com with “Friday Forums question” in the subject line.“As someone who grew up in a family that was passionate about voting rights and promoting this privilege we are all entitled to as citizens, I’m pleased to be closing out our 2020 run of Friday Forums with Newtown’s two registrars,” Voket said. “This election season has brought never-before-anticipated challenges for voting officials as well as citizens, and I’m glad we are able to help explain what voters in Newtown should expect when they cast their votes at the polls this November 3.”Questions for the registrars are due by 5 pm on October 29.Anyone who missed the absentee balloting video or previous Friday Forums, which hosted the candidates running for the 28th State Senate District, and the Second, 112th, and 106th House Districts, can access them at youtube.com/user/thenewtownbee.Registrars Stepping In For Final 'Friday Forums' Webcast Story Registrars Stepping In For Final ‘Friday Forums’ WebcastRegistrars Stepping In For Final 'Friday Forums' WebcastFeatured Slider, NewsNone
‘It’s A Beautiful Gift,’ World Opens Up For Daniel Hasselberger After Donated Walkway
The Hasselberger family in Sandy Hook faces challenges of life in a pandemic while caring for an adult child with PMG and receives a donated walkway that becomes life-changing.Life has been a whirlwind for the Hasselberger family since The Newtown Bee last caught up with them in the summer of 2019.It was there that residents got a glimpse into how Daniel Hasselberger has been beating the odds, living into his 20s with a rare brain malformation called polymicrogyria (PMG) and how his mother, Julie, navigates being a parent, caregiver, and activist chronicling her journey on YouTube.Since March 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused its fair share of challenges for the Hasselberger household in Sandy Hook.To help keep Daniel safe, the family made the decision to have Julie stop working as an insurance agent and put projects like launching a podcast on hold to focus on aiding Daniel full time.Daniel, who is nonverbal, has a variety of secondary symptoms from PMG, including respiratory issues, gross motor skill delays, and erratic seizures which require him to need constant care.In addition to Julie remaining home, Daniel’s father, John, began working from home, so no outside care would have to come into their house.Both of Daniel’s siblings, Thomas and Sarah, also returned to the family home — from Berklee College of Music in Boston and Chapman University Fowler School of Law in Orange, Calif., respectively — when their schools closed.“All five of us were basically on lockdown to protect Daniel’s fragile lungs and respiratory system,” Julie said.Since then, Sarah has returned to school and, due to the difficult back strain Julie faced caring for Daniel, the family decided to bring in a nursing and therapy aid for him.“We remain extremely cautious about COVID-19 because Daniel has a weak immune system,” Julie said, adding that life has begun to go back to normal, “slightly.”Dream WalkwayOne obstacle that plagued the family even before the pandemic was a lack of proper accessibility from the house to their backyard, which made it exceedingly difficult to maneuver Daniel in his wheelchair.“Our yard is very soft, rocky, and the wheelchair gets stuck really easily,” Julie explained.In the early summer, the family began to explore the possibility of getting a sidewalk from the garage to their ramp and were referred to Craig Kopfmann, owner/operator of Green Acres Landscape and Design.“He met with us to take a look. Shortly after that, Craig called us and told us that he had people willing to donate supplies and labor, and that they would like to put in a walkway for access to the ramp, at no charge to us,” Julie said.The pavers were supplied by Gault Family Companies.On September 26, Kopfmann and his crew arrived at the Hasselberger home with their trucks and equipment to begin the task of putting in the walkway.“It was very exciting, and we found out that we had some very large rocks in the way, which would have made it impossible for us to do it ourselves,” Julie said, thinking back to that pivotal day.When digging up the ground for the walkway, Julie paid Green Acres to also install a new drainpipe underneath it to fix a broken downspout drain that was causing a leak in the basement.“They did amazing work,” Julie said. “It was a big project for us financially, and we had some cheaper quotes, but we didn’t want anyone else to do the work. We were so grateful.”The donated walkway project was completed a week later, on October 3, and even though Daniel could not meet Kopfmann and his team in person, due to being sick, he did get to enjoy cruising across his brand new walkway later.“The first time I pushed Daniel’s wheelchair around the house and up onto the deck, it was surprisingly super emotional,” Julie said. “He loves sitting out there, looking at the trees, the sky, watching John blow the leaves or cut the grass.”These simple pleasures mean a great deal to both Daniel and his family, as they are home more than ever to continue keeping Daniel safe.“It’s a beautiful gift,” Julie said of Gault Family Companies and Green Acres Landscape and Design’s donated walkway. “It has opened up Daniel’s world, which is very limited these days, since we do not bring him out into public places.”In the future she hopes to be able to give Daniel even more access to enjoy the outdoors and maybe have a wheelchair swing installed for him.While the work never ends when it comes to caring for Daniel, Julie is appreciative to all those that have made and continue to make a positive difference in Daniel’s life.Julie said, “Sometimes, it gets very isolating for me and Daniel, but we try very hard to focus on gratitude and enjoying life. We are grateful for all of Daniel’s caregivers and medical providers. As we hunkered down during the initial months of the pandemic, we only had each other, and I saw how resilient, kind, and compassionate my adult children have become. Daniel needs a village, even during a pandemic. Access to the backyard opened up a bigger world for Daniel. And one sidewalk to one ramp (also previously donated) has been a game changer. We are indeed a very grateful family.”To learn more about Green Acres Landscape and Design, LLC, visit getgreenacreslandscaping.com. To learn more about Gault Family Companies, visitgaultfamilyco.com. For those interested in helping support Daniel Hasselberger, e-mails can be sent to his mother, Julie Hasselberger, at jhasselberger@snet.net and people can subscribe to her YouTube channel under her name.World Opens Up For Daniel Hasselberger After Donated Walkway Alissa Silber
Story ‘It’s A Beautiful Gift,’ World Opens Up For Daniel Hasselberger After Donated WalkwayWorld Opens Up For Daniel Hasselberger After Donated WalkwayFeatured Slider, FeaturesNone
The Hasselberger family in Sandy Hook faces challenges of life in a pandemic while caring for an adult child with PMG and receives a donated walkway that becomes life-changing.
Holiday Program Depot Day Will Have A Very Different Look This Year The Newtown Fund’s largest annual project — its Holiday Basket Program, culminating in Depot Day — will have a very different look this year.The Newtown Fund’s largest annual project — its Holiday Basket Program, culminating in Depot Day — will have a very different look this year.There will undoubtedly still be residents who will need help with holiday gifts and food this holiday season. There will certainly be fellow residents and businesses looking to “adopt” those residents and provide requested items.Unlike previous years, however, there will be no Depot Day, when all items are delivered to a central collection point, then sorted, wrapped, and delivered across town. With COVID-19 still very much in the air, organizers say Depot Day cannot happen.Linda Bates, longtime president of The Newtown Fund (TNF), reached out to The Newtown Bee last week to start sharing the news of this year’s plans.For 61 years, TNF has offered a one-time payment for residents to help pay for food, fuel assistance, utility bills, rent, or medical expenses. It is an emergency payment for residents.The Holiday Basket Program is the fund’s way of making sure the holidays are a little brighter for as many as 200 residents in need. TNF works with Newtown Social Services, which takes applications from residents who might not otherwise see gifts for the December holiday they celebrate.The applicants are then screened by the Town of Newtown department to make sure they meet eligibility requirements.By late November, TNF knows how many individuals, couples, and families need to be “adopted” for that year’s Holiday Basket Program.The names of those seeking adoption are known only to Social Services; each recipient is identified to TNF only by a number, with only their gender and general age also shared. The anonymous family’s holiday wish list is also provided to the fund, which then distributes it to those who want to adopt a family, couple, or individual.Businesses, organizations, families, churches, and individuals then “adopt” someone on that list, promising to fill the wish list in time for Depot Day.In addition to gifts, adopters commit to providing supplies for a complete holiday meal, pantry supplies, and toiletry items for the entire family being adopted.In 2019, 62 families were aided through The Newtown Fund’s Holiday Basket Program. In 2018 it was 68 families that were helped, representing 100 adults and 60 children.“Social Services expects the number of families to increase” this year, Bates said October 14, “due to business closings and layoffs.”Natalie Jackson, the Town of Newtown’s human resources administrator — whose work includes directing Social Services — confirmed an expected uptick this year. The pandemic has already increased the number of local residents asking for help, she said this week. The department is receiving calls for the holiday basket program at a rate higher than in years past, she added, noting that Social Services had already received about 20 applications for the holiday basket program as of the beginning of this week.“We just had a team meeting this morning,” she said October 20, “and we have received calls from people who are brand new to us.“I think in years past, historically it was a pretty consistent group of residents for holiday baskets,” she added. “I don’t think there was a high number of new people last year, and already we’ve seen some new names of people who haven’t reached out to us for support.“I think people are being more proactive this year than last,” she said.Depot Day, TraditionallyIn years past, Depot Day begins the previous evening. Friday is Call Night, when volunteers contact everyone who has volunteered to adopt a family or otherwise participate in Depot Day.TNF board member Sharon Cohen told The Newtown Bee last year that Call Night is filled with calls to remind or educate everyone on how Saturday will operate.“We remind people that they are signed up to be a driver or where they should go to drop off their items and the general time that they should arrive,” she said in November 2019. “Someone also contacts all of the volunteers who will be working inside the school. It’s a good night to offer everyone a general overview of the event.”On Depot Day, gifts and nonperishable items — collectively, hundreds of them — are delivered to and organized at a central location before being disbursed to dozens of Newtown homes. The Fraser Woods School has hosted Depot Day for nearly a decade.In addition to the requested gifts and nonperishable items, Depot Day traditionally sees donations of general gifts including toys, games, puzzles, and more.Those items are also divided among the registered families, adding to the pool of gifts families will receive that afternoon.According to TNF treasurer and longtime volunteer Sharon Maynard, financial donations earmarked for Depot Day are turned into gift cards and certificates for local grocery stores and gas stations. The gift cards are distributed in addition to what donors provide to their families, she told The Newtown Bee last year.By Saturday afternoon, carloads filled with the donations are delivered to the homes of recipients. One adult generally drives each vehicle to a home, continuing the efforts of TNF and Social Services to maintain anonymity for the recipients.In 2018, approximately 150 volunteers participated in Depot Day. Volunteers are all ages, from all walks of life, according to TNF Vice President Anne Ragusa.Depot Day 2020According to Bates, who has been meeting in recent weeks with the fund’s board, there does not appear to be a safe way to have that many volunteers working together. Deport Day often runs from early morning until early afternoon, with all those volunteers working in close proximity.“There will be no wrapping table,” she said, adding “we cannot accept any additional gifts or food. We will have no way to get them to the families.”Those who adopt a family this year, she said, “will be delivering the gifts and gift cards to the family they have adopted to maintain social distancing and keep personal contact to a minimum and still provide a holiday for the families who qualify for assistance.”Delivery day this year will still be two Saturdays before Christmas. Adopters are asked to deliver their gifts and food on Saturday, December 12, between 9 am and noon.Social Services is collecting applications now for the 2020 Holiday Basket Program. Residents who qualify, or think they may qualify for the program, should visit the department’s office, at 28 Trades Lane. The department can also be contacted by calling 203-270-4330.“People just have to go there and fill [an application] out ASAP,” Bates said.To adopt a family, visit thenewtownfund.org and follow the Adopt A Family link.Those seeking to participate in the Holiday Basket Program can select the size of the family they want to adopt.For additional information, contact TNF Holiday Basket program coordinator Alison Kistner at 203-522-6590 or newtownfund@gmail.com. While Depot Day will not be happening this year, the fund does have other volunteer opportunities available in upcoming months. Visit thenewtownfund.org to learn more.The Newtown Fund is seeking financial donations to help offset the costs of this year’s requests. The fund is a 501(c)(3) registered charity, which makes all donations tax deductible.Depot Day will be different for 2020 Shannon Hicks
Story Holiday Program Depot Day Will Have A Very Different Look This YearDepot Day will be different for 2020Featured Slider, FeaturesNone
Snapshot: Lance GalassiOccupation: For the past five years I have been the marketing director for A Place For Mom here in Connecticut. We help seniors and their families find info and pricing on home care, assisted living, and memory care anywhere in Connecticut or the US. A Place For Mom is a free service. The second hat I wear is being the owner of LG Marketing, LLC. I help many small businesses with their social media marketing. Many business owners don’t know how to use social media to promote their business. Some know how to but don’t have the time, so these are the two types of business owners we help. For over 30 years I have thrown small to large events from grand opening to big fairs and festivals. With COVID now, many business owners don’t have the money for traditional advertising, which costs thousands. LG Marketing was created to be a much more affordable option that does not lock in small business owners to any contracts.Family: I am married to Newtown teacher Tracy Galassi and we have three beautiful children together, Gianna, Sophia, and Enzo.Pets: I have the perfect little puppy named Rocco.How long have you lived in Newtown? I have lived in Newtown for the past eight years and love it here.What do you like to do in your free time? In my free time I often go to the gym or love playing sports with the kids when I’m not driving them to their sports.What is your favorite book? I am not a huge reader, but I did read Rich Dad/Poor Dad and found it very interesting.What is your favorite travel destination? We love to visit Atlantis in the Bahamas as it’s everyone’s favorite place to vacation besides our yearly trips to the Jersey Shore, which is also so much fun and a family tradition.What is the best part about Newtown? I love Newtown because it’s a small community where everyone knows each other and looks out for one another.What organizations are you part of in Newtown? I do presentations at senior centers across Connecticut, not just here in Newtown, to educate seniors on senior care options. As a family we try to get involved and help out as much as possible.Who has been the greatest influence in your life? I have been lucky to have some great teachers and mentors during my studies at WCSU and in my work life, but my hustle mentality comes from my father.If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? Jesus. Because I have a ton of questions for him!Who is your favorite musical artist? I like hip hop music from the ’90s, because the artist told stories. The late great Biggie Smalls was always my favorite artist, but I do enjoy Frank Sinatra and music from the past, as well.What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? As a true entrepreneur it’s easy to give up after any failed business, but then you learn that some of the most successful people on earth failed multiple times before they found the one big idea that made them successful.What is something you cannot live without? There are three things I cannot live without: family, money, and pizza.What is your proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment in life is being a great dad to my children.Snapshot Lance Galassi Story Snapshot: Lance GalassiSnapshot Lance GalassiFeaturesNone
The Top Of The Mountain
Newtown, from a cat's point of view.Maybe midafternoon on Tuesday did not allow you to see the live Newtown Bee Facebook conversation with five community members opposed to housing at Fairfield Hills. Not to worry — you’ll find “Alternative Perspectives” on The Newtown Bee’s YouTube channel, for you to watch at your convenience. Happy viewing!There are two donation boxes set up in the lobby of The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, to support two ongoing efforts. October is Adopt A Shelter Dog month, as I’ve mentioned before, and we continue to seek donations to help our Newtown Animal Shelter — pet food, pet toys, treats, slide leads, and cleaning supplies are welcome!The other box is for donations to FAITH Food Pantry, 46 Church Hill Road. Though this group hosted a successful drive through a food donation event recently, donations of nonperishable food and household items are a constant need. Our office is open from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday for donation drop offs. Call 203-837-0816 or 203-426-5604 to arrange a time to visit FAITH, or to donate items directly to the food pantry on Tuesdays or Thursdays.A reminder that members of Newtown Congregational Church will be cooking up Chicken and Shrimp Dinners this weekend. These NCC members have been hosting BBQ/Shrimp Boil events for a few years, but of course this year’s offering is changing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead of having tables covered with paper and diners sitting elbow to elbow, peeling open shrimp or carving into just-cooked chicken, this event will be a takeout/curbside pickup offering only. Dinners include the entrée of your choice along with salad, roll, butter, and dessert. Cost is $20 for a Chicken & Shrimp Dinner, $18 for a Shrimp Dinner, and $15 for a Chicken Dinner, and reservations are required. Visit bit.ly/orderbbqoct24 to make a reservation, which includes a 15-minute window during which guests are asked to pick up their meals. All proceeds will benefit Back Bay Mission, in Biloxi, Miss., and its ongoing fight against poverty, disease, and hurricanes in the Gulf Region. NCC has been actively supporting the mission since 2006.Have you registered yet for the family-friendly Parks & Rec Spooktacular? It takes place at Dickinson Park, Saturday, October 24, from 11 am to 1 pm. This party is limited to 100 people, though, so contact Parks & Rec asap at newtown-ct.gov/parks-recreation to find out if you can still participate. (There is a fee.)Another Spooktacular event is happening, as well, at the Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street. A drive-thru event with a surprise for each vehicle takes place this Friday, October 23, from 7 to 9 pm, as well as next Friday, October 30, 7 to 9 pm, and then again on Halloween, from 2 to 7 pm. Registration and a small fee are requested. Find out details at newtowncommunitycenter.org.These two options for celebrating Halloween are COVID-sensitive, safe ways to celebrate in this most unusual year, and still have some fun. Small outddor neighborhood parties are another way, or creating family-oriented scavenger hunts at home that night. (See the October 16 Newtown Bee “For Better Health” supplement article “With Halloween 2020 Happening Amid A Pandemic, Is It Safe To Trick-Or-Treat” for more tips.) If lights are out at houses, should you opt to trick-or-treat on October 31, please be respectful of the homeowners’ wishes and do not ring the doorbells or knock. (The office of The Newtown Bee will not be handing out Halloween treats this year. See you in 2021!)There’s some fun fall contests going on in town, too. The Newtown Middle School Painted Pumpkin Patch in front of the Queen Street school will be ready for residents to take a look and cast a vote this Saturday and Sunday. Votes are $1 and QR codes will be posted throughout the event for individuals to scan, which will bring them to a ballot form. Donations will also be collected digitally, raising funds for a local charity.You may be seeing scarecrows popping up all over Fairfield Hills by now, too. The Parks & Rec scarecrow contest will have individuals and organizations attaching creations to an assigned lamppost there, and community voting takes place from October 26 to 29, with a winner to be announced on October 30. You can find a ballot to print at newtown-ct.gov (Parks & Recreation) and a voting box will be in the vestibule of the Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street. I’ve noticed a lot of activity in The Bee “hive” in recent days unrelated to news coverage... odd clothing... hay bales... laughter... I wonder if they haven’t scared up an entry?Now that you can visit our C.H. Booth Library live and in person, you may have again noticed the engraved bricks that pave the walkways. The ongoing “Pave the Way” campaign encourages you to buy a brick with a special message of up to three lines, 14 characters each. The $100 dollar donation per brick supports the library’s many programs and buys books, etc., for all to enjoy. Maybe your brick will honor a first responder, a teacher, or any other moment/person you wish to celebrate. Visit https://chboothlibrary.org/support-the-library to find out how your brick can pave the way.A belated congratulations to Newtown Parent Connection, which was honored last month for being Recovery Champions by the Fairfield CARES Community Coalition.Have you enjoyed getting to know some of the buildings and sites around Newtown through Bee reporter Eliza Hallabeck’s recent series? If you’ve been wondering about a place in Newtown or Sandy Hook, please send your suggestion to eliza@thebee.com and she’ll look into it.Also, just FYI, this Friday’s print edition contains the final endorsement letters that will appear in print as well as online. Endorsement letters for candidates that reached our office too late for the October 23 edition (and any responses to print letters from October 23) will appear only at newtownbee.com through October 30. No letters of endorsement will be posted after October 30.Is it time to return to the gentleman/gentlewoman’s agreement that once existed in Newtown regarding election signage? There seems to be an unsightly proliferation of signs on every street corner this year, of all sizes; not to mention the spate of signs being destroyed or swiped this year. Disagreeing with someone’s posted opinion is no reason to take it down or carry it away. As Paul McCartney sang, “Let it be...”I hope I don’t have to post a sign of any size, though, to remind you to... Read me again.Top of the Mountain Story The Top Of The MountainTop of the Mountain_215FeaturesNone
How Important Is It To You To Shop Locally?
For the third week in a row, The Newtown Bee posted a question to our Facebook page to ask readers a question. This week we wanted to know, “How important is it to you to shop locally, and why?”For the third week in a row, The Newtown Bee posted a question to our Facebook page to ask readers a question. This week we wanted to know, “How important is it to you to shop locally, and why?”A new question will be posted weekly to our Facebook page for the foreseeable future. Readers are encouraged to join the conversation by checking facebook.com/thenewtownbee weekly for the latest post.Some responses to this week’s question included, “Very important,” “Sometimes,” and “Super important.” Others shared that it is important but it can be hard; that it is more important with the continuing pandemic; and one person said that if stores are open when they are not working and if the price is reasonable, then they will shop locally.An account for QuiXpress Car Wash posted, “As a local business, it’s very important to us! We like to shop local and support families and small businesses to help keep our community thriving.”Some of the top most liked responses follow:“Local small businesses,” Maple Craft Foods wrote, “are the heartbeat of a community, whether we have our own storefront, an online store, or both. We hire neighbors. We pay taxes locally. We support schools and other community volunteer organizations, and we contribute to the positive experience that out-of-towners have and remember about our town. A town cannot thrive without the vibrant lifeblood of a local business economy.”Another person posted, “I find it is more important to me now, since the pandemic. I especially like to get my groceries from local farmers. I try to buy local even at the grocery store. If something is not in season here and it’s shipped in from far away, I will pass. It costs the environment too much to air freight in the produce.”And another person said, “Incredibly important. I always, always shop not only local but small business as much as possible right down to jams, and veggies from road side stands before ever entering big box.”The latest weekly question was posted on October 21 and it asks, “How aware are you of racism in Newtown and what action should be taken?”Weekly Question: How important is it to you to shop locally, and why? Eliza Hallabeck
Story How Important Is It To You To Shop Locally?Limiting letter publicationsFeatured Slider, FeaturesNone
Boys' Soccer Team Unbeaten To Begin The Season Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team is undefeated six games into the regular season behind new Head Coach Ryan Lyddy. The team continued to defend its home turf with a 1-1 tie against the visiting Rebels of New Fairfield at Blue & Gold Stadium on October 15, then shut out host Abbott Tech of Danbury 4-0 on October 20.Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team is undefeated six games into the regular season behind new Head Coach Ryan Lyddy. The team continued to defend its home turf with a 1-1 tie against the visiting Rebels of New Fairfield at Blue & Gold Stadium on October 15, then shut out host Abbott Tech of Danbury 4-0 on October 20.During the scoreless first half of the NHS-New Fairfield game, both teams displayed intense defense and ball possession resulting in numerous shots on goal and free kicks. Lyddy commented that the ball movement the Nighthawks maintained in this match was the best they have had all season as the players continue to get better every day.Less than five minutes into the second half, Jack Petersen got his head on a corner kick from Ryan Ruddy that was then shot in by Tanner Trede. This combination from three of the four senior captains gave the Nighthawks a spark to maintain their lead.“With all of this COVID stuff, they organize the guys, they are leaders, they are leaving everything on the field, and off the field they are doing a nice job in school in the classroom. So I can not be more happy for them,” Lyddy said of his captains.Lyddy and his staff interchanged many players in their positions, allowing for underclassmen such as sophomore Greg Gargano to capitalize on team performance and effort.“Greg Gargano played an excellent game. He is a little guy up top which kind of changed the game to spark that first goal,” Lyddy said.Senior goalkeeper, Connor Mandarano played the entire game and came up with multiple saves and deflections to keep the Rebels out of scoring range and turn down their multiple shot attempts. Strong defense from Clayton Kunzweiler, Sam Edwards, and Petersen continued into the second half as they fought through the Rebels' late goal, with just over ten minutes left in the match, to keep the score tied at 1-1. Late attempts to put the Nighthawks ahead by Jake Gonski and Ruddy were thwarted by the Rebels' defense.“Unfortunate goal, but we had multiple opportunities to put one in to put them away. It didn’t happen, but you know sometimes a tie feels like a loss and that’s what these guys feel like. But they are still undefeated, they are still doing well, they are positive, so you can’t ask for anything more,” Lyddy said. The Nighthawks defeated the Abbott Tech Wolverines as Tyler DiMartino scored twice, and Trede and Gonski each scored.NHS Boys Soccer Shea Murphy
Story Boys' Soccer Team Unbeaten To Begin The SeasonNHS Boys Soccer_64Featured Slider, SportsNone
Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team is undefeated six games into the regular season behind new Head Coach Ryan Lyddy. The team continued to defend its home turf with a 1-1 tie against the visiting Rebels of New Fairfield at Blue & Gold Stadium on October 15, then shut out host Abbott Tech of Danbury 4-0 on October 20.
Football Team Takes On Masuk, Senior Night Postponed Due To New Fairfield Coronavirus Concerns Newtown High School’s football and cheerleading teams had their Senior Night festivities delayed when the scheduled Senior Night football game between Newtown and New Fairfield on October 23 was postponed due to possible coronavirus exposure in New Fairfield.Newtown High School’s football and cheerleading teams had their Senior Night festivities delayed when the scheduled Senior Night football game between Newtown and New Fairfield on October 23 was postponed due to possible coronavirus exposure in New Fairfield that had New Fairfield students engaged in distance-only learning, according to a New Fairfield administrator. No makeup date has been announced.The Nighthawk football team visited Masuk of Monroe on October 16 and, due to Masuk’s low number of players, competed in a non-scored 7-on-7 event in which offenses and defenses alternated possessions, and junior varsity and freshman team players also ran plays.For Newtown’s varsity team, Jack Street threw five touchdowns, and C.J. Cuomo, T.J. O’Connell, Matt Jacobs, Shaine Luzietti, and Jake Dandrea all caught touchdown passes. Nick Fischer had an interception for the defense.New Milford is scheduled to visit Newtown at Blue & Gold Stadium on Friday, October 30; kickoff is set for 6 pm.NHS Football Team Plays Masuk Story Football Team Takes On Masuk, Senior Night Postponed Due To New Fairfield Coronavirus OutbreakNHS Football Team Plays MasukSportsNone
Girls’ Booters In The Win Column, Take Two Of Three Games After settling for a pair of ties and enduring two hard-fought 1-0 setbacks to begin the slate, the new-look Newtown High School girls’ soccer team got its first taste of victory this fall with a 3-1 triumph at New Fairfield on October 15. The team bounced back from a 2-0 loss to Immaculate of Danbury at Treadwell Park on October 19 with a 1-0 triumph over visiting Masuk of Monroe, at Blue & Gold Stadium, the next afternoon.After settling for a pair of ties and enduring two hard-fought 1-0 setbacks to begin the slate, the new-look Newtown High School girls’ soccer team got its first taste of victory this fall with a 3-1 triumph at New Fairfield on October 15. The team bounced back from a 2-0 loss to Immaculate of Danbury at Treadwell Park on October 19 with a 1-0 triumph over visiting Masuk of Monroe, at Blue & Gold Stadium, the next afternoon.Skylar Howard scored twice, and Erin Phaneuf added a net-finder in the 3-1 win over the Rebels.“I think we played great. We were outstanding. ...We matched their physicality,” Newtown Coach Marc Kenney said of his team’s efforts at New Fairfield.Against Immaculate, the mostly young Nighthawks ran into a more experienced opponent. But the Hawks took little time to get back into the win column thanks to Riley Powers connecting after taking a cross from Katie Rowan and the defense, along with goalkeeping of Julianna Stavola, making the lone tally stand up against Masuk.—“I like our ability to figure out a way to win,” Kenney said. “It feels good. I think with this group it’s going to be a work in progress.”Kenney and the two-time South-West Conference champions set out to give the seniors — Stavola, fellow goalkeeper Alyssa Bailey, and defender Emma Magazu — a great experience while developing for the future during this truncated season. Following the Masuk game, the Hawks had five tilts left in this slate, shortened to a dozen games due to the impact of the coronavirus. The team is hoping for more opportunity to compete in November, with a possible postseason experience contingent on COVID-19 metrics and schools remaining open.NHS girls soccer Andy Hutchison
Story Girls’ Booters In The Win Column, Take Two Of Three GamesNHS girls soccer_64Featured Slider, SportsNone
Cross Country Squads Race At Bethel Newtown High School’s girls’ and boys’ cross country teams competed in Bethel against the Wildcats on October 20. The Nighthawk girls came out on top 24-31, led by second-place finisher Courtney Henchcliffe, who competed the course in a time of 21:32.47.Newtown High School’s girls’ and boys’ cross country teams competed in Bethel against the Wildcats on October 20. The Nighthawk girls came out on top 24-31, led by second-place finisher Courtney Henchcliffe, who competed the course in a time of 21:32.47. Bethel’s Ava Graham won the race in a time of 19:16.91.The Nighthawks showed their depth by claiming the second through fifth spots. Emily Tressler followed Henchcliffe to place third in 21:59.04, Emily Litke was fourth in 22:46.20, and Maddie Fetchick came in fifth in 23:12.58. Newtown’s fifth-fastest runner, and tenth-place finisher was Gloria Rowley, who came across the finish line in 24:27.15.Newtown’s boys fell 22-33 to Bethel, but every race is a win in Coach Carl Strait’s book.“Not about W’s. It’s about staying healthy, staying in school, and enjoying our second family,” Strait said. “We all know this year isn’t about winning meets. Every time we put our uniform on, we are winners because we are competing and not quarantining.”Newtown’s top finishers were Drew Poseno in third with a time of 18:40.74; Aidan Budge in fourth, clocking in at 18:43.87; Saahil Ray in seventh in 19:25.58; Derek Bobowick in ninth with a time of 19:29.55; and Dan Sibley in tenth in 19:34.21.The Nighthawks are scheduled to race Immaculate of Danbury at their home course, at the Reed School trails, on Friday, October 23, the girls at 4:30 pm and the boys at 5 o’clock.NHS Cross Country Andy Hutchison
Story Cross Country Squads Race At BethelNHS Cross Country_55SportsNone
Another Pool Record Set As Swimmers Compete With Pomperaug Newtown High School’s girls’ swimming and diving team had another record-setting performance. Coming off a meet in which the Nighthawks set a pair of pool event records, the team’s 200-yard medley relay team of Caroline Mahoney, Cate Fischer, Brianna Deierlein, and Payton Bradley set the pool record with a time of 1:55.31 during Newtown’s meet with Pomperaug of Southbury on October 15.Newtown High School’s girls’ swimming and diving team had another record-setting performance. Coming off a meet in which the Nighthawks set a pair of pool event records, the team’s 200-yard medley relay team of Caroline Mahoney, Cate Fischer, Brianna Deierlein, and Payton Bradley set the pool record with a time of 1:55.31 during Newtown’s meet with Pomperaug of Southbury on October 15.The Nighthawks, who defeated Pomperaug handily earlier in the season, were without two key team members in a 97-87 setback, the team’s first loss of the fall.Sofia Doersch won the 200 freestyle race in 2:04.07. Mahoney won the 50 free in 25.78. Doersch took the top spot in the 100 butterfly event in 1:03.27. Deierlein came in first in the 100 with a time of 54.19.Newtown’s 200 free relay team of Deierlein, Doersch, Mahoney, and Bradley was first in 1:44.34. Deierlein claimed the top spot in the 100 backstroke race, clocking in at 1:01.68.NHS Swim Story Another Pool Record Set As Swimmers Compete With PomperaugNHS Swim_32SportsNone
Branches of Newtown-based bank will be accepting donations for food pantries, requested items include canned fruits and vegetables, soup, rice, pasta, tomato products, juice boxes, peanut butter and jelly, cleaning supplies, personal products, dog and cat food, donations at each location will benefit local pantries; 800-461-0672, nsbonline.com.
*Newtown’s NSB locations are at 32 Church Hill Road, within The Villages at Lexington Gardens; and 274 South Main Street, within Plaza South.
Public invited to view collection of pumpkins decorated by eighth grade students and then vote for their favorite by scanning QR code/ballots on site, donations for FAITH Food Pantry requested, competition continues October 25.
Annual Parks & Rec event will include costume contest, games, and activities
Limited to 100 people and reservations required by noon October 23, facemasks and social distancing required at event; 203-270-4340, newtown-ct.gov/parks-recreation.
$20 full chicken and shrimp dinner (entrees with salad, roll, butter, and dessert), $18 full shrimp dinner, $15 full chicken dinner, reservations required by October 23
Presented by members of church, all proceeds to benefit Back Bay Mission in Biloxi, Miss.; 203-426-9024, bit.ly/orderBBQOct24.
I am wondering if Ms. Johnson has perused the FB page of Mr. Sullivan. It is chock full of derogatory, inflammatory, and disrespectful comments. If a candidate cannot control his own political FB page, that should be concerning to constituents who would support him to be the voice of Connecticut’s 5th congressional district.
Our schools are a disaster, very little real education being taught. Tremendous amounts of time and money are being wasted on nonsense and our kids are paying the price.
