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A Cautionary Tale: Discarded Ashes Start Fire That Could Have Been Much Worse Following a fire last week caused by discarded fireplace ashes, Fire Marshal Rich Frampton is offering safety reminders to residents. Some unplanned guests visited a Mt Pleasant Road home shortly after midnight January 10, after discarded ashes reportedly caused a fire there.Volunteers from Newtown’s five fire companies were dispatched to 53 Mt Pleasant Road last Monday morning after a neighbor called reporting what they thought was a fire in the woods. The neighbor’s home is nearly 300 yards away from where the fire was spotted.The first firefighter on the scene, however, encountered flames showing from the northern corner of the two-story house at that location.The 3,476 square foot, five-bedroom home was built in 1973. Local records list Rohan and Evija Mehra as joint tenants, although it is unclear whether they occupied the dwelling at the time of the fire.An engine from Newtown Hook & Ladder and a tanker from Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue went to the house, as did firefighters from those two companies. Hook & Ladder Chief Chris Ward was the officer in command, and Fire Marshal Richard Frampton also responded.Frampton told The Newtown Bee later that morning that ashes from the home’s fireplace, which had been used on Saturday, were put into a plastic garbage can “sometime Sunday.”The can was outside the house, according to the fire marshal, “but it was up against the house.”Firefighters were able to quickly knock down the fire, which Frampton said was contained to the garage area of the home.“They didn’t use much water,” he said. The fire was out less than 20 minutes after the first firefighter arrived.The driveway for 53 Mt Pleasant is nearly one-third of a mile from the roadway. Firefighters were fortunate that their response required minimal apparatus and manpower, especially considering the length and narrowness of the winding driveway to the home and frigid temperatures that morning.The homeowners were also lucky that the fire was seen before it spread further. The fire marshal said there was not much damage to the two-story house.“Some insulation, some sheetrock, and some of the boards on the outside of the house that were knocked off” during the extinguishment of the fire, Frampton said. Employees from the fire restoration company JP Maguire boarded up the damaged section of the house, Frampton added.The garbage can was destroyed.“There wasn’t much left to it,” Frampton said. “One wheel, that was about it.”There were no injuries to the home’s residents nor any responding firefighters.After Hook & Ladder and Sandy Hook firefighters responded to the scene, Botsford, Dodgingtown, and Hawleyville volunteers were requested to stand by at their respective stations. Firefighters on scene cleared from the Mt Pleasant Road property in just under an hour.The residents were not displaced, Frampton said.Reminders For Discarding AshesFollowing last week's fire, Fire Marshal Rich Frampton urges all Newtown residents to remember the following safety points:*Ashes may contain hot embers for several days. If cleaning is required, always use a metal ash bucket with a tight sealing lid available at most hardware or home improvement stores.*The US Fire Administration also suggests putting the metal container at least 10 feet away from any building. It also suggests pouring water on the ashes.*Always ensure the fireplace damper is fully open before lighting.*Wait at least 24 hours to close the flue damper after using the fireplace. Smoldering embers may produce carbon monoxide (CO).*Never use combustible liquids to help start a fire.*Only burn dry, seasoned hardwoods. Never burn trash or wrapping papers, which may overwhelm the flue causing the fire to spill out of the fireplace.*Always use fireplace screens to stop flying embers.*A good spark arrestor cap at the top of the chimney is always a good idea, especially where a wood shingle roof is present. This will also prevent critters from building nests as well.*Depending on amount and type of use, chimneys should be cleaned and inspected by certified chimney cleaners at least every few years — more often if used extensively or if woodstoves are used. Older chimneys may require a video inspection to check for cracked flue liners and loose mortar.*If a fireplace has been idle for long periods of time, an inspection may be in order. Some animals will build nests in chimneys which can cause a blockage or catch fire.*Ensure that smoke and CO detectors are present and properly operating.This incident came on the heels of two tragic, high-profile residential fires that occurred in Philadelphia and the Bronx, which also prompted advisories from the Newtown Fire Marshal’s Office and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Read more on Page B3.For questions regarding fireplace safety contact local Fire Marshal’s Office at 203-270-4370.=====Associate Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.

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A Cautionary Tale: Discarded Ashes Start Fire That Could Have Been Much Worse

Following a fire last week caused by discarded fireplace ashes, Fire Marshal Rich Frampton is offering safety reminders to residents.

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Joint Workgroup Begins Review Of ARP Spending

Joint Workgroup Begins Review Of ARP Spending Though part of what to do with Newtown’s $7.67 million allotment from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) has been decided — $2.5 million is going towards the Hawley School HVAC project — the town still has roughly $5.1 million left to allocate. So a six-person workgroup comprised of members from the Legislative Council, Board of Finance, and Board of Selectmen (BOS) met January 10 to begin considering the possibilities.First Selectman Dan Rosenthal said the workgroup would help the three town bodies reach a consensus on how to use the funding, instead of various proposals wending their way through approval processes and deliberations involving all three bodies that could result in modifications at each step.Finance Director Bob Tait gave members of the American Rescue Plan Working Group a list compiled of requests from town department heads on possible uses for the funding. First Selectman Dan Rosenthal noted that all these items are requests for consideration; the list is not a final proposal of how to use the funding.Many items may be taken off or even added; additionally, the town could spend part of its allotment now and save part for future items that may come up.“These are some things the departments have requested,” said Rosenthal. “I’m not passing judgement on them one way or another. These are a list of things that could qualify for discussion. We all have to get comfortable with whether these things make sense [to spend the money on] or not.”Rosenthal said all of the items were one-time purchases rather than recurring items that would have to be budgeted for in future budgets. He also felt that since the items were things that the town would spend money on sooner or later anyway, they would “benefit everyone” by keeping the mill rate down.A Variety Of IdeasThe list includes: $1.5 million for replacing the water distribution system at the Fairfield Hills campus; $50,000 for safety improvements at the Fairfield Hills campus; $140,000 for a roof for the Public Works multi-purpose building; $240,000 for a Public Works six-wheel, eight-ton dump truck; $300,000 for a front-end bucket loader; $200,000 for transfer station site improvements; and $100,000 for Municipal Building improvements.In addition, committee members will consider a request for $50,000 for fire suppression tank repairs; $15,000 grants to each of the four fire companies, Newtown Underwater Search And Rescue, and Newtown Ambulance; $90,000 for a Parks & Recreation dump truck; $40,000 for a disc golf course at Treadwell Park; $300,000 for a pavilion replacement at Dickinson Park; $85,000 for a bike park at Fairfield Hills; and $50,000 for the Art Walk at Fairfield Hills.Also, $90,000 for a 14 passenger bus for the Senior Center; $35,294 for COVID supplies and expenses; $75,000 for a generator at the Community Center; $75,000 for an outside storage building at the Community Center; $155,000 for a patio at the Community Center; $200,000 for outdoor spray features at the Community Center; $16,000 for handicap doors at the Senior Center; $122,000 for information technology licenses to address COVID-19 pandemic recovery for the schools; $145,000 for chrome books for distance learning at the schools; and $325,000 to reimburse the town medical self-insurance fund for COVID expenses since March 3, 2021.Board of Selectmen member Ed Schieroh asked Rosenthal what “the vision” is for how the work group should move forward. Rosenthal asked that the group members look over the list, think about what is there, and come back with questions at the next meeting — expected to be at 6:30 pm January 27.Rosenthal said there was “good news” on how the town can use the ARP money.Previously, he said the money could only be used for a set of six defined categories related to the pandemic, with a small portion — roughly $2.5 million — that could be used outside those categories as “revenue loss.” However, the final plan for how the funding could be used has been released and the revenue loss portion has been increased to $10 million, meaning the town can use the funds however it pleases.However, work group members felt it would be best to try and adhere to the categories for at least some of the spending, to stay “in the spirit” of the grant.ARP GuidelinesAccording to the US Department of the Treasury, ARP funds can be used by the town for the following:*Support public health expenditures, by, for example, funding COVID-19 mitigation efforts, medical expenses, behavioral health care, and certain public health and safety staff.*Address negative economic impacts caused by the public health emergency, including economic harms to workers, households, small businesses, impacted industries, and the public sector.*Replace lost public sector revenue, using this funding to provide government services to the extent of the reduction in revenue experienced due to the pandemic.*Provide premium pay for essential workers, offering additional support to those who have and will bear the greatest health risks because of their service in critical infrastructure sectors.*Invest in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure, making necessary investments to improve access to clean drinking water, support vital wastewater and storm water infrastructure, and to expand access to broadband internet.“Within these overall categories, recipients have broad flexibility to decide how best to use this funding to meet the needs of their communities,” states the treasury website.Rosenthal noted that the ARP requires anything that funds are used for not be a “recurring item” — so for instance a new position with a salary would not be an approved use of the money. Any recurring items would have to be funded by the town’s normal operating budget in future years. Additionally, ARP funding cannot be applied directly to the budget as revenue to directly reduce the mill rate.Finance Director Robert Tait said that the ARP disbursed $1.56 billion to counties and towns, and $3.93 billion to residents across the country. Of the town’s $7.67 million share of the money, it received half, or $3.8 million, this year and the other half will be available for spending next year.Rosenthal said at an August BOS meeting that even though the town does not have to do formal appropriations to spend ARP money, he felt it was better to follow the prescribed process in the Newtown Charter as funds are allocated. Rosenthal’s thinking was it creates a paper trail should the federal government question how Newtown applied the funds, as well as showing taxpayers how those funds were used.Reporter Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.

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CRC Recommends Elimination Of Finance Board

CRC Recommends Elimination Of Finance Board The Charter Revision Commission is now recommending that the Board of Finance be eliminated.UPDATE: This report was updated on January 17 at 4:30 pm to clarify the date and time of the next commission meeting.* * * * *After weighing recommending the Board of Finance (BOF) becoming an appointed advisory board, Newtown’s Charter Revision Commission (CRC) is now recommending the elected finance board be eliminated altogether.CRC Chairman Andrew Buzzi said during a January 6 meeting that at the prior meeting, there had been a clear division in the commission over making the BOF an appointed, advisory board — while there seemed to be a larger consensus around eliminating the board.“We should go into the next step with more of a consensus than a bare majority,” said Buzzi.Commissioner Tony Filiato said that his position from the beginning was that the BOF should be an appointed, advisory board, and that the “Legislative Council as the town’s fiscal authority can ignore the BOF and often [does].” The former councilman noted he had also previously served on an ad hoc committee for roads which had been set up by the council, and that the CRC itself was an appointed, advisory committee set up by the council.“A financial advisory board can be set up by the Legislative Council; it’s something that can be done that way,” said Filiato. “Like with this committee, the Legislative Council has been good at being bipartisan; there are Republicans, Democrats, and Independents here.”Filiato said he was good with the BOF elimination, with the caveat that language be added to the charter to allow it to create an advisory board at budget time or when it needs fiscal policy advice.Commissioner Prerna Rao also agreed with the concept of eliminating the BOF, and liked the idea of allowing the council to do the ad hoc creation of an advisory board.“It could be helpful, and assist the council when they need to rely on knowledgeable input and advice,” Rao said. “It’s helpful for the council to have the recommendation in creating an ad hoc committee, so that the council has to give guidance on what is to be addressed, or maybe give it a mission.”Rao also thought that if a financial advisory board was only formed as the council needed it, there would be fewer people complaining about “the redundancy in the process.” At prior meetings, commissioners have noted that some department heads have referred to needing to go to multiple commissions for budget approvals to be “spinning their tires.”Commissioner James Gaston said he preferred a BOF that required a supermajority for the council to override, but he would rather have no BOF than one “without teeth.”Commissioner Dennis Brestovansky was the sole vote against elimination, believing that it was “important to have a body chosen due to their expertise in financial matters.”Requesting Proposed LanguageBuzzi charged Gaston and Filiato with developing formal language for the actual charter revision to be discussed at the CRC’s next meeting, which will be held virtually on Monday, January 24 at 7 pm. Find link and password details to participate at Newtown-CT.gov under the 'Agendas and Minutes tab.Discussion from the community on a vision for the Board of Finance continued, and the CRC added a letter from former First Selectman Herb Rosenthal to the record. Rosenthal stated that the Board of Finance was the town’s original fiscal authority and was eliminated in 1975 with the creation of the Legislative Council. It was re-created as a fiscal authority in the 2001 Charter revision, but was a “confusing process.”“The Charter Review Commission recommended its re-creation with changes to some of the duties of the Legislative Council so that duties did not conflict or overlap,” wrote Herb Rosenthal. “However, the Legislative Council voted not to send that change to the voters.”Herb Rosenthal stated that the 2001 CRC then petitioned to have the BOF revision submitted to the voters and were successful in having it placed on the ballot. The voters approved the question, but other revisions to the Charter failed.“Town Attorney Dave Grogins, Finance Director Ben Spragg, and I then met to try and figure out how to add the Board of Finance as approved by the voters to the rest of the then existing, unchanged Charter,” the former first selectman wrote. “We were faced with a dual fiscal authority on a number of issues, so using the voter approved language we made our best effort to fit it in and that is how it has remained until now.”Herb Rosenthal agreed that modifications were needed to remove some of the overlapping duties, and felt the BOF should be a “non-partisan body.” He also felt the BOF should be no longer involved in budget transfers or even the budget other than guidance on what the town can “reasonably and appropriately afford.”“Newtown needs one body whose sole focus is on the financial planning of sound fiscal policy,” he wrote. “I agree with our first selectman that the revised Board of Finance should spend its time primarily on the continued development of sound fiscal policy.”BOF Weighs InAt a January 10 BOF meeting, the board itself discussed the 2022 CRC’s current position on its elimination.Herb Rosenthal’s son, current First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, said that he felt the BOF should “set financial policy in town,” and it should “have teeth” in setting that policy, with the council needing a supermajority to override those policy decisions.The first selectman believes the BOF should not be involved in budget transfers or even in the budget process, since those are redundancies, but “should be involved in setting the guideposts for the town,” such as debt service and budget growth. He said that the council is “the chief-est fiscal authority” by statute and that there “is no way around that.”He said the current process “wears everyone out” and from “a user standpoint, such as the library perspective and Edmond Town Hall, it could certainly use some streamlining.”“The BOF wouldn’t care how much is spent in Parks & Recreation or Public Works, so long as the total budget framework is within the framework set,” said Rosenthal, who noted that such policy “often gets lost in the shuffle” for the council.BOF member Erica Sullivan said she felt “that scope doesn’t give us a lot to do.”“Once those things are set, then what?” asked Sullivan.First Selectman Rosenthal said there is “always work to do,” and if the BOF felt it didn’t have enough to do, it could keep its other responsibilities such as reviewing the budget, “but those are redundancies.”Sullivan said she thought the CRC was looking to “strengthen the role” of the BOF and “untangle the mishmash of overlapping” responsibilities with the council. BOF member Laura Miller said that “it was the voters who wanted the BOF back” in 2001, but that the process “got mangled” as a result of the referendum.First Selectman Rosenthal said that “some things passed” related to the BOF and “some things failed.”BOF Chairman John Madzula said that at his board’s next meeting, members would put together language for a formal letter on its stance to the CRC.“It’s a matter of preservation really,” Madzula said.“Yes, self-preservation,” agreed Miller.Reporter Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.

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Fire Reports | January 5-11, 2022

Fire Reports | January 5-11, 2022 Fire calls and their responders in Newtown, Conn., for the period of January 5 to January 11, 2022. The dispatchers at the Newtown Emergency Communications Center, at 191 South Main Street, report the following fire calls and the responders:Wednesday, January 5: 7:46 am, motor vehicle accident (MVA) with injury, Plumtrees Road, Dodgingtown and Hawleyville responded; 8:25 am, MVA with injury, Old Bridge Road, Sandy Hook and Botsford responded; 8:28 am, MVA with injury, I-84 East Exit 11 off ramp, Sandy Hook responded; 9:07 am, MVA with injury, Pine Tree Hill Road, Botsford responded; 10:03 am, medical assist, Pleasant Street, Botsford responded; 2:47 pm, fire alarm, Nunnawauk Road, Hook & Ladder and Botsford responded; 7:27 pm, fire alarm, Mt Pleasant Road, Hawleyville, Hook & Ladder, and Sandy Hook responded; 11:02 pm, fire alarm, Osborn Hill Road, Sandy Hook responded.Friday, January 7: 12:31 am, tree/wires down, Tunnel Road, Hook & Ladder responded; 9:52 pm, fire alarm, Swamp Road, Botsford responded.Saturday, January 8: 6:50 am, fire alarm, Church Hill Road, Hook & Ladder responded; 7:28 am, fire alarm, Church Hill Road, Hook & Ladder responded; 1:20 pm, service call, Toddy Hill Road, Sandy Hook covered; 2:06 pm, fire alarm, Appleblossom Lane, Hook & Ladder responded; 3:49 pm, CO alarm, Honey Lane, Sandy Hook responded.Sunday, January 9: 4:16 am, medical assist, Laurel Trail, Sandy Hook responded; 1:05 pm, MVA with injury, Wasserman Way/Trades Lane, Hook & Ladder responded; 4:44 pm, fire alarm, Main Street, Hook & Ladder responded; 4:47 pm, smoke/odor investigation, Boulevard, Hook & Ladder responded; 8:06 pm, medical assist, Currituck Road, Hook & Ladder responded; 11:57 pm, structure fire, Mt Pleasant Road, Hook & Ladder, Botsford, Dodgingtown, Hawleyville, and Sandy Hook responded;Monday, January 10: 1:17 am, medical assist, Fern Lane, Botsford responded; 9:59 am, fire alarm, Church Hill Road, Hook & Ladder and Sandy Hook responded.Tuesday, January 11: 3:06 am, fire alarm, Berkshire Road, Sandy Hook responded; 8:16 am, MVA with injury, Church Hill Road, Hook & Ladder responded; 1:27 pm, MVA with injury, Wasserman Way/Exit Ramp Exit 11, Sandy Hook responded; 2:52 pm, medical assist, Boulder Creek Road, Dodgingtown responded; 3:29 pm, medical assist, Queen Street, Hook & Ladder responded; 8:37 pm, fire alarm, Sturges Road, Hawleyville responded; 9:57 pm, medical assist, Pocono Road, Hawleyville responded.

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New Laws On Insulin Prices, Parentage, Pulse Oximeters Took Effect On January 1

New Laws On Insulin Prices, Parentage, Pulse Oximeters Took Effect On January 1 A number of new laws went into effect in Connecticut on January 1.By Jim TaylorConnecticut residents can begin receiving up to 12 weeks of paid time off from the state’s new paid family and medical leave program beginning with the new year. It’s one of a handful of new state laws officially in effect as of January 1.The family and medical leave law, which was originally signed by Democratic Gov Ned Lamont in 2019, allows workers to get paid while they take time off to care for their own health, a newborn child, or a sick family member. The program, which state officials say marks the eighth of its kind in the nation, is paid for through a 0.5% tax on employee wages that began a year ago.The amount of money workers can receive varies, depending on their salaries, and is capped at 60 times the state’s minimum wage, which is currently $13 an hour.Some other new laws set to take effect include the following:Insulin pricesOut-of-pocket costs for insulin will be limited to $25 a month, while the out-of-pocket expense for equipment and supplies, such as blood glucose test strips and insulin syringes, will be limited to $100 a month for those with health insurance that is regulated by the state.State Sen Matthew Lesser, D-Middletown, cochair of the General Assembly’s Insurance and Real Estate Committee, said Connecticut’s law is the “strongest in the country.” However, he said there still needs to be national legislation “because there are too many people who will fall through the cracks otherwise.”Parentage ActThe Connecticut Parentage Act will allow unmarried, same-sex or nonbiological parents to establish their parenting rights through a simple form, known as an Acknowledgment of Parentage.The advocacy group GLAD and the Yale Law School, which worked to pass the legislation, say that will ensure the parents can legally establish their parental rights immediately after the child is born.Such rights include the ability to make medical decisions for a child and ensure the child receives insurance benefits or inheritance rights. Also, advocates say the new law will protect parents’ parental rights if they separate from one another.Childhood VaccinesCertain health providers in Connecticut that cover prescription drugs will now be required to cover the cost of at least a 20-minute immunization consultation between a patient and provider that administers vaccines recommended by the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The provision was tucked into a wider-ranging bill that was signed into law in 2021 and eliminated the state’s religious exemption from the immunization requirements for students attending public and private schools, including higher education institutions, as well as child care centers and group and family day care homes.The controversial change, which sparked large protests at the Capitol, came after state public health officials and some state legislators raised concerns about the growing number of parents claiming medical exemptions from childhood vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella, and other diseases.The law, which does not apply to the COVID-19 vaccines, grandfathered students in kindergarten and older who had received a religious exemption before April 28, 2021.Police Officer’s Use Of ForceThis act institutes new rules which will limit the instances in which a police officer’s use of deadly force can be considered justified when making an arrest or preventing escape. Additionally, the law limits when choke holds or other forms of restraint may be used. To be justified, the officer must determine if there are no other reasonable alternatives; additionally, to use deadly force on an escaping suspect, they must determine that the individual is a threat of death or serious injury to others. Factors that may determine if deadly force may be reasonable include if the officer’s own actions leading to the situation could be considered justified or unjustified.Accessory Apartments And Fair HousingThis act will require towns to modify their zoning regulations to make accessory apartments or “in-law apartments” an “of right” use for single family homes unless the town follows an “opt out process” requiring a two-thirds vote from its zoning commission and legislative body.The law also stops town zoning regulations from establishing minimum floor area requirements above proper safety code to prevent overcrowding. Additionally, it requires regulations to provide for varied housing opportunities to further the federal Fair Housing Act.Stopping Insurance Discrimination Of Organ DonorsThis act prohibits an insurer from discriminating against living organ donation by declining or limiting coverage solely because the insured is a living organ donor; prohibiting the insured from donating an organ as a condition of maintaining coverage; or otherwise discriminating in offering, issuing, amending, or cancelling a policy, or in setting prices, conditions, or coverage of the policy. Discrimination of this kind will be considered a violation of the Connecticut Unfair Insurance Practices Act, which prohibits insurance companies from unfair business acts.The act also creates the Chronic Kidney Disease Advisory Committee to study kidney disease and racial disparities among those afflicted with kidney disease.Educating On Pulse OximetersThis act requires the Department of Public Health by January 1 and in consultation with the Insurance Department, to develop educational materials on pulse oximeters, particularly including information on the device’s tendency to produce inaccurate readings for patients of color as opposed to Caucasian patients. Pulse oximeters are electronic devices that estimate the percentage of oxygen in a person’s blood.The educational materials are required to be posted on the Department of Public Health website by July 1, as well as distributed to pharmacies, medical schools, health carriers, and health care providers.Limiting Prescribed Psychotropic DrugsThis act prohibits health insurance policies covering outpatient prescription drugs, as well as mental health care benefits provided under state law, from requiring a health care provider to prescribe more of a psychotropic drug than is deemed clinically appropriate. Psychotropic drugs are any substance that can affect brain function and change moods, awareness, thoughts, behaviors, or feelings. The act additionally establishes a 10-member task force to study ways to encourage mental health service providers to participate in provider networks. The task force must report its findings and recommendations to the Insurance and Real Estate Committee by January 1.Associated Press content was used in this report.Reporter Jim Taylor can be reached at jim@thebee.com.

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In Case You Missed It, Here Is What Posted Over The Weekend

Catch up with stories published to newtownbee.com this past weekend here.

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Opposition Mounts Over Proposed South Main Apartment Building

Opposition Mounts Over Proposed South Main Apartment Building Newtown Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) continued its public hearing for three applications pertaining to a three-story apartment building at 35 South Main Street, on January 6. Newtown Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) continued its public hearing for three applications pertaining to a three-story apartment building at 35 South Main Street, on January 6. The property is located across the street from Modzelewski’s Towing & Recovery Inc and next to Chintz-N-Prints.The applicant Robert Sherwood seeks to have the apartment building include 13 one-bedroom, 12 two-bedroom, and 2 three-bedroom apartments.At the previous public hearing, on December 2, many residents came out to express concerns over the apartment proposal. Concerns included its impact on traffic, drainage issues, light pollution, and its lack of appropriateness for the area.On January 6, P&Z Chairman Dennis Bloom started off the meeting by letting everyone know that since two commissioners were absent, alternate members Connie Widmann and Brian Leonardi would be taking their place.The applications by Sherwood for the 35 South Main Street property being discussed that evening were:Application 21.28 to change the zone from R-1/2 to South Main Village Design District #11 (SMVDD11);Application 21.29 for a text amendment to the Newtown Zoning Regulations for a new South Main Village Design District (SMVDD11) located at 35 South Main Street to permit the construction of a three-story residential building for apartments; andApplication 21.30 for a site development plan to permit apartments located within the South Main Village Design District.Sherwood said that there were essentially three major items that he needed to address after hearing the feedback from the commission and residents last month.He said that based on what he understood from the previous meeting, some townspeople wanted to know if there was a need for an apartment in this area.“There definitely is a need,” Sherwood said. He felt that people want different types of housing in Newtown, not just single-family homes.The second item he touched upon was drainage concerns.“All of the storm water is dedicated to go towards South Main Street,” he said.Sherwood then said that to address the traffic concerns, a traffic study was recently done. He let Michael Galante present his findings from that study.“It’s a busy road, without a doubt,” Galante said.With background information about the area, including an accident history and site lines analysis, he reported that “Our recommendation would be to have a stop sign at the driveway exit.”Leonardi inquired, “What is the threshold for which a stop sign is acceptable versus a stoplight?”Galante said that “it doesn’t meet the criteria for a traffic signal,” because in general it would need 75 vehicles for an eight-hour period coming out of the driveway and the apartment building’s volume of cars would not be close to that in his opinion.Bloom offered his thoughts on the one proposed entrance and emergency access to Borough Lane.“I know when I go down to different shopping centers or different places on South Main Street that only have one [driveway] it is almost impossible to get out of. Almost impossible,” he said.Bloom went on to say that, ultimately, his biggest concern is the height of the building.“Three stories, in my personal feeling, is a lot to ask right in that section of town … I’d like to see if you could make it a two-story, or whatever it may be,” he said.Other commissioners added that they are also concerned with the proposed building height.Sherwood said that he feels the height is “appropriate” to help transition going from a residential neighborhood to commercial area. He added that there would be evergreens planted, and he would make sure the lighting is not a problem for neighboring residents.“Three-story buildings have been approved in town for apartments,” he added.Bloom also asked, “As far as people who are handicapped, is there an elevator?”Sherwood said the building would have an elevator, as well as two sets of stairs.Public CommentsThe first resident to speak up during the public participation portion was Gary Sheehan of Queen Street, who had multiple items to address.He expressed that he and other residents in his neighborhood are “very concerned” over these applications and that “This directly impacts the nearby residents.”Sheehan took the time to go to the Municipal Center to review the applications’ documents. When inquiring to staff there about what other buildings in town were similar, being 39 feet tall, he said he could not get an exact answer.He also noticed that there are 27 apartments but only 54 apartment spaces, which raised multiple questions how that would work for families with multiple vehicles or when people visit those residents.Sheehan added that he is concerned over the impact it would have on traffic.“The problem is Borough Lane is certainly not built for that type of traffic and the other side, Queen Street, has its own traffic problems … we have five speed tables to control speed,” he said.Sheehan went on to say, “What are the financial benefits to the town for this project? Has anyone determined what the property tax will be on this project? What about the cost to the town, to the citizens, and services — fire, police, ambulance, school enrollments? How about its effects on sewer … They say there is a need in Newtown for rental apartments. Well, we have 300 apartments coming up in Hawleyville and apartments that have been approved in Fairfield Hills.”Next to speak was Marlene Danko, of Borough Lane, who said her 1700’s home next door would be most affected, including to its resale value.“I don’t understand why it is still being considered … it’s a well-designed building, but it doesn’t belong there,” she said.Blanca Sheehan of Queen Street said that in recent years, “Traffic has become a nightmare on South Main Street and Queen Street” and that it is “impossible to make a left-hand turn either way onto South Main Street.”She added that she believes there will be many more cars going in and out from the apartment building than what was estimated in the traffic study.Priscilla Jones, of Meadow Road, piggybacked on her sentiments about the apartment’s negative impact on traffic. She also said that she is concerned for the many walkers who utilize the sidewalks that would need to be extremely cautious in the area.Longtime Newtown resident Lindon Thomas, of Juniper Road, said the town is going through a period of development and there is more traffic than when he first moved to town.‘Slippery Slope’Richard McCandless, of Concord Ridge Road, said he has lived in Newtown for a few months and previously lived in an area where the infrastructure could not withstand the population density.“No one saw it coming,” he said. People, including his family, wound up moving away because it was unlivable.McCandless added that it is a “slippery slope” when approving certain projects. He does not want what happened where he previously lived to happen here in Newtown.Former P&Z member Jim Swift, of Cedar Ridge Trail, said he does not think this style of building is currently allowed in Newtown’s regulations, but they are doing it through the special development district. Doing so would mean it is “so outstanding,” modifications to the regulations are needed.When speaking to the commission, he said, “If you think this is so outstanding that we can put something that is not allowed in our regulations, then you should vote for it. I don’t think it belongs in this town. It’s not outstanding. If it was outstanding, why are we planting all those trees to hide it, so we don’t have to look at it?”Douglas Nelson, of the Boulevard, discussed several topics, including the different zones in town and the correlating acres needed for housing. He inquired how these application proposals fit with South Main Street.“The parcel in question, if it was outside of the South Main Village Design District, what would we be talking about? Would there be an application? Think about that. I don’t know, I’m not on the commission,” he said.Following his public comments was Elizabeth Lincoln, of Echo Valley Road, who said, “We have to really be careful. If we make mistakes, the town is going to lose its character and its desirability for people to live here. Right now, I don’t think this project is suitable for that property.”She added that she has concerns for its impact on the traffic, lights, sound, and school buses in the area.Former P&Z Chairman Don Mitchell, of Budd Drive, spoke next and noted that there has been no discussion here about the structure that currently exists on the property.He said that he does not know the history of it, but that due to its character he thinks “it’s worth preserving.”Closed HearingThe public hearings for applications 21.28, 21.29, and 21.30 were closed that evening and no vote was taken.“What I’d like to do is give the commission the chance to think about this, and we’ll bring it up at the next meeting,” Bloom said.The next regularly scheduled meeting is January 20, but the commission did briefly deliberate if they should hold a special meeting.For more information about Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission and upcoming meetings, visit newtown-ct.gov/planning-zoning-commission.Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.

Planning and Zoning Meeting Jan 6 Alissa Silber Story Opposition Mounts Over Proposed South Main Apartment Building Planning and Zoning Meeting Jan 6 Featured Slider, Features None

Features

Deadly Residential Fires Prompt NFPA, Newtown Fire Marshal’s Warning

Deadly Residential Fires Prompt NFPA, Newtown Fire Marshal’s Warning The Newtown Fire Marshal’s Office is in full alignment with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) following recent deadly back-to-back residential fires in Philadelphia and New York.The Newtown Fire Marshal’s Office is in full alignment with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) following horrific and deadly back-to-back residential fires in Philadelphia and New York in recent days.On January 5, two sisters and several of their children were among the 12 people killed when a fire tore through a Philadelphia row home, fire officials said. Then, on January 9, 17 people, including eight children, were killed in a fire in a high-rise Bronx apartment building. Approximately 100 miles away from each other, the two fires and the tragic death tolls incurred place them both in the top 10 residential fires since 1980.Eight children lost their lives in the Philadelphia blaze — the city’s deadliest single fire in more than a century. At least two people were hospitalized and some others managed to escape from the three-story brick duplex, which was public housing, officials said. Investigators are looking into whether a 5-year-old playing with a lighter set a Christmas tree on fire.The fire department initially said none of the four smoke alarms in the building appeared to have been working. But the Associated Press reported housing authority officials said the following day that the building actually had 13 tamper-resistant, 10-year detectors, all of which were operational during the last inspection in May 2021.Then, on January 9, a malfunctioning space heater sparked a fire that filled a high-rise Bronx apartment building with thick smoke killing 17 people including eight children in New York City’s deadliest blaze in decades. Some residents said they initially ignored wailing smoke alarms because false alarms were so common in the 120-unit building, built in the early 1970s as affordable housing.Investigators said the fire, triggered by the electric heater, started in a duplex apartment on the second and third floors of the 19-story building. The flames didn’t spread far — only charring the one unit and an adjacent hallway. But the door to the apartment and a door to a stairwell had been left open, letting smoke quickly spread throughout the building.Home Heating ConcernsWhile these high-profile incidents capture the public’s attention, similar situations are killing dozens of others in smaller, more localized residential fires in recent weeks prompting the NFPA to issue a series of advisories regarding smoke detectors and home heating equipment.According to the national agency, heating equipment is the second-leading cause of US home fires and the third-leading cause of home fire deaths and injuries. Overall, US fire departments responded to an estimated average of 48,530 fires involving heating equipment per year in 2014-2018, accounting for 14% of all reported home fires and 19% of home fire deaths.These fires resulted in an annual average of 500 civilian deaths, 1,350 civilian injuries, and $1.1 billion in direct property damage.Space heaters are the type of heating equipment most often involved in home heating fires. Between 2014 and 2018, space heaters annually accounted for more than two out of five heating fires and the majority of heating fire deaths (81%) and injuries (80%). An NFPA home heating safety tips sheet available at nfpa.org offers guidelines for safely heating homes during the winter months.Here are some highlights:*Keep anything that can burn at least three feet away from heating equipment, such as the furnace, fireplace, wood stove, or portable space heater.*Have a three-foot “kid-free zone” around open fires and space heaters.*Never use your oven to heat your home.*Have a qualified professional install stationary space heating equipment, water heaters, or central heating equipment according to the local codes and manufacturer’s instructions.*Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected every year by a qualified professional.*Remember to turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to bed.*Always use the right kind of fuel, specified by the manufacturer, for fuel-burning space heaters.Smoke Detector AdvisoryRegarding smoke detectors, the NFPA says almost three out of five home fire deaths were caused by fires in properties with no smoke alarms (41%) or smoke alarms that failed to operate (16%). When smoke alarms fail to operate, it is typically because of disconnected or non-working power sources, such as batteries being removed from alarms or batteries that are no longer working; dead batteries caused 25% of smoke alarm failures.The NFPA Fire Safety in the US report that was released last year shows that the biggest single factor contributing to fire safety progress in recent decades has been the use of smoke alarms, as mandated by fire and building codes, as well as continued public education about their significance. That same report shows that the largest share of reported structure fires and most of the civilian fire deaths and injuries today consistently occur in homes, where people tend to feel safest.Working smoke alarms, which reduce the risk of dying in a home fire by more than half (55%) are a key element of fire safety.NFPA provides the following guidance on their safety tip sheet:*Install smoke alarms in every bedroom. They should also be outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. Install alarms in the basement.*Large homes may need extra smoke alarms.*It is best to use interconnected smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds, they all sound.*Test all smoke alarms at least once a month. Press the test button to be sure the alarm is working.*Change the batteries when they begin to chirp, signaling that they are running low. If the alarm continues to chirp after the batteries are replaced, it likely means the alarm is no longer working properly and needs to be replaced with a new alarm.*Current alarms on the market employ different types of technology, including multi-sensing, which may include smoke and carbon monoxide detection in one unit.*Today’s smoke alarms are more technologically advanced to respond to a multitude of fire conditions and are better designed to avoid false alarms.*A smoke alarm should be on the ceiling or high on a wall. Keep smoke alarms away from the kitchen to reduce false alarms. They should be at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the stove.*People who are hard-of-hearing or deaf can use special alarms. These alarms have strobe lights and bed shakers.*Replace all smoke alarms when they are 10 years old.For more information or to view NFPA safety publications for free, visit nfpa.org. For resources or guidance locally, reach the Newtown Fire Marshal’s Office at 203-270-4370.

Deadly House Fires Prompt Fire Marshal's Warning John Voket Story Deadly Residential Fires Prompt NFPA, Newtown Fire Marshal’s Warning Deadly House Fires Prompt Fire Marshal's Warning Features, Health None

Features

Fire Prevention Poster Entries On View At Community Center

Fire Prevention Poster Entries On View At Community Center The entries received from local fourth and fifth grade students for the 2021 Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Recognition Program are on view at Newtown Community Center. The entries received from local fourth and fifth grade students for the 2021 Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Recognition Program are on view at Newtown Community Center.Originally intended for display through Sunday, January 16, the collection will remain on view until the close of business Monday, January 17. Deputy Fire Marshal Jamilynn Zapata who coordinated the contest for this year’s students, contacted The Newtown Bee on January 10 to confirm the one-day extension.The public can view the collection any time the community center is open: Monday through Thursday, 6 am-9 pm; Friday, 6 am-8 pm; Saturday, 7 am-5:30 pm; and Sunday, 7 am-5 pm. The center will be open on MLK Jr Day, which is one of the reasons it will remain on view the additional day.The annual statewide program is open to all public, private, and parochial children in grades 4 and 5. The collection on view at Newtown Community Center shares the creative work of more than 40 children, representing students from each of the elementary schools, Reed Intermediate School (RIS), Fraser Woods School, Housatonic Valley Waldorf School (HVWS), St Rose of Lima School, and at least one homeschool student, according to Zapata.HVWS fourth grade student Christopher Washington and RIS fifth grade student Kenneth Miller were announced last week as the winners of their respective grades. Their posters, along with the others received for this year’s competition, are on view in the main corridor of Newtown Community Center.Kenneth’s poster shows a man in the center of the poster, considering fire safety, leading with the man thinking “Don’t be scared. Be prepared.” In each of the four corners of his poster, Kenneth illustrated elements of fire safety: Don’t Smoke, Replace Batteries (in smoke detectors), Know 2 Ways Out, and Have A Meet Up Spot.Thomas’s entry depicts a woodland scene with an unattended campfire burning outside a cabin. The fire has spread to a few areas on nearby ground as well as on branches of two trees near the house.A rabbit near the campfire is thinking “help!” and a black bear hiding behind an outhouse is thinking “We should do something about this!”Both posters, per the contest criteria, include within their design the program theme of “Fire Prevention — Every One, Every Day.”The boys each received a gift certificate from The Toy Tree and the promise of a ride to school in a fire truck.Both posters, per the contest criteria, include the program theme within their design.Christopher and Kenneth’s posters will now advance to county level competition. County levels then advance to state level competition, with the statewide winning poster reproduced and distributed as Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster.The state winner will be announced in March, during a luncheon for all county winners. The 2021 winner was Chase Kopcza from Vernon.=====Associate Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.

fire prevention contest posters on view to Monday at community center Shannon Hicks Story Fire Prevention Poster Entries On View At Community Center fire prevention contest posters on view to Monday at community center Featured Slider, Features None

Features

Top Of The Mountain

Top Of The Mountain Newtown news and notes, from the point of view of a cat named Mountain. The members of Christ the King Lutheran Church had many reasons to celebrate during the Christmas season. One unplanned gift developed once the congregation’s budget was found to be in such good standing: the majority of the church’s Christmas offering was donated to tornado recovery in the southern states. According to Pastor Rob Morris, the church’s Council approved sending some of the offering directly to LCMS Mid-South District, as is standard. The rest of the generous offering, with a partial matching grant, resulted in $9,000 being sent to Samaritan’s Purse for those recovery efforts.I learned this week that the United States Postal Service (USPS) accepted more than 13.2 billion mailpieces and packages this holiday season, and the average delivery time for those packages was three days. According to the USPS mail and package volume has increased year over year, and its operational improvements and strategic investments under a 10-year plan boosted daily processing capacity by 13 million packages. It also announced 2.8 billion mailpieces and packages were shipped the week after Thanksgiving.Maureen McLaughlin and dog Jack take daily strolls in town on School House Hill Road, The Boulevard, and Wendover Road. She is not sure if it happened on a walk or a trip to Big Y, but Maureen recently lost her gold family signature pinky ring with the McLaughlin name and crest on it. If any fellow pooch taking a walk around town finds the ring, please drop it off at The Newtown Bee office, at 5 Church Hill Road, and we will make sure it finds its way safely back to its owner.The Friends of the C.H. Booth Library reminds everyone that although its popular Holiday Book and Gift Boutique is now closed, shoppers can continue to find high-quality, well-priced books, games, puzzles, gift items, and more at the Friends’ Little Book Store, located near the main circulation desk on the second floor of the C.H. Booth Library. Friends’ volunteers restock the shelves regularly, so shop often!Anna and Dan Wiedemann may have recently moved out of town, but they’re still keeping up with news and announcements from Newtown. In addition to actively staying busy with friends and organizations here, the Wiedemanns had their The Newtown Bee subscription forwarded to their new home. We were thrilled to receive this photo last week of a new generation of Bee readers, one of the couple’s grandchildren. Anna says not only does this grandson pick up and look at the paper, but he also “reads” it to her.Speaking of the new generation, is your child celebrating a birthday soon? Don’t forget to e-mail a birthday announcement to Education Reporter Eliza Hallabeck for the Birthday Wishes printed weekly in our Education pages. Each week we publish photos and a birthday announcement for children with upcoming birthdays. One lucky winner is then drawn from the submissions to receive a basic vanilla/chocolate ice cream cake compliments of Ferris Acres Creamery. The submission deadline is Tuesdays at noon. To include your child’s name in “Birthday Wishes,” send name, address, phone number, age, and birthday, along with an original head and shoulders photo to Birthday Wishes, The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or e-mail information and a JPG photo to eliza@thebee.com. Please send the photo as an attachment to the e-mail. Birth dates must be within one month of submission.Congratulations to former The Newtown Bee intern Sarah Scinto! I learned this week that Scinto, who completed her internship here in 2012, recently joined the WVIA-FM public radio station, the National Public Radio (NPR) member station for Northeastern Pennsylvania, team. We know WVIA-FM listeners will hear top-notch stories from her, and we are thrilled for Scinto. Once a Bee, always a Bee. Keep buzzing, Scinto!This month’s Hearts of Hope-Newtown event is going to be a virtual undertaking. This is a change of plans for the local group, but it makes sense considering the continued rise of COVID-19 cases. To participate on January 19, preorder painting kits ($10 each, or $7 if you use the coupon code virtual) and then pick them up at Newtown Community Center by January 18. Kristen Angell, the associate director of advocacy for The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) — and another former Bee, we proudly note — will be the evening’s guest speaker. See the press release on page A-10 this week for full details or send a note to newtown@ourheartsofhope.org.Ingersoll Auto of Danbury is offering another free weekend of movies. Not only has the auto business been offering these special weekends at least once each month since January 2013, but this month they’re also giving us two weekends in a row! Last weekend it was for screenings of Dune. This weekend, film buffs of all ages are invited to enjoy a screening of Encanta, the animated Disney film released in November featuring the vocal talents of Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero, and John Leguizamo, among others. See page A-2 for calendar listings and Edmond Town Hall’s ad, or visit our online calendar (NewtownBee.com/calendar) for screening listings.St Rose Bingo organizers are playing it safe this month. In light of recent concerns about the COVID-19 Omicron variant, this month’s Friday Bingo Night, scheduled for January 21, has been canceled. Mark your calendar for February 11, however. That’s when the Bingo team is hoping to host its next evening of fun for all ages. We’ll keep you posted, of course.Nancy Rhodes is looking for volunteers to help with the continuing COVID-19 vaccination clinics she has been organizing in town since last summer. Volunteers need to be kind, flexible, and committed to the project for at least four months, according to Nancy. They will need to undergo a background check and provide a copy of their CV if they are a health professional. Retired EMTs, MDs, NPs and RNs would be great, she said. This week’s clinic is set, but there are at least five already on the calendar (January 21 and 28, then February 7, 11 and 17). Interested? Great! Give Nancy a call for all the details. She can be reached at 845-641-7277.C.H. Booth Library has an Armchair Travel Reading Challenge for Adults: It’s a year-long reading challenge to “travel” the world. According to one of its recent announcements, “You can enter to win the year-end raffle! It’s easy — here’s how to get started: Pick up a reading log at the Circulation or Reference Desk, print one out online, or request one via curbside and commit to reading one book related to the destination of the month. (Audiobooks, e-books & DVDs count too!). Your challenge for January: Read any book that takes place in Southern Europe. Once you have finished, bring your log in to the library and get your ‘passport’ stamped! Check our list of suggested titles below (online at chboothlibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/January-RC-2022.pdf).”I’ll be thrilled if you “travel” throughout Newtown with me next week when you ... Read me again.

Top Of The Mountain Story Top Of The Mountain Top Of The Mountain_298 Features None

Sports

Girls’ Hockey Team Skates To Victory Girls' co-op team hangs on for 4-3 win.BRIDGEPORT — Newtown High School’s Mia Paltauf and Newtown’s Rinei Hawke, who attends Lauralton Hall in Milford, helped the Masuk High co-op girls’ hockey team to its first win of the season with a 4-3 win over Fairfield, at Wonderland Of Ice, on January 8.The Panthers were on the penalty kill for the last two-plus minutes of action but fended off Fairfield.“They kept the intensity up and that’s all we could ask for,” Masuk Coach Ally D’Aurio said.After Fairfield took a 1-0 lead, Alexis D’Angelo tied things and it was a 1-1 game after one period of play. The Masuk team went ahead when Maya Komorowski scored unassisted for a 2-1 advantage and Caroline Raymond, assisted by Hawke and D’Angelo, made it a 3-1 game after two periods.Fairfield scored just over a minute into the third to cut the lead to 3-2 but the Panthers responded only 2:10 later when Caroline Saussy was assisted by Maria Davison. Fairfield pulled to within a goal and pulled its goaltender for the extra attacker, creating a 6-on-4 advantage because of late penalties. Masuk’s defense stood tall to hang on.D’Aurio is hopeful the win serves as a confidence booster for her squad. Masuk fell 5-1 on the road to the East Catholic co-op the next night. The Panthers dropped their first four games, including a pair of 4-3 nail-biters, one of which was in overtime.Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.

Girls Hockey Andy Hutchison Story Girls’ Hockey Team Skates To Victory Girls Hockey Featured Slider, Sports None

Girls’ Hockey Team Skates To Victory

Girls' co-op team hangs on for 4-3 win.

Sports

Hawks Respond To Halftime Challenge, Pull Away Against Rebels

Hawks Respond To Halftime Challenge, Pull Away Against Rebels Newtown takes control in third quarter.Leading by just four points at halftime, Newtown High School’s boys’ basketball team jumped on the visiting New Fairfield Rebels early in the third quarter and pulled away for a convincing 58-35 triumph on January 10. An intense, turnover-causing effort on defense and accuracy on the offensive end led to the Nighthawks outscoring the Rebels 18-4 in that momentum-swinging third quarter. NHS led just 23-19 at halftime but used the eight-minute third quarter to efficiently build a 41-23 advantage going into the fourth.“The challenge that we made to them was in the first five minutes of the third quarter they have to own it, and they owned it,” Newtown Coach Tim Tallcouch said. “I think our kids responded to the challenge.”Newtown’s defense was strong throughout the night.“I was not disappointed with our defensive effort in the first half. We just missed shots and we missed a lot of easy shots,” Tallcouch said.That was not the case in the second half as the Nighthawks put up 35 points, taking the foot off the gas on offense in the final minutes.Despite the D being solid, Tallcouch and company did switch things up at the break, going from a 1-3-1 zone to man-to-man defense.“I think the kids kind of wanted it. They wanted the responsibility of guarding one person,” the coach said.A Joe McCray steal led to Liam O’Connell’s putback for a 27-19 lead, prompting a New Fairfield timeout. The Hawks were not slowed down. McCray nailed a 3-pointer to push the lead to double digits at 30-19, and Newtown was on its way.O’Connell’s baseline drive to the basket for two points, Tyson Mobley’s midcourt steal and layup, and a 3-pointer by Mobley made it a 14-0 run and 37-19 lead just a little over four and a half minutes out of the half.The Nighthawks went up by 27 points in the fourth quarter and got contributions from up and down the lineup as seven players scored in the final stanza.When all was said and done, Mobley had 16 points, O’Connell scored 11, McCray had eight, Makai Coleman scored seven, and Isaiah Williams had six. Charlie Sepp dropped in five points, Saahil Ray contributed three, and Eli Williams chipped in with two.Isaiah Williams grabbed 12 rebounds. Mobley handed out eight assists; McCray had seven assists and two steals; O’Connell had three steals; and Coleman had two steals as NHS logged nine thefts as a team.NHS improved to 3-2 overall. Due to snow postponing a January 7 visit to Bassick of Bridgeport, that game was made up on January 13, giving NHS games on consecutive nights, with a road tilt against Brookfield on Thursday.“That will be a very good test for us,” Tallcouch anticipated.The Hawks passed the test by winning both contests; read about those in the January 21 print edition and online.Newtown will host Bethel on Tuesday, January 18, at 7 pm, then entertain Immaculate of Danbury, Friday, January 21, also at 7 o’clock.Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.

NHS Boys Basketball Andy Hutchison Story Hawks Respond To Halftime Challenge, Pull Away Against Rebels NHS Boys Basketball_133 Featured Slider, Sports None

Sports

Girls’ Basketball Team Drains A Dozen 3-Pointers In Victory Over Green Wave

Girls’ Basketball Team Drains A Dozen 3-Pointers In Victory Over Green Wave Hawks win on the hardwood.NEW MILFORD — The Newtown High School girls’ basketball team defeated host New Milford High School 52-45 in a rescheduled contest on January 8. The Nighthawks hit a dozen 3-pointers and worked hard on defense to pick up their fourth win in five games.Izzy Caron hit six three pointers; Bridget McCleary hit three from behind the arc; Bella Gerace had two, and Chloe O’Connell had one as 36 of the Nighthawks’ 52 points came from beyond the 3-point line.Caron led all scorers with 24 points, McCleary had 13, Gerace had six points, Jenna Lagan also had six points and racked up seven rebounds, O’Connell had three, and Kristen Reisert had two along with grabbing six rebounds.Lagan stepped up and played well defensively as well as Gerace who had three steals. Newtown was down three key contributors due to coronavirus protocol and injuries, and this was an "excellent grind-out win," Coach Jeremy O'Connell said.Newtown was down by two at the end of the first quarter. After a very close second quarter a three pointer just before the half by Gerace gave Newtown a 22-20 lead. High-intensity defense and making 3-pointers down the stretch gave the Nighthawks the momentum they needed to pull away against the Green Wave.The Hawks improved to 4-2 overall before losing 44-33 at New Fairfield on January 10."New Fairfield is extremely well-coached. We had a tremendous second half, but the hole we dug for ourselves in the first half was too much to overcome. Hoping to get some kids back this week," O'Connell said.NHS defeated Brookfield at home on January 13 and will host Kolbe Cathedral of Bridgeport set for Saturday, January 15 at 2 pm. Read about these games in the January 21 print edition and online.

NHS Girls Basketball Ally McCarthy Story Girls’ Basketball Team Drains A Dozen 3-Pointers In Victory Over Green Wave NHS Girls Basketball_112 Featured Slider, Sports None

Sports

Nighthawk Track Team Members Shine In Meet

Nighthawk Track Team Members Shine In Meet The NHS track teams took home several first-place finishes.BETHEL — The Newtown High School girls’ track team swept every middle distance and distance event at their rescheduled meet at Bethel High School on January 8.Emily Litke and Grace Chiriatti took first and second place in the 800 meter run. Hannah Snayd and Ryann Heim-Sherwood placed first and second in the 1000. Sophia Guevara and Abby Ihlefeld took one and two in the 600. Clara D’Amico won the 1600, and Litke won the 3200. The sprint medley relay of Ella Hall, Heim-Sherwood, Guevara, and Snayd, took first place as did the 4x400m relay consisting of D’Amico, Grace Lyons, Guevara, and Joey Libero.“I am most excited about our relays after today. There are a ton of girls fighting for a spot in a relay and that’s something we have not had in the past. The competition among the team is awesome,” Coach Becky Bourret said.Jamie Adams, Kayleigh Troy, Reese Smith, and Madi Singlak earned places four through seven in the 55 hurdles.Troy came in second in both high jump and pole vault. Adams placed third in both high jump and long jump, and Kaelin Rising placed third in shot-put.“We were missing some key varsity athletes at this first showing due to COVID isolations, injury, and the snow day date change, but the athletes there really stepped up,” Bourret said.The Nighthawks competed against fellow South-West Conference teams who they will see in their conference championships later this winter.Between this meet and a December 29 meet at New Haven’s Floyd Little Athletic Center, the Nighthawks have qualified 12 athletes for the championships.The boys’ team showed its strength sweeping multiple events as well.Aidan Budge, Soheib Dissa, and Colby Harrell took places two through four in the 800. Oliver Guzy placed second in the 55 hurdles. Caleb Smith and Brock Dukate earned first and second in the 55 dash. Cameron Whorf and Soheib Dissa took one and two in the 600. Whorf also earned third in the 300. Guzy tied for fourth in the long jump with a jump of 18-03.The Nighthawks won the sprint medley relay consisting of Dukate, Smith, Harrell, and Budge.

NHS Indoor Track Ally McCarthy Story Nighthawk Track Team Members Shine In Meet Wrestling Car Wash Fundraiser Sports None

Sports

Grapplers Sweep Competition In First Nighthawk Invitational Duals

Grapplers Sweep Competition In First Nighthawk Invitational Duals NHS wrestlers come out on top.Newtown High School’s wrestling team held its first Nighthawk Classic Invitational Duals on December 30, and defeated all three opponents to win the event. The Nighthawks beat Bethel 54-27, Joel Barlow of Redding 57-6, and Notre Dame-West Haven 58-18.“We are very proud of the team going 3-0 today to win the Nighthawk Classic against Bethel, Notre Dame, and Joel Barlow. This is a very young team with three-quarters of the roster being freshmen and sophomores,” said Tom Maurath, president of the Nighthawk Wrestling Booster Club. “We had some dominating performances from Fisher Stites, Ben Plaue, Marc Maurath, Brendan McAnaspie, Tommy Milligan, and Luca Manfredi all going undefeated for the day.”Newtown highlights are as follows:Milligan: Pinned Jayden Ortiz (Bethel), pinned Sophie Brault (Barlow), won by forfeit (ND).Plaue: Pinned Esther Riberio (Bethel), pinned Adrian Zambrana (Barlow), pinned Ethan Weaver (ND).Manfredi: Won by forfeit (Bethel), 9-2 decision over Scott Romano (Barlow), pinned Nick Pavelko (ND).McAnaspie: Won by forfeit (Bethel), pinned Alan Taveras (Barlow), pinned Dylan Ross (ND).Maurath: Pinned Spencer Hoch (Bethel), pinned Evan Taylor (Barlow), 11-3 decision over Kevin Sevigny (ND).Stites: Pinned Anthony Perrone (Bethel), won by forfeit (Barlow), pinned Sebastian Miranda (ND).The wrestling booster club president said the hope is for the Nighthawk Classic to be an annual event and for it to grow.“With current COVID protocols, this year we needed to focus on the safety of our wrestlers and fans. Next year, we plan to bring in some of the top teams in Connecticut. As with our youth tournament, that grew to 400-plus wrestlers from across six states in less than four years, our goal is to build this event into the preeminent high school dual competition in the state,” he said.Newtown improved to 4-0 in dual meet competitions and earned the No. 9 ranking in the state as reported on January 3 by the weekly poll from Connecticut Wrestling Online. Voters include state coaches and members of the media.“The fact that we are in the same list of state powerhouses like Danbury, Xavier, Fairfield Warde, and Simsbury gives us a lot of motivation to continue to work hard and help develop this young team,” Maurath said.Sports Editor Andy Hutchison can be reached at andyh@thebee.com.

NHS Wrestling Andy Hutchison Story Grapplers Sweep Competition In First Nighthawk Invitational Duals NHS Wrestling_37 Featured Slider, Sports None

Today's Events

January 17, 2022

MARTIN LUTHER KING JR DAY

Town of Newtown offices and agencies, including C.H. Booth Library and Newtown Senior Center, will be closed on Monday, January 17, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr Day, a federal holiday.

There is no USPS delivery and post office counters will be closed. Post office box customers will be able to access their boxes. FedEx will have a modified service schedule. UPS pickup and delivery will be available, with some modifications, and stores will be open.

Schools will be closed for the day.

January 17, 2022 at 12:00 am

NHS Capstone Project Coloring Book & Supplies Drive

Donations accepted during regular business hours at C.H. Booth Library (25 Main Street; 203-426-4533 or chboothlibrary.org), Edmond Town Hall (45 Main Street; 203-270-4285 or edmondtownhall.org), and Newtown Community Center (8 Simpson Street; 203-270-4349).

Newtown High School student Mia Hochstetler is seeking new and lightly used donations as part of project undertaken by all NHS students, collection continues to February 1.

January 17, 2022 at 12:00 am

2021 Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Recognition Program-Newtown Entries Display

Newtown Community Center (main corridor, near desk), 8 Simpson Street

Presentation of 40+ entries by Newtown public, private and parochial students in grades 4-5, including two local winners, on view to January 17.

Read more here: Fire Prevention Poster Contest Winners Announced

January 17, 2022 at 06:00 am

“Color In Winter” 2022 SCAN Art Show & Sale **CLOSED TODAY**

NOTE: Newtown Municipal Center will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day. It will reopen Tuesday, January 18.

Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street

Annual winter presentation of works by members of The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, most available for purchase, on view to February 28; SCANart.org.

January 17, 2022 at 08:00 am

"The Ideal House" **CLOSED TODAY**

NOTE: The library will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day. It will reopen Tuesday, January 18.

C.H. Booth Library (second/main floor), 25 Main Street

Traveling exhibition 40 drawings by students age 7-15 from 14 schools in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, to February 28; 203-426-4533.

January 17, 2022 at 09:30 am

"The Quilt Shop by Lois" **CLOSED TODAY**

NOTE: The library will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day. It will reopen Tuesday, January 18.

C.H. Booth Library (meeting room and entry hall), 25 Main Street

Quilts and fabric art by Lois Mitchell, owner of The Quilt Shop on Queen Street, to March 31; 203-426-4533.

January 17, 2022 at 09:30 am

“No Rest” **CLOSED TODAY**

NOTE: The library will be closed for Martin Luther King Jr Day. It will reopen Tuesday, January 18.

C.H. Booth Library (first and third floors), 25 Main Street

First of three-part traveling exhibition from The Institute for American Indian Studies to open dialogue on issues facing indigenous women and girls of Native American community, to February 28 (may be extended); 203-426-4533.

January 17, 2022 at 09:30 am

Teddy Bear Tea

Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street

$35/child ($25/member child)

Ages 5-7 invited to dress in their party best, grab their teddy bear, and enjoy tea time, treats and fun, registration required by January 10 and each children must have an adult/guardian; 203-270-4349.

January 17, 2022 at 09:30 am

Matinee screening of "Encanto"

Edmond Town Hall Theatre, 45 Main Street

Tickets $3.50

Screenings of animated family musical comedy, featuring the vocal talents of Stephanie Beatriz, María Cecilia Botero and John Leguizamo, et al, released in November and rated PG, daily to January 17; 203-270-4285, edmondtownhall.org.

January 17, 2022 at 01:00 pm

Commission on Aging meeting **CANCELED**

All Town board and commission meetings are canceled due to MLK Jr Day.

~~Location and participation details TBA.~~

January 17, 2022 at 03:00 pm

Screening of "Encanto"

Edmond Town Hall Theatre, 45 Main Street

Tickets $3.50

January 17, 2022 at 07:00 pm

Special Editions

In Case You Missed It, Here Is What Posted Over The Weekend

Opposition Mounts Over Proposed South Main Apartment Building

A Cautionary Tale: Discarded Ashes Start Fire That Could Have Been Much Worse

Police Reports | January 1-January 11, 2022

Joint Workgroup Begins Review Of ARP Spending

The development considered for Fairfield Hills should be enough. Look very carefully at what Desegregate CT is all about. The words 'equitable' and 'inclusive' should give you a clue.

Apartments Could Bring Young Newtowners Home

Crime is a perennial campaign gimmick for the Republican Party. They cart it out around each election, trying to teum fear into a political gain.

Newtown Legislators Plan Juvenile Justice Forum

27 units at 2 cars per unit planned. The traffic on Main St / 25 is already very congested. You seem to be making assumptions about affordability. Do you have any hard data on expected rents?

Apartments Could Bring Young Newtowners Home

I am so very sorry for Everyone's loss. Another beautiful soul gone to soon

Annette Lo Strappo

Nicole & Chris - Sorry to hear about Mom. Our thoughts & prayers are with you at this time. - Tom & Lee Gallo

Michele Ann Favreau

Opposition Mounts Over Proposed South Main Apartment Building

A Cautionary Tale: Discarded Ashes Start Fire That Could Have Been Much Worse

Joint Workgroup Begins Review Of ARP Spending

CRC Recommends Elimination Of Finance Board

A Cautionary Tale: Discarded Ashes Start Fire That Could Have Been Much Worse

Joint Workgroup Begins Review Of ARP Spending

CRC Recommends Elimination Of Finance Board

Fire Reports | January 5-11, 2022

New Laws On Insulin Prices, Parentage, Pulse Oximeters Took Effect On January 1

In Case You Missed It, Here Is What Posted Over The Weekend

Opposition Mounts Over Proposed South Main Apartment Building

Deadly Residential Fires Prompt NFPA, Newtown Fire Marshal’s Warning

Fire Prevention Poster Entries On View At Community Center

Top Of The Mountain

Girls’ Hockey Team Skates To Victory

Hawks Respond To Halftime Challenge, Pull Away Against Rebels

Girls’ Basketball Team Drains A Dozen 3-Pointers In Victory Over Green Wave

Nighthawk Track Team Members Shine In Meet

Grapplers Sweep Competition In First Nighthawk Invitational Duals

Holiday Gift Guide 2021

For Better Health - Fall 2021

Home & Garden Fall 2021

Back To School 2021

For Better Health June 2021

Home & Garden Spring 2021

Guide To Newtown 2021

The Newtown Bee's Back to School 2020

Home & Garden Spring 2020

Log In

Opposition Mounts Over Proposed South Main Apartment Building

A Cautionary Tale: Discarded Ashes Start Fire That Could Have Been Much Worse

Joint Workgroup Begins Review Of ARP Spending

CRC Recommends Elimination Of Finance Board

A Cautionary Tale: Discarded Ashes Start Fire That Could Have Been Much Worse

Joint Workgroup Begins Review Of ARP Spending

CRC Recommends Elimination Of Finance Board

Fire Reports | January 5-11, 2022

New Laws On Insulin Prices, Parentage, Pulse Oximeters Took Effect On January 1

In Case You Missed It, Here Is What Posted Over The Weekend

Opposition Mounts Over Proposed South Main Apartment Building

Deadly Residential Fires Prompt NFPA, Newtown Fire Marshal’s Warning

Fire Prevention Poster Entries On View At Community Center

Top Of The Mountain

Girls’ Hockey Team Skates To Victory

Hawks Respond To Halftime Challenge, Pull Away Against Rebels

Girls’ Basketball Team Drains A Dozen 3-Pointers In Victory Over Green Wave

Nighthawk Track Team Members Shine In Meet

Grapplers Sweep Competition In First Nighthawk Invitational Duals

Holiday Gift Guide 2021

For Better Health - Fall 2021

Home & Garden Fall 2021

Back To School 2021

For Better Health June 2021

Home & Garden Spring 2021

Guide To Newtown 2021

The Newtown Bee's Back to School 2020

Home & Garden Spring 2020