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Rebuilding After Fire, One Family Is Very Grateful For Countless Acts Of Kindness

Rebuilding After Fire, One Family Is Very Grateful For Countless Acts Of Kindness Evelyn Hanlon and her family have spent the past few months rebuilding the lives after losing nearly everything in a fire that destroyed a barn that housed their home and business. They are so grateful, they said recently, for the kindnesses of strangers that have helped them start anew.When a fire a few months ago ripped through the barn below them and quickly extended into their apartment, three members of the Hanlon family escaped without injury.With help from their caretaker, the animals inside the barn — 11 horses, along with ducks, chickens, one dog, and one cat — were all safely released. Within an hour during the early morning hours of July 11, however, the circa 1965 building at 34 Meadowbrook Road was destroyed.In addition to the building, a camper parked near the barn suffered some damage, and two vehicles were also destroyed. The total estimated loss, Deputy Fire Marshal Steve Murphy said the afternoon after the fire, was approximately $300,000.Evelyn Hanlon and her family have spent the past few months rebuilding their lives after losing nearly everything in that fire. The clothes — pajamas, in Ms Hanlon’s case — each was wearing that morning were among the few things that survived the inferno. They are so grateful, they say, for the kindnesses of strangers that have helped them start anew.“The donations,” Ms Hanlon said, “oh my God. There was more stuff than you could ever dream of.“All of the people that came, it was just amazing,” she added. “We could never thank them enough. You would never think that there was that many people that would be that way.”One woman, they said, “from the horse community,” made two trips with large loads of helpful items for a boarding business.“She brought saddles and other equipment,” Ms Hanlon said. Others showed up with hay, or provided water.“Everybody was so forthcoming with supplies,” Ms Martinez said.Evelyn Hanlon had been leasing the barn and its apartment at 34 Meadowbrook Road for 14 years, she said, operating Long Meadow Horse Farm. The 30 stalls available within the 5,000-square-foot barn were leased by area and regional horse owners, who counted on the family to feed, turn out, and provide water and general care for their animals.Within hours of the fire, Newtown residents were on Facebook, organizing collections and donations. A gofundme campaign was also launched within hours by Deana Rohan, quickly raising more than $6,500 for the displaced family.Many people left comments, offering words of comfort to Ms Hanlon and her family. A few people offered temporary shelter, and many mentioned that they were neighbors or current or former boarders.One woman noted that her barn has burned in January, and that two ponies and two cats were killed.“I am still recovering,” Patti Driscoll commented. “Gofundme helped me rebuild.”Sean Murray noted “Helping to rebuild lives is the right thing to do, if even a small amount.”Rebuilding is exactly what the Hanlon family has been doing since July. Clothing, furniture, gift cards, appliances, and other items large and small flooded in to help Ms Hanlon and her family, she and one of her daughters said recently.Sitting in an office within a barn on Hundred Acres Road now being rented by Ms Hanlon, she and daughter Shelly Martinez talked on about the kindness that continues to envelop their family.The biggest thing that has happened in recent months is the relocation from Meadowbrook Road to Hundred Acres Road, where the family found a new home for themselves and the animals in their care.“We had to find a barn,” Ms Hanlon said. “That was the priority. We always wanted to keep everyone together.”Ms Martinez found the barn her family is now renting, she said, while she was driving one day and saw a sign announcing the barn’s availability. With the barn came a house, she learned, which meant her mother and sister, Susan Seavey, would have more living space if the location worked out for the family.“We met with the owner and told him Mommy and Suzy were displaced, and he did everything he could to make this work,” Ms Martinez said.For the second half of July and all of August, Ms Hanlon and Ms Seavey lived in an RV parked at the Meadowbrook Road location. The RV had been loaned to them, and it allowed them to stay at that location and continue caring for the horses still being boarded there.Within 24 hours of the fire, Ms Seavey, Ms Martinez, family, and friends began constructing run-throughs in the fields of Long Meadow Farm. The temporary structures provided shade and shelter for the horses during the six-week period between the fire and the move to their new home.Ms Hanlon’s son, who was also living at the Meadowbrook Road barn at the time of the fire, has since moved in with a friend.All but two of the clients who were boarding horses at Long Meadow have stayed with Ms Hanlon.“We have just one empty stall now,” Ms Hanlon said. “The people, it’s been just amazing.”“This barn is beautiful,” Ms Martinez said. She and her mother were seated in a brightly lit room, a side office space, while talking about the past few months.The family doesn’t have any plans to move again. By September 1, they had moved to Hundred Acres Road. With help from their caretaker and a few family members, they spent that first month clearing brush and some of the land, living up to a promise to their new landlord.Nine stalls have been rented.“We’re just hoping for a couple more boarders, and we’ll be all set,” Ms Martinez said.Rebuilding aside, the trauma is not gone. Ms Hanlon admits she still cries a lot when she thinks about the morning of the fire and all that was lost.“We can’t, truly, from the bottom of our hearts, we can’t thank people enough for everything they’ve done,” Ms Martinez said, her voice breaking.The barn at Long Meadow Farm has been razed. Ms Martinez returned to the property one last time a few weeks ago, before everything was cleared.“I was hoping to find Mommy’s cast iron pans,” she said. “I knew they wouldn’t have burned up in a fire, but everything’s leveled now.”Those pans, she said, were her mother’s favorite cookware.“I had them 50 years,” Ms Hanlon said. “I loved those pans.”On the eastern wall of the office they were sitting in that rainy afternoon, the women pointed out one item that was saved from the fire. A brass bridle rack, pulled from the tack room of the previous barn, has been nailed to the wall.“I found that and cleaned it and knew it had to come in here with us,” Ms Martinez said. “That was the only thing that was not destroyed in that room.”On the sill of a window in that same room sits a small elephant figurine, the start of a new collection for Ms Hanlon.“Mommy loves elephants,” Ms Martinez explained. “She lost all of hers but was given this small one to restart her collection.”Outside, a few metal decorations — one a cutout of a horse, another the cutout of a pig — were saved from the ashes on Meadowbrook Road. They have been mounted to the top of fence posts surrounding the corral outside the barn, and the Long Meadow Farm sign now leans against the barnThe family is together, however, and they know that is what is most important.“Out of tragedy always comes a silver lining,” Ms Martinez said.“My silver lining is her,” she added, leaning toward her mother. “She’s living in a house that’s not attached to the barn, and she’s safe again.”

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Ambulance Reports | October 10-17, 2019 Calls for Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps for the period of October 10-17, 2019. The dispatchers at the Newtown Emergency Communications Center at Town Hall South, 3 Main Street, report the following calls for Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps:Thursday, October 10: 10:30 am, fall/accident; 11:45 am, sick/unknown; 12:08 pm, sick/unknown; 3:43 pm, overdose/poisoning; 4:22 pm, sick/unknown; 5:07 pm, bleeding/non-traumatic; 6:17 pm, overdose/poisoning; 8:10 pm, mental/emotional/psych; 8:58 pm, breathing difficulty; 9 pm, chest pain; 11:05 pm, stroke; 11:05 pm, sick/unknown;Friday, October 11: 2:04 am, unconscious/syncope; 2:35 am, fall/accident; 1:37 pm, sick/unknown; 4:32 pm, sick/unknown; 10:48 pm, sick/unknown; 11:05 pm, bleeding/non-traumatic;Saturday, October 12: 6:04 am, unconscious/syncope; 11:49 am, fall/accident; 1:22 pm, motor vehicle accident (MVA) with injury; 8:17 pm, fall/accident; 10:27 pm, breathing difficulty; 11:37 pm, sick/unknown;Sunday, October 13: 7:59 am, sick/unknown; 11:38 am, bleeding/non-traumatic; 1:38 pm, sick/unknown; 6:57 pm, sick/unknown; 9:33 pm, fall/accident;Monday, October 14: 2:41 am, bleeding/non-traumatic; 7:37 am, sick/unknown; 8:25 am, abdominal; 9:43 am, fall/accident; 3:08 pm, sick/unknown;Tuesday, October 15: 12:06 am, fall/accident; 10:59 am, sick/unknown; 11:21 am, sick/unknown; 1:54 pm, unconscious/syncope; 2:43 pm, sick/unknown; 5:42 pm, MVA with injury;Wednesday, October 16: 9:47 am, diabetic; 11:37 am, abdominal; 11:42 am, sick/unknown; 11:57 am, headache; 1:11 pm, fall/accident; 2:27 pm, mental/emotional/psych; 6:14 pm, sick/unknown; 9:14 pm, sick/unknown; 9:23 pm, unconscious/syncope; 10:45 pm, fall/accident;Thursday, October 17: 1:04 am, fall/accident; 3:51 am, MVA with extrication; 3:52 am, abdominal; 4:44 am, difficulty breathing.

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Ambulance Reports | October 10-17, 2019

Calls for Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps for the period of October 10-17, 2019.

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Main Street Multifamily Proposal Remains Controversial

Main Street Multifamily Proposal Remains Controversial About 45 residents gathered at the Newtown Community Center on Saturday, October 12, to discuss a controversial topic — a developer’s proposal to raze the former Inn at Newtown at 19 Main Street and replace it with 40 market-rate rental apartments within three buildings at the 3.002-acre site. About 45 residents gathered at the Newtown Community Center on Saturday, October 12, to discuss a controversial topic — a developer’s proposal to raze the former Inn at Newtown at 19 Main Street and replace it with 40 market-rate rental apartments within three buildings at the 3.002-acre site.Most meetings at which such a subject would be discussed are sponsored by the local government. But the weekend informational session was sponsored by development firm 19 Main Street LLC, which calls its project 19 On Main Street Apartments. The now-vacant inn closed for business in January 2016.The 19 Main Street property is currently owned by DWR Company III LLC. The property owner did not attend the session but was represented by attorney Peter Olson of Bethel and by project developers Frank Caico of Newtown and Mark Forlenza of Brookfield.Applicant 19 Main Street LLC is seeking Borough Zoning Commission (BZC) approval to create an overlay zone where such apartment construction would be allowed, known as the Borough Residential Overlay District (BROD) zone, and also a change of zone for 19 Main Street from its current Residential-1 (R-1) designation to a BROD designation. The BZC has scheduled a November 13 public hearing on those two matters. If those two requests receive BZC approval, yet another BZC public hearing would be held on a proposed site development plan.Mr Olson said that the developer so far has formulated a conceptual plan for the project, but not an “engineered plan,” which would include the technical details required by land use regulators.Mr Caico, who has lived in Newtown since 2014, said, “We love Newtown. It’s such a great family town.” Mr Caico said he is a member of the town’s Design Advisory Board and also is a board member for the EverWonder Children’s Museum.The developers want public comment on how they “could do something positive” in the context of constructing an apartment complex, he said.Noting that the building that held the inn continues to deteriorate, Mr Caico said the redevelopment proposal seeks to create an economically viable project that fits into its neighborhood in terms of design and scale. Many months of work have gone into formulating the conceptual project, he said.To make such a project economically viable, there needs to be a certain density of development, he said. The developers would seek to design a project that appears less dense than it actually is, he added. In that regard, he described the relative positioning of the three buildings and how parking would be situated on the property.“We’ll take cues from nearby architecture,” in seeking to make the project visually fit the area,” he said. The conceptual plans, Mr Caico said, include high quality apartments which have two bedrooms and two and one-half baths each.The project would be a good location for Newtown residents who sell their single-family homes but want to continue living here, he said. Monthly rents would range from about $2,500 to $3,000. “There’s not a real diversity of housing stock in the borough,” he noted.Mr Forlenza said that each apartment in such a complex would have a private entryway. Landscaping would be located between the buildings and the street, he added. Mr Forlenza said the proposal amounts to creating something that looks better than the site’s current appearance.“We really want to make Main Street better than it is... We’re not here to fight you guys... We want to use our experience and expertise to do something positive for the community,” he said.One resident, pointing out that traffic conditions in the area can be difficult and asked about the traffic impact of such redevelopment.Mr Caico responded that planning work has not yet reached the traffic planning stage. If 19 Main Street LLC receives BZC approvals on its initial application, a formal traffic study would be performed, he said.One woman pointed out that the project would greatly alter Main Street’s appearance for the worse and also eliminate local benefactress Mary Hawley’s homestead.“Those are rental units, not homes,” she said.Another woman suggested that the developers build single-family houses, not apartment buildings.Mr Forlenza responded that the property’s owner wants to get a certain amount of value back from its investment in the property through redeveloping the site with an apartment complex.Other Options, ‘Sacred Ground’“If not this (project), then the owner has other options,” Mr Caico said.“It would be very difficult to recreate what was there in the past,” Mr Forlenza said of the inn.After the inn closed, the property was for sale for the same use, but no one bought the property, Mr Caico said.Mr Forlenza added, “We’re trying to come up with something that would be good for everybody.”According to Mr Caico, the property owner has considered as a possible alternative to market-rate rental apartments creating a complex with some “affordable housing” units.Mr Olson said that when an application for “affordable housing” is pending before a zoning commission, that commission does not have the discretion in decisionmaking that it would normally have.Complexes with an affordable housing component likely would have a higher construction density than a market-rate project.Attorney James Gaston of 18 Main Street said that the state provisions controlling affordable housing complexes do not trump the controls of a historic district. The 19 Main Street property is the Borough of Newtown Historic District.Real estate agent Paul Fadus said that he receives requests from people for rental apartments in the borough.Patricia Eder of 58 Mt Pleasant Road said that allowing such development along Main Street could result in other similar projects occurring in that area, thus adversely changing the town.Mr Caico said the BROD zoning regulations proposed by 19 Main Street LLC would not apply to the police station at 3 Main Street or The Pleasance at 1 Main Street due to those properties’ zoning designations.Mr Olson observed that there are one or two properties within the borough other than 19 Main Street to which the proposed BROD regulations could apply.Joan Salbu, a real estate agent, said, “Everyone in Newtown is very sensitive about our Main Street... This is almost like sacred ground.”Mr Caico responded, “We get it... We’re just trying to come up with a real solid plan that can work, that we all can be proud of.”“We’re trying to find something that works for everybody,” Mr Olson added.Dr Steven Landin of 26 Main Street commented that he has problem with the high-density of the proposed project. “I’m not sure that this fits the area... We don’t want a colossus here.” Also, residents would have to live with the “traffic consequences” resulting from such development, he said.Mr Olson commented said that the project “doesn’t work financially” if the number of dwellings drops below 40.Attorney Eric DaSilva of 17 Main Street, which abuts the site, raised concerns about whether there would be sufficient parking at such an apartment complex, adding that overflow parking might occur at the abutting Booth Library parking lot.One man who complimented the developers on the aesthetics of their conceptual plan, said that such a project should be constructed at Fairfield Hills, but not on Main Street.According to the conceptual site plan submitted to the BZC, the 40 apartments would each be approximately 1,200 square feet in floor area. Thus, the complex would contain about 48,000 square feet of living space. Also, there would be a total of 72 parking spaces, of which 22 spaces would be in the form of garage space on the bottom level of a larger apartment building located at the rear of the site. The other 50 spaces would be located outdoors behind the two smaller apartment buildings positioned at the front of the site.

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Proposed Riverwalk Apartment Complex Gains Wetlands Approval

Proposed Riverwalk Apartment Complex Gains Wetlands Approval After reviewing plans for the proposed fifth version of a 74-unit rental apartment complex on the west side of Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook Center, Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) members unanimously have approved a modified wetlands/watercourses permit for the project.In the October 9 IWC action on The Riverwalk at Sandy Hook Village, voting to modify the permit were Chairman Sharon Salling, Suzanne Guidera, Michael McCabe, Vanessa Villamil, and Kendall Horch. The IWC approval marks the last hurdle for the project among municipal land use commissions.Current plans call for the construction of 74 rental apartments, 15 of which would be designated as “affordable housing” under the terms of the Incentive Housing-10 (IH-10) zoning regulations. The affordable units are rented out to people qualified to occupy them based on regional income eligibility requirements. The rental fees paid by the people living in the 59 market-rate units would subsidize the 15 affordable units.Michael Burton, Sr, is the applicant. The site is 11.8 acres at 10-22 Washington Avenue.Mr Burton said the fifth version of Riverwalk contains some construction plan changes compared to the previous version, which gained town approvals in early 2018. The first version of the project was submitted for town review in 2008 and approved in 2009.The current version of the project has a one-tenth acre increase in impervious surfaces compared to the previous version, rising to 2.7 acres of impervious coverage, Mr Burton said. Also, the current design reconfigures the proposed buildings on the property, he added.The driveway design has not changed, he said. Also, the 74 dwellings would be built in a single construction phase, instead of in three separate phases, as had been previously planned.Civil engineer Alan Shepard, representing Mr Burton, said that in terms of drainage control, it is beneficial to construct such a project in a single phase. The drainage structures planned for the property are designed to store up to two inches of rainfall, he said.Ms Salling said it appears that the design changes in the fifth version of Riverwalk are positive ones in terms of wetlands/watercourses protection.Mr McCabe said he appreciates the reduction in parking spaces compared to the previous version of the project.In approving Riverwalk, the IWC placed nine technical conditions on its endorsement. Those conditions include that erosion and sedimentation controls must be installed before construction starts and be maintained as the project progresses, any changes to the wetlands/watercourses protection plan must be approved by the IWC or its agent, and any permit violations can result in remedies being ordered by the town or fines being levied, among other conditions.Following discussion at an October 1 session, Water & Sewer Authority (WSA) members agreed to extend the time period of their previous approval for municipal sanitary sewer service for the 74 dwellings. WSA members extended that approval by 60 days to provide Mr Burton with time to finalize his sale of the site and its development rights to an undisclosed buyer.The WSA modified the sewer assessment for the project because all units would be rental apartments. At $5,400 per rental apartment, the overall sewer assessment for the project is $399,600.Mr Burton gained his fifth approval from the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) for the longstanding multifamily proposal in September.What is notable about the fifth version of Riverwalk is that all 74 dwellings would be rental apartments. In the fourth version, some units were condominiums and some were rental apartments.A “streetscape grade” sidewalk positioned on the west side of Washington Avenue would be extended southward to the southern end of the development site. Such sidewalks are located in the Sandy Hook Center business district.There would be five residential buildings at the site, garages, and carports, plus a clubhouse/rental office. Overall, there would be 167 parking spaces, of which ten spaces would be handicapped accessible. The site would contain 50 two-bedroom apartments and 24 one-bedroom units.Although over the past decade the town had approved four previous versions of the Riverwalk project, the complex was never constructed for one reason or another.

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Newtown Resident, American Hero: World War II Veteran Awarded Quilt Of Valor Newtown resident and World War II veteran Edward “Eddie” Paul Hornyak, 93, was awarded a specially made Quilt of Valor at the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 on Sunday, October 13. Newtown resident Edward “Eddie” Paul Hornyak, 93, thought he was visiting the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 with his great-nephew, Paul Fehers, to check the building’s furnace on the afternoon of Sunday, October 13, but it was just a ploy to bring him there.What he did not realize was nearly two dozen members of his family had gathered under the outdoor pavilion on that autumn day to surprise him with a special Quilt of Valor Ceremony in his honor.The journey leading up to the big surprise began more than a year ago when Mr Hornyak’s great-great-niece, Erica Fehers, a junior at Masuk High School, started devoting a number of her Saturdays to making him the patriotic blanket through the Quilts of Valor Foundation.The Quilts of Valor Foundation was established in 2003, by founder Catherine Roberts, to bring comfort and healing to those “touched by war.”Ms Robert’s son, Nat, was deployed in Iraq at the time, and she was compelled to start the organization after having a vivid dream one night.She dreamed that a young man in despair was sitting on the side of his bed surrounded by his war demons. Suddenly, the next thing she saw was him wrapped in a quilt and the whole scene changed to him being sheltered, safe, and given hope.The Quilts of Valor Foundation strive to bring this symbolic message as well as bestow the physical comfort a blanket brings on a cool night.In almost 16 years, as of October 15, 2019, it has been recorded that a total of 231,218 quilts have been awarded through the foundation.Erica, who has eight years of sewing experience, first learned about the Quilts of Valor Foundation three years ago when her sewing teacher asked if she and her friend would be interested in making one.The first quilt she helped make was presented to her friend’s grandfather, but it inspired her to create one for a family member dear to her, so she chose her great-great-uncle Eddie.Mr Hornyak, known as “Hunky” to his military family, because of his Hungarian ancestry, served in the United States Army Air Corps (which later became the United States Air Force) during World War II.He was a Ball Turret Gunner for the B-17 Bomber Aircraft — nicknamed the “Flying Fortress.”His great-niece, Susan Feher, mother of Erica, told The Newtown Bee prior to the ceremony, “The Ball Turret Gunner was one of the most dangerous assignments in World War II. The person inside the Ball Turret was only protected by a glass bubble that jutted out from the bottom of the aircraft.“The Ball Turret Gunner was the shortest man in the crew, due to the small space. He squeezed himself into a fetal position to protect the bomber from attack from below. The gunner sat between the guns with his feet in stirrups, positioned on either side of the 13-inch window in front of him.”Surprise CeremonyBefore the ceremony began, Erica and Jane Dougherty, Connecticut co-coordinator for the Quilts of Valor Foundation, stood at a tall table in the VFW hall putting the finishing touches on the quilt Erica would be presenting to her great-great-uncle Eddie.After starting the quilting project a year ago, Erica finished creating her quilt squares in August and made the pillowcase for the quilt to be carried in.Through the Quilts of Valor Foundation, she sent the quilt sections to be pieced together by volunteer Mary Eddy, who returned the finished product to her last month.On October 13, the only square left to be sewn on was the dedication patch that read, “Quilt of Valor To Honor & Comfort Those Touched By War for Edward Paul Hornyak on 10/13/19, pieced by Erica Feher and quilted by Mary Eddy.”When the last thread was tied and the quilt completed, everyone shuffled outside to the VFW pavilion to wait in great anticipation for the guest of honor to arrive.Mr Hornyak and his wife, Sue, emerged from the vehicle with their mouths agape at the sight of familiar faces gathered before them. Hugs were given and tears began to pool in the eyes of family knowing what was about to take place.Mr and Mrs Hornyak were seated in the warmth of the sun next to the podium as Ms Dougherty introduced herself and told the history of the Quilts of Valor Foundation.“Most of these quilts come through various hands, and we know they are going to a warrior, so we know they are infused with love, care, and prayer,” Ms Dougherty said. “This quilt is extremely special, because of who the quilt-maker is.”Smiling, Erica turned to her great-great-uncle Eddie and modestly told him the process she did to create the gift.Ms Dougherty added, “There’s a lot of work. There’s a lot of love. There’s a lot of time and talent that goes into fabric acquisition.”Erica’s dad, Paul Fehers (Mr Hornyak’s great-nephew) approached the front of the pavilion to tell everyone what he had researched about ball turret gunners. He also provided handouts to educate his family about the unique military position.“I’m so proud of him,” Mr Fehers said about his great-uncle. “He was in the occupation after the war was ending and he helped out a lot of Hungarian people who were taken prisoner… he saved a lot of their lives, because he knew how to communicate with [them].”Reminiscing, Mr Hornyak said, “When I went into service, I spoke Hungarian very well. In fact, the people I met in Hungary, the Hungarians, thought I was born there, that’s how well I spoke the language then. It’s because I lived in Hunktown, the west side of Bridgeport, and it was all Hungarians. If you didn’t speak Hungarian, you might as well have moved out.”Mr Hornyak helped Hungarians who were starving by bringing them into the military mess hall and allowing them to eat as much as they wanted.People came to depend on him and meet him regularly. He would go on to keep in communication with them through letters, written in Hungarian by his father, when he came back to America after three years of service.Firsthand AccountsMr Hornyak recalled his time in the military, saying he enlisted in the cadet program and went through the basic training three times until the government figured out where to send them.Trained as a pilot, an aircraft navigator, a bombardier, and having received his “wings,” he went on to be part of 19 missions.He fit the role of the ball turret gunner in the B-17 he was assigned to because he weighed just 127 pounds and had a stature of 5 foot 5 inches.When speaking of his “buddies” from the war, the men he was incredibly close to, emotion overtook him. At those moments, he apologized for getting choked up — though most of those listening were also wiping tears from their eyes.He recounted various memories of his time with Colonel Lucius Clay, as well as a specific mission where the plane he was on was shot up badly. During the latter, his two friends, including Captain Johnny Rachael, were wounded in the legs and had to be treated by the medic.“Both of them were laid out right behind the cockpit of the plane…,” Mr Hornyak remembered. “Johnny called me up and said, ‘You better take over.’”With everyone’s lives depending on him and responsibility weighing on his shoulders, he flew the plane to safety with the tail gunner as his co-pilot. He landed the aircraft with only one bump — which is a big feat for even the most experienced pilots, he added.“To this day I would like to think it was because of my skill of flying, but I think I was just lucky,” Mr Hornyak said.After his touching tale, Ms Dougherty and Erica displayed both sides of the Quilt of Valor design and awarded it to Mr Hornyak by placing it over his shoulders and wrapping him in it.When the ceremony had ended, Mr Hornyak said to his family, with Erica by his side, that the quilt certainly “will go to good use.”

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Newtown Resident, American Hero: World War II Veteran Awarded Quilt Of Valor

Newtown resident and World War II veteran Edward “Eddie” Paul Hornyak, 93, was awarded a specially made Quilt of Valor at the Veterans of Foreign War (VFW) Post 308 on Sunday, October 13.

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Rebuilding After Fire, One Family Is Very Grateful For Countless Acts Of Kindness

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Way We Were, Week Ending October 18

Way We Were, Week Ending October 18 News as printed in The Newtown Bee 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago. November 4, 1994Police said they learned at 5 pm on November 2 of a motorcycle theft at Newtown Shopping Center. Police said Newtown motorcyclist John Bojnowski, 18, told them he had parked his 1985 black Honda motorcycle in the shopping center parking lot and when he returned to the spot, he found it had been stolen. The crime is a third-degree larceny which involves the theft of an item worth between $1,000 and $5,000. Police said there are no suspects or witnesses at this time.***The November meeting of the Western Connecticut Bird Club will be a merry and musical one. The Cuckoos will make their fourth appearance before the club on Thursday, November 17, at 8 pm at Rochambeau School on Peter Road, Southbury. A social hour begins at 7pm. The public is invited to this free and fun performance by WCBC members: Chris Wood on guitar, Mike DiGiorgio on banjo, Dave Titus on fiddle, and Mark Szantyr on bass. They will sing and play songs about birds in styles of blues, rock and roll, bluegrass, contemporary folk, and gospel.***Over The Back Fence, By Jean Loveland. My friend Bea Dring was watching the chipmunk out in the garden. Suddenly, she sat up straight and said, “Do I see — yes I do.” I knew at once that the advance scouts from the flock of juncos that visit here all winter, had arrived. I had thought I had seen one the day before, but thought it was too early. I always wait for the first snowflakes after the juncos come! In a few days the rest of the small flock will be here, hopping around under the spruce tree. I just hope the snow will wait awhile.***Preschoolers at Trinity Day School in Newtown have been spending the month measuring and weighing pumpkins, toasting seeds, and sampling foods such as squash, pumpkin, and carrots to celebrate the fall crops. The annual Harvest Festival held on Friday, October 28, was the culminating event.***On Saturdays, November 5 and 12, Newtown Youth Services will host the “Take Down Socko’s Haunted Yard Event” from 9 am to 5 pm at Dickinson Town Park. In order to continue this community event next year, NYS needs many volunteers to dismantle and put away “the yard” as well as building it again next year. This is a labor-intensive project and requires a lot of community spirit. NYS asks that anyone 13 and under who wants to help should be accompanied by a parent. Please take work gloves, hammers, screw guns and your friends. The more people, the faster the work will get done. Anyone with a truck that could help transport items to storage would be welcome.October 24, 1969The Newtown Forest Association’s annual meeting last Friday afternoon at the Congregational Church House was highlighted by the presentation of a deed to 95 acres of land by Miss Anna Lord Strauss of Hattertown District. Accepting this generous gift with much appreciation for the association was Paul A. Cullens, president, and Thomas L. Cheney, secretary. In speaking of this gift of land, which is part of the Hattertown District, Miss Lord said she was pleased to find a local organization of integrity to which she could give the land, rather than to an organization on the state or federal level. She said she was grateful to the association and its founders for the interest being maintained in conservation and wildlife preservation, and that she was delighted to do her part. The association’s present holdings include 17 tracts amounting to 323 acres, with Ms Strauss’ gift providing a wildlife preserve of impressive size.***EST Returns. Eastern Standard Time returns to the area this weekend. Turn your clock back one hour before going to bed Saturday evening, October 25, and you’ll be all set. Remember: “Spring forward; fall back.”***The Saint Rose Teen Club presents, “A Barn Dance” on Friday, October 24, from 7 – 11 pm featuring “Shades of Blue” at K of C Hall, Route 6 (Danbury – Newtown Road) Casual dress.***Everything from a mums sale to a showing of old-time movies is planned Saturday, October 25 when the University of Connecticut observes “Parents Day.” Registration will be at the student union lobby. The Board of Governors is sponsoring a lecture by distinguished actress Lillian Gish, at 7:30 pm in Von der Mehden Recital Hall.***There was a meeting of Hook & Ladder firemen who are serving on the committee for the Halloween Party on October 31 at Edmond Town Hall gymnasium. Attending the meeting were Lou Pelletier, Millard Goodsell, Ed Shanley, Dick Knopf and Paul Alexander. Final arrangements were made for the party which is scheduled for 6:30 to 9 pm, for children in kindergarten through grade 6. The firemen indicate that a number of new attractions are planned for the children’s entertainment.October 27, 1944It is announced that that the Cyrenius H. Booth Library will observe American Art Week, from November 1 – 7 with its third annual display by local artists. Townspeople who viewed the past two years’ exhibits will well recall the fine collection. An even larger exhibit and more local exhibitors are anticipated this year.***Last Saturday morning a fifteen-minute broadcast was given over the radio station WELI, sponsored by the Farm Bureau and the New Haven County Agricultural Extension Service. Taking part in the broadcast were Frederick Norcross, county agent of New Haven, L.M. Chapman, county agent of Fairfield County, and Lester Reynolds, president of the Fairfield-New Haven Artificial Breeding Association. The broadcast subject was, “The Story Of The Test Tube Cow.” Both county agents took turns asking Mr Reynolds questions about the artificial breeding of cows. Mr Reynolds told of the modest start of the association in 1939 with 100 members and 1,000 cows, compared with present membership of 600 persons and almost 6,000 cows.***Mrs Pearl Tilson, Sandy Hook, has received word that her son, Cpl. Charles Tilson, is stationed, “Somewhere in France,” after serving for seventeen months in North African territory. Pvt Roswell Tilson is also stationed in France and it is Mrs Tilson’s hope that the two brothers unite.***Taunton district again kept alive its tradition of friendship and goodwill by tendering a surprise party to Mr and Mrs Robert D. Fairchild last Friday evening. Despite the rainy weather, 32 friends and neighbors gathered in the old-style housewarming. Refreshments were served, and Mr and Mrs Fairchild received a beautiful gift.***A bull calf born September 1, a grandson of Baker Farm, Dauntless, whose index is 17,850 pounds of milk and 775 pounds of fat, with a 4.33% test, was purchased by Robert K. Mitchell of Southbury on his trip to Massachusetts last week. Baker Farm Dauntless is owned by National Director Harold Shaw of Stanford, Me. and is one of the highest record Holstein bulls in the country. Other records in the pedigree are his granddam with 20,885 pounds of milk, 4%test and 840 pounds of fat. The calf’s dam has a record of 14,646 pounds of milk, 565 pounds of fat, with a 3.9% test.October 24, 1919There was a barn raising on Saturday at the farm of William Stevens. Thomas F. Brew, the popular and skilled contractor, was assisted by a dozen of the neighbors. After the frame was raised, refreshments of coffee and cake were served. Contractor Brew now has the barn all covered.***The going out of about 45 high school children Tuesday morning appears to have been a matter of their own origination. They walked out to call on Miss Spring and bid her goodbye. After they got home most of the parents decided as that in many cases the children were in more or less of a nervous condition owing to the local excitement at the high school and decided to keep them out for a few days. The children who walked out, are naturally indignant at the leaving of Miss Spring.***Daniel Keane has been quite poorly and expects soon to go to New York for an operation.***George Tessier entertained his parents from Bridgeport over Sunday.***Ward Cencor of Buckingham street, Bridgeport, passed a few days, last week, at Martin A. Moller’sPlease consider sharing your old photographs of people and places from Newtown or Sandy Hook with The Newtown Bee readers. Images can be e-mailed to kendra@thebee.com or brought to the office at 5 Church Hill Road to be scanned. When submitting photographs, please identify as many people as possible, the location, and the approximate date.

Way We Were, Week Ending October 18 Story Way We Were, Week Ending October 18 Way We Were, Week Ending October 18 Features, Way We Were None

Features

Snapshot: Owen Brown

Snapshot: Owen Brown Occupation: I’m a junior at Nonnewaug High School in Woodbury. I’ve worked at Bee-Commerce in Newtown since June of last year. I’m part of the Ag Program at Nunnewaug High School, and being in the program requires us to get a Supervised Agricultural Experience (SAE). What that is, is basically we have to get a job that is agricultural related. I had been to Bee-Commerce before, and it always looked like it would be a really interesting place to work.Family: My parents are separated. In Newtown, I live with my mom, Jennifer, and stepdad, Mike. In Portland, Conn., I live with my dad, Ken; my stepmom, Sue; and my stepbrother, Josh.Pets: In Newtown, I have three dogs, Charley, Bosco, and Mookie. In Portland, I have one dog named Munson and a cat named Kaia.How long have you lived in Newtown? I moved here from Bethel in 2009. My mom found a house near Sandy Hook School, and we moved here after I finished kindergarten. From first grade to eighth grade, I went to Newtown Public Schools then made the switch to Nonnewaug High School.What do you like to do in your free time? I play baseball for my high school team, the Nonnewaug Chiefs, and I’m playing fall ball for the Newtown Blue Thunder team.I also play drums and was recently accepted as a percussionist into the national Future Farmers of America (FFA) band. I’ve been playing drums for almost nine years now. I did concert band from fifth to eighth grade, was in honors band at Reed Intermediate School and was part of the jazz band at Reed and Newtown Middle School. I continue to do band at Nonnewaug and do extra-curriculars. I did Guitar Club, and now I’m in Jazz Band.Also, my dad has a boat that he got last year, so we’ve been doing a lot of fishing. I like to spend time with friends and family.Do you have a favorite book? The autobiography from my favorite basketball player, Ray Allen, called From the Outside. It was an inspiring book for me that gave me a lot of motivation.What is your favorite travel destination? Ever since 2009, my family has been going to Cape Cod, Mass., for the summer, so that’s a favorite place of mine. Also, I like going to Boston.What is the best part about Newtown? The community. It’s a great town with so much to do, from going to Fairfield Hills to having all sorts of unique restaurants.Who has been the greatest influence in your life? There’s three: my mom, Jennifer; grandmother, Roberta “Mema”; and my Godfather, Robert “Bob.” They’ve all shaped me into who I am today and are some of the strongest people I know. They inspire me to be the best person I can be.If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? My Godfather. He’s a great person to be around. He’s been someone who gives me great advice and always inspires me. He lives in Boston, which is why I like to go there a lot.Who is your favorite musical artist? I’ve always liked rock music and rap. My favorite band is Rush.Do you have a favorite TV show? Friends. It’s a classic to watch.What is your favorite food? You can’t go wrong with a cheeseburger and fries.What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? “Be the person you’ve always wanted to be and stay true to yourself.” I’ve dealt with bullies in my life, and it used to sometimes make me wonder if I should change who I am, but I’ve always been told no matter what happens in life, don’t change who you are.What is something you cannot live without? My phone.What is your proudest accomplishment? Getting accepted into the national FFA band. To say that I am one of 90 kids from across the country to be chosen is unbelievable.

Snapshot: Owen Brown Story Snapshot: Owen Brown Snapshot: Owen Brown Features None

Education

It’s Time To Scare Up Votes For NMS Scarecrows

It’s Time To Scare Up Votes For NMS Scarecrows It is time for Newtown Middle School’s annual Eighth Grade Scarecrow Contest entries to go on display on the front lawn of the school, 11 Queen Street. It is time for Newtown Middle School’s annual Eighth Grade Scarecrow Contest entries to go on display on the front lawn of the school, 11 Queen Street. Residents will vote for their favorite this Saturday and Sunday, October 19 and 20.Art teacher Leigh Anne Coles, long-term substitute Roxanne Buzinsky, and art teacher Kristen Ladue are overseeing the effort this year.Reflecting on all of the work the students have shared with her since the project began in September, Ms Coles said on October 8, the scarecrows will be a surprise for the whole community.“We have 29 participating groups this year,” Ms Coles said.Money is raised through members of the public voting for their favorite scarecrow. The money is divided between the top three winning student groups, who then donate the money to their chosen charities.For the contest, eighth grade students are tasked to work in groups to create a larger-than-life scarecrow that can withstand Mother Nature. Students can work alone, but they are encouraged to work in groups. Over the years, many different types of scarecrows have been designed, built, and put on display on the front lawn of the school for the public. Once the scarecrows are on display, voting opens. Members of the public are asked to vote for their favorite scarecrow, as many times as they want, with a corresponding $1 donation per vote.Last school year, the effort raised more than $1,500 for local charities. As reported by The Newtown Bee last year, two groups tied for third placed. Each group earned $196.50 to donate to a charity. “The Genie” from Disney’s Aladdin, or scarecrow 30 — created by Paige Armstrong, Madison Singlak, Addie Sullivan, and Annabel Saunders — tied with “Save the Turtles,” or scarecrow five — created by Ayla Ryder, Angie Romano, and Katie Daoust. In second place, the “CD Fish,” or scarecrow 27 — created by Cate Dalton, Allie Kost, Kayleigh Troy, and Skylar Lewis — earned $393 to donate to a local charity. In first place, the “Back to the Future DeLorean and Marty McFly,” or scarecrow one, by Adam Uhde and Alamin Islam earned $786 to donate to a local charity.Groups are encouraged to limit spending to $30 per scarecrow. Eighth grade Art Enrichment students must participate in the project, and other students can volunteer as well, as previously reported.The scarecrows are expected to be set up at the school on Friday, October 18, the day before voting will be open to the public.Once the scarecrows are on display, voting will be open to the public October 19 and 20. Students will oversee the ballot collection and earn community service hours for their time.“It’s a fun way to work with friends and give back to the community,” Ms Coles said.Ballots will be available at the school, and a copy of the ballot is available with this story to cut out and submit with the $1 donation in the October 18 print edition of The Newtown Bee. Residents can also print this story by clicking the "print" button above, which will print the entire story with the ballot, which can then be cut out from the story. Vote 9 am to 5 pm on both days at the school, 11 Queen Street, or drop off votes in The Newtown Bee’s letter slot in the front door of its 5 Church Hill Road office, with the envelopes marked “NMS Scarecrows,” by the end of Sunday, October 20.The top three winning scarecrows from the contest will be announced at the school and in The Newtown Bee.While Ms Coles did not want to give too much away about this year’s scarecrow creations, she said roughly 100 students have been working on a number of ideas. Some of the 29 groups have taken inspiration from television shows, others looked to video games for ideas, and some are choosing to promote a message or make a statement.Every year, the scarecrows surprise and delight the many residents who drive by or swing by the school to walk among the creations.

Vote For NMS Scarecrows This Weekend Eliza Hallabeck Story It’s Time To Scare Up Votes For NMS Scarecrows Vote For NMS Scarecrows This Weekend Education, Featured Slider, Features None

Sports

Team Effort Leads Nighthawk Girls To Cross Country Championship And Boys Earn Second Four of the top five girls' squads in the October 18 girls' South-West Conference cross country championships at Bethel High School claimed the top four individual finishes. The other, Newtown High, had two runners among the top ten however, and each of the team's best five were among the top 20. The results added up to a championship for the Nighthawks whose top five runners totaled 67 points, eight better than Immaculate of Danbury, the only team to defeat the Nighthawks during the regular season. BETHEL — Four of the top five girls' squads in the October 18 girls' South-West Conference cross country championships at Bethel High School claimed the top four individual finishes. The other, Newtown High, had two runners among the top ten however, and each of the team's best five were among the top 20. The results added up to a championship for the Nighthawks whose top five runners totaled 67 points, eight better than Immaculate of Danbury, the only team to defeat the Nighthawks during the regular season.The seemingly individual athletic activity proved to be truly a collective effort as the Nighthawks showed their depth led by seventh- and eight-place finishers Rylee Harrell and Emily Tressler, clocking in with times of 20:27.56 and 20:29.11.Pomperaug of Southbury's Kate Wiser won the race for the third year in a row, finishing in 17:52.14.Newtown's Maddie Fetcheck was 15th in 21:15.75. The Nighthawks took spots 18 through 20. Courtney Henchcliffe finished in 21:30.24, Emily Litke came across the line in 21:37.67, and Hallie Filan completed the race in 21:39.09. Each of the top six Nighthawk runners earned All SWC accolades for finishing among the top 24 (the first dozen runners make First Team), and Newtown's seventh, Gloria Rowley, broke the top 30 with a 29th-place finish in 22:21.70."Our mantra this year is we're a family. The girls work really hard and stay together," Newtown Coach Christina Caron said. "We had seven girls who ran with in under a minute of each other."Caron added that, in addition to the top two runners, Newtown's middle of the pack competitors came up huge in this meet.Harrell and Tressler said they push each other, as do their cluster of teammates who helped the Hawks manage the best team score."We knew Immaculate was going to be very tough to beat," said Caron, adding that the Hawks expected to be chased by Pomperaug and New Milford.Pomperaug was third with 80 points, Bethel surprised a bit and placed fourth with 93, and New Milford came in fifth with 102."It was a surprise. We worked hard for it," Harrell said."It was amazing," Tressler added.On the boys' side, New Milford won the race with a score of 57. The Nighthawks were second with 81 points, nine better than Pomperaug. Weston was fourth with 105, and Immaculate fifth with 122.Pomperaug's Trey Generali led the field in a time of 16:39.15. New Milford's Robert Harkin was second in 16:46.54. Newtown's fastest finisher was Max Bloomquist who was eighth in 17:15.86. Teammate Will Tainter-Gilbert was 12th in 17:26.73, Nick Jacobs was 14th in 17:31.57, Drew Poseno came in 22nd in 18:01.19, Jack Kuligowski was 25th in 18:13.31. D.J. Bobowick came in 37th in 18:36.33, and Max Hanson was 44th in 18:47.25."I'm happy for the boys. The boys ran well. I'm happy for the girls — they ran very well," said Newtown Coach Carl Strait, adding that he was impressed with New Milford's effort as the Green Wave won their first title since 2016 after claiming three in a row.

NHS Cross Country Championships Andy Hutchison Story Team Effort Leads Nighthawk Girls To Cross Country Championship And Boys Earn Second NHS Cross Country Championships Featured Slider, Sports None

Team Effort Leads Nighthawk Girls To Cross Country Championship And Boys Earn Second

Four of the top five girls' squads in the October 18 girls' South-West Conference cross country championships at Bethel High School claimed the top four individual finishes. The other, Newtown High, had two runners among the top ten however, and each of the team's best five were among the top 20. The results added up to a championship for the Nighthawks whose top five runners totaled 67 points, eight better than Immaculate of Danbury, the only team to defeat the Nighthawks during the regular season.

Sports

Field Hockey Team Remains Perfect, Edges Immaculate 1-0

Field Hockey Team Remains Perfect, Edges Immaculate 1-0 Its offense stealing the show throughout the season by putting up an average of close to six goals per contest, Newtown High School's field hockey team leaned heavily on its defense in its stiffest test of the season, coming away with a 1-0 victory over host Immaculate of Danbury on October 17.DANBURY — Its offense stealing the show throughout the season by putting up an average of close to six goals per contest, Newtown High School's field hockey team leaned heavily on its defense in its stiffest test of the season, coming away with a 1-0 victory over host Immaculate of Danbury on October 17.This was Newtown's second consecutive triumph in a battle of unbeaten South-West Conference rivals, handing Pomperaug of Southbury its first loss in a 4-1 decision exactly a week earlier.The Nighthawks got a first-half goal off the stick of Izzy Butler, assisted by Katie Goyda, and made it stand up with stellar defense and goaltending. Fighting for the equalizer, the host Mustangs compiled a most of their dozen penalty corners in the late stages of the contest. Nighthawk goalie Gigi Marino and her defense stood tall. Marino made a baker's dozen saves and had some help from the back line, including Kelsey Pearson with a stop of ball that got behind Marino during a late Immaculate flurry.Newtown's offense might have been limited to its lowest total of the campaign, but the goal-scorers certainly helped with the differential in another way when the pressure was on the Nighthawks."They're very nerve-racking," Newtown Coach Shannon Paproski said of the penalty corner chances against NHS. "But our forwards and midfielders got back and got into the circle which helped. We had our forwards working hard on defense so it was a team effort.""They play really tough defense. You've got to give them a lot of credit," Immaculate Coach Shannon Horosky said. "I think we went toe to toe with the best team in Class L."Whether or not the Nighthawks are tops in the the state's Class L division is something they will have to prove in the postseason. There is a ways to go before the state playoffs with four regular season tilts and the SWC tourney ahead, but this battle had the feel of a postseason competition."This game was pivotal for our team," said Paproski, whose lineups has largely gone untested in outscoring teams a cumulative 65-10 thus far.Newtown improved to 12-0 (8-0 in conference play) and the Mustangs fell to 13-1 (7-1).

NHS Field Hockey Andy Hutchison Story Field Hockey Team Remains Perfect, Edges Immaculate 1-0 NHS Field Hockey_33 Featured Slider, Sports None

Sports

Swim Team Defeats Brookfield Bobcats, Edges Pomperaug Panthers By One Point

Swim Team Defeats Brookfield Bobcats, Edges Pomperaug Panthers By One Point Newtown High School’s girls’ swimming and diving team followed up a 96-85 win over Brookfield on October 11 with a 93-92 win over visiting Pomperaug of Southbury on October 15. The NHS-Pomperaug meet was a battle of 5-1 teams that had only lost to powerhouse Weston and was tightly contested, as was expected by the Nighthawks. Newtown High School’s girls’ swimming and diving team followed up a 96-85 win over Brookfield on October 11 with a 93-92 win over visiting Pomperaug of Southbury on October 15. The NHS-Pomperaug meet was a battle of 5-1 teams that had only lost to powerhouse Weston and was tightly contested, as was expected by the Nighthawks.The teams traded one-point leads after the 200-yard freestyle relay, 100 backstroke, and 100 breaststroke, leaving the Panthers holding an 86-85 edge heading into the final competition of the meet, the 400 free relay.Newtown claimed first in the relay to score eight crucial points and seal the win. Newtown’s and Pomperaug’s best relays were neck-and-neck through the first two legs of the race. The third Nighthawk swimmer, Mopsey Seaver, pulled away, and relay anchor Payton Bradley protected the lead. In the end, the NHS contingent of Olivia Renkert, Nora Kolb, Seaver, and Bradley won in 3:54.19, besting Pomperaug’s top relay time of 4:03.68.Nighthawk Coach Becky Osborne noted that Seaver’s efforts were the turning point in the race and key to the meet victory.“She stepped up and she came to play today,” Osborne said.As much as one swimmer’s work was a huge difference-maker, it was a collaborative effort that led Newtown to the team victory. The Nighthawks were without one of their top swimmers with four-event competitor Shayna Millard temporarily sidelined. This reshuffled the lineup and resulted in some team members swimming events in which they do not usually compete, Osborne said. The Nighthawks stepped up and came through with seven first-place finishes and six second-place outcomes.The Pomperaug Panthers had five firsts and five second-place finishes, winning the first two relay races of the meet to rack up significant points.“Pomperaug’s a great team. They matched up with us really well,” Osborne said.In the first event, the 200 medley relay, Newtown’s Caroline Mahoney, Renkert, Cate Fischer, and Bradley was second in 1:58.43, less than a second behind Pomperaug’s winning relay contingent.Seaver and Kolb gave the Nighthawks a one-two finish in the 200 freestyle race with times of 2:05.51 and 2:09.57. Mahoney won the 50 free in 26.06.Hannah Weatherby won the diving competition with a score of 195.8. The Hawks held a 39-38 lead heading into the break.Renkert was second in the 100 butterfly race in 1:05.38, out-touched by the slimmest of margins as Pomperaug’s Emily Strickland finished in 1:05.25. Kolb placed second in the 100 free, completing the race in 58.72, just over a second behind Pomperaug’s winning time. The Nighthawks went one-two in the 500 free with Seaver clocking in at 5:39.11 and Bradley finishing in 5:45.34.Newtown’s 200 free relay group of Mahoney, Fischer, Lianna Perazzo, and Kolb was second in 1:50.51.Mahoney was first in the backstroke race, making her final touch in 1:03.96, exactly one second faster than Pomperaug’s top time, giving the Hawks a 78-77 lead.Fischer was first in the breaststroke event in 1:14.47, less than a second better than Pomperaug’s runner-up time. The Panthers, by virtue of earning second, third, and fourth in the event, outscored the Hawks by two points in the race for an 86-85 lead. That set the stage for Newtown’s meet-deciding win in the 400 relay.Osborne said it was good to see the swimmers perform well under pressure, but the coach half-joked that she prefers meets not being so close but that Assistant Coach Lisa Irving enjoys the nail-biters.“Lisa loves them; I hate them,” Osborne said light-heartedly.Against the Brookfield Bobcats, the Nighthawks sealed the team win after the 100-yard backstroke race and exhibitioned the last two events.The 200-yard medley relay team of Mahoney, Renkert, Fischer, and Kolb was first in a time of 1:57.99. The team of Bradley, Isabel Cadoff, Lily van der Kroef, and Perazzo was third in 2:05.96.Millard won the 200 freestyle race in 2:02.65, and Seaver placed third in 2:05.61. After Brookfield earned the top two spots in the 200 individual medley, with Renkert Newtown’s fastest with a third-place finish of 2:22.54, NHS earned first and second in the 50 free as Mahoney and Kolb finished in times of 25.74 and 26.60.Hannah Weatherby was third, as the Bobcats had the top two diving scores and closed to within 42-36 heading into the 100 butterfly race. Renkert was second in the fly, clocking in at 1:04.03, and Barden came in third with a time of 1:12.32. It was a 51-43 Newtown with six events to go when the Nighthawks began to pull away.Kolb, van der Kroef, and Perazzo went one-two-three in the 100 free with times of 58.54, 1:03.23, and 1:03.94.Brookfield took first in the 500, but Seaver was second in 5:38.75, and Bradley placed third in 5:39.63.Newtown’s 200 free relay contingent of Mahoney, Kolb, Perazzo, and Millard was first in 1:48.23. The team of Cadoff, Maura Daly, Natalie Barden, and Fischer was third in 1:56.92.NHS had the top three competitors in the backstroke race as Mahoney clocked in at 1:03.91, Bradley was second in 1:10.79, and Grace Bertsche placed third with a time of 1:12.38.Fischer had the second-fastest time in the 100 breaststroke, making her final touch in 1:14.80, and van der Kroef was third in the race with a time of 1:19.88.In the 400 relay, the best time was turned in by Barden, Renkert, Seaver, and Bradley in 4:05.48. Rachel Arena, Bertsche, Daly, and Alexa Unger placed third in 4:30.65.Newtown hosts New Milford on Senior Night, Friday, October 18, at 6:30 pm.

NHS Swimming Andy Hutchison Story Swim Team Defeats Brookfield Bobcats, Edges Pomperaug Panthers By One Point NHS Swimming_13 Featured Slider, Sports None

Sports

Boys’ Soccer Team Defeats New Fairfield, Falls To Weston

Boys’ Soccer Team Defeats New Fairfield, Falls To Weston Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team went on the road and piled up the goals in a 6-2 triumph at New Fairfield on October 11. Jalen Minter and Joe Premus both scored twice, and Ryan Ruddy and Tanner Trede also scored for Newtown. Trede and Ruddy each had two assists, and Jake Gonski and Premus each had an assist. Newtown High School’s boys’ soccer team went on the road and piled up the goals in a 6-2 triumph at New Fairfield on October 11. Jalen Minter and Joe Premus both scored twice, and Ryan Ruddy and Tanner Trede also scored for Newtown. Trede and Ruddy each had two assists, and Jake Gonski and Premus each had an assist.The Nighthawks were well organized in the first half and with combination play to combat the windy weather were able to create a number of scoring opportunities, Newtown Associate Coach Justin Stevens said. Several fine saves by New Fairfield’s goalkeeper kept the score close heading into halftime.Ruddy scored the first goal for Newtown by striking a half-volley from 14 yards out following miss-clearance from New Fairfield on a Newtown corner kick, and Minter scored by slotting the ball far post from close range.Despite the first half score line, the New Fairfield team came out with high intensity looking to take advantage of the winds at their backs. Playing long balls over the top and applying pressure, the Rebels capitalized on a couple of Newtown mistakes to score two quick goals and make it a tie game within the opening 15 minutes of the second half.“This was a true test of character for the Newtown soccer team, who rose to the challenge and continued to push forward in the search for opportunities take back the lead. Their efforts were rewarded with four goals in the final 25 minutes to open the game up and take control of the game,” Stevens said.Premus scored twice, the second on a header from seven yards out on a corner kick. Trede capitalized on a one-on-one goal chance with the keeper following a long ball played over the top by Duncan O’Leary. Minter capped the scoring with a tap-in goal from several yards out following a square pass across the goal mouth from Trede.The Nighthawks returned to their home digs at Blue & Gold Stadium with a tough task of trying to hand Weston its first loss in an October 15 contest under the lights. Newtown applied early pressure, including a left-side, tough angle shot by Thomas Armstrong that glanced off the crossbar following a leaping deflection by Weston keeper Devin Riley. The Trojans came away with a 2-0 victory.Newtown carried an overall record of 5-5-1 and 4-4-1 in South-West Conference play into Thursday’s game with visiting Immaculate of Danbury at 7 pm.

NHS Boys Soccer Story Boys’ Soccer Team Defeats New Fairfield, Falls To Weston NHS Boys Soccer_45 Sports None

Sports

Girls' Booters Earn Victories And Sixth Tie

Today's Events

October 19, 2019

Sports Equipment & Winter Coat Drive

Treadwell Park, 53 Philo Curtis Road

Donations of gently used sporting equipment and new or gently used tween and teen sized winter coats will be collected by Newtown Youth Football 8th Grade Team, to be donated to Danbury Family & Children’s Aid, light refreshments available to purchase; newtownyouthfootball.org.

October 19, 2019 at 08:00 am

Fill 'Er Up For FAITH Food Pantry

BD Provisions, 123 South Main Street (within Highland Plaza)

$30

Sales of handmade mugs crafted by CT Clay Artists, on sale through end of October, all proceeds to benefit FAITH Food Pantry, and those who purchase mug can stop in for free cup of fresh coffee daily through November 30; 203-491-2925.

October 19, 2019 at 09:00 am

Fundraiser Tag Sale

St Rose of Lima Church (Knights of Columbus building), 46 Church Hill Road

Broad range of donated items including new and gently used clothing, toys, books, kitchen items, flat screen TV, patio furniture and more, continues October 20, presented by St Rose New Beginnings Divorced & Separated Ministry, proceeds to benefit FAITH Food Pantry; 203-491-7817.

October 19, 2019 at 09:00 am

Newtown Hikers: Sessions Woods

Edmond Town Hall (lower rear parking lot), 45 Main Street

Free

Meet group to carpool to Burlington for 3-5-mile moderate hike, children welcome accompanied by adults, dress for weather, including footwear, check with hike leader about dogs; 203-556-2933.

October 19, 2019 at 09:00 am

NHS Marching Band & Guard Annual Mega Tag Sale

Newtown High School (main cafeteria and patio area), 12 Berkshire Road

Fundraiser for award-winning group.

October 19, 2019 at 09:00 am

NMS Annual Eighth Grade Scarecrow Contest

Newtown Middle School front lawn, 11 Queen Street

$1/vote

Public invited to vote for the sculpture of their choice, created by teams of NMS eighth grade students, with top three teams to then donate proceeds from voting to the nonprofit of their choice, voting continues October 20.

October 19, 2019 at 09:00 am

Flu Shot Clinic

Newtown Middle School cafeteria, 11 Queen Street

Most insurances accepted (bring proof of coverage), standard and high dose vaccines available for ages 5 and up, administered by Western Connecticut Home Care, hosted by Newtown High School Nurse’s Office, clinics also scheduled for November 16 (9 am-noon).

October 19, 2019 at 10:00 am

Housatonic Valley Waldorf School Fall Fair

Housatonic Valley Waldorf School, 1 Jacklin Road

Public welcome

Free admission (activities and food cash only)

Puppet shows (11:30 am and 1 pm), crafts, activities, food, suitable for all ages, non-scary Halloween costumes welcome; 203-364-1113, waldorfct.org/fallfair.

October 19, 2019 at 10:00 am

Newtown United Methodist Church Fall Craft Fair

Reed Intermediate School

3 Trades Lane

Free admission

Handcrafted jewelery, custom woodwork, clothing, accessories, artisan candles, doll clothes, holiday decor, knit crafts, cards, photography, toys, personal care items, silent auction, food, and more, hosted by and fundraiser for Newtown United Methodist Church.

October 19, 2019 at 10:00 am

The Great Pumpkin Races

Edmond Town Hall (behind building), 45 Main Street,

$5/pumpkin racer or decorated pumpkin entry

All ages invited to enter competitions (racers must have four wheels, with two axles going through pumpkin; decorated pumpkins judged in Funniest, Best Decorated and Scariest categories), both competitions done by age groups, also children’s crafts, seasonal floral arrangements available to purchase from Town & Country Garden Club, refreshments, entertainment and more, rain date October 20 (1 pm start), presented by and fundraiser for Newtown Lions Club; newtownlions.org.

October 19, 2019 at 10:00 am

Sandy Hook Craft Beer Festival 2019

Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue main station, 18-20 Riverside Road

VIP tickets $55/advance ($60/gate), provide entry at noon, commemorative glass and additional gift

General admission $45/advance ($50/gate), entry any time between 1 and 5 pm

$15 designated drivers (entry to event, no alcohol consumption)

Tickets provide unlimited tastings from 45+ craft breweries, event will also include also food trucks and other vendors, outdoor lawn games, age 21+ only, rain or shine, Uber & Lyft $3 credits available, proceeds benefit fire company; call 203-270-4392, Facebook.com, tickets.beerfests.com.

October 19, 2019 at 12:00 pm

Mississippi BBQ & Shrimp Boil

6:30-8:30 pm (doors open at 6)

Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street

$22 adults ($20 by October 16), $12 age 10 and under, $150/table of 8, full dinner of shrimp, BBQ chicken, potatoes, sausage and corn on the cob, desserts and soft drinks, also presentation by Back Bay Mission (Biloxi, Miss.) representative and former Newtown resident Matthew Cole, all proceeds to benefit mission; 203-426-9024, NCCMSBBQ@gmail.com, bit.ly/MSBBQ2019.

October 19, 2019 at 06:30 pm

Yesteryear Favorites Series: "Echoes of Sinatra and Dean Martin"

7 pm (doors open at 6)

Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street

Tickets $30

Performance by Steve Kazlauskas and Jack Lynn with The Tony T Trio will feature songs by “The Chairman of the Board” and fellow Rat Pack member, continuing Edmond Town Hall’s Yesteryear Favorites Series, concession stand (including beer and wine) open; 203-270-4285, edmondtownhall.org.

October 19, 2019 at 07:00 pm

Final performance "Is There Life After High School?" by Town Players of Newtown

The Little Theatre, 18 Orchard Hill Road

Tickets $30, discounts for seniors and students with ID

Final performances of musical by Town Players of Newtown continues weekends to October 19; 203-270-9144, reservations@newtownplayers.org, newtownplayers.org.

October 19, 2019 at 08:00 pm

Special Editions

Newtown Resident, American Hero: World War II Veteran Awarded Quilt Of Valor

Rebuilding After Fire, One Family Is Very Grateful For Countless Acts Of Kindness

Team Effort Leads Nighthawk Girls To Cross Country Championship And Boys Earn Second

Ambulance Reports | October 10-17, 2019

Elect Neil Chaudhary To Police Commission

Donations to Town Players in Newtown can be made at: http://www.newtownplayers.org/event/2018-donation/ Thank you.

Timothy Huebenthal

Yes, the construction or repair work of any road or driveways create problems for the passengers and the drivers. But it is necessary to give time to the newly built road or driveways to set it completely. It is better not to use the driveways or roads until it dries completely. And the construction work should be done by experts.

Road Construction Continues On Sugar Street

Thank you for the Bee's wonderful article regarding my brother Dick Zang's WSA retirement; Recognition, Accomplishments, Background and Likes. !!! YOU NAILED IT !!! However, allow me to add: His Athleticism; soccer player and coach, golfer, skier, etc.

Richard Zang Retires From Water & Sewer Authority

Newtown Resident, American Hero: World War II Veteran Awarded Quilt Of Valor

Rebuilding After Fire, One Family Is Very Grateful For Countless Acts Of Kindness

Team Effort Leads Nighthawk Girls To Cross Country Championship And Boys Earn Second

Main Street Multifamily Proposal Remains Controversial

Ambulance Reports | October 10-17, 2019

Join The 2020 Census Team

Main Street Multifamily Proposal Remains Controversial

Proposed Riverwalk Apartment Complex Gains Wetlands Approval

Newtown Resident, American Hero: World War II Veteran Awarded Quilt Of Valor

Rebuilding After Fire, One Family Is Very Grateful For Countless Acts Of Kindness

Way We Were, Week Ending October 18

Snapshot: Owen Brown

It’s Time To Scare Up Votes For NMS Scarecrows

Team Effort Leads Nighthawk Girls To Cross Country Championship And Boys Earn Second

Field Hockey Team Remains Perfect, Edges Immaculate 1-0

Swim Team Defeats Brookfield Bobcats, Edges Pomperaug Panthers By One Point

Boys’ Soccer Team Defeats New Fairfield, Falls To Weston

Girls' Booters Earn Victories And Sixth Tie

For Better Health October 2019

Home & Garden Fall 2019

The Newtown Bee's Back To School Guide 2019

For Better Health May 2019

Home & Garden Spring 2019

Guide To Newtown 2019

Holiday Gift Guide 2018

Home & Garden Spring 2018

The Newtown Bee's Special Edition, 12/14/12

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Newtown Resident, American Hero: World War II Veteran Awarded Quilt Of Valor

Rebuilding After Fire, One Family Is Very Grateful For Countless Acts Of Kindness

Team Effort Leads Nighthawk Girls To Cross Country Championship And Boys Earn Second

Main Street Multifamily Proposal Remains Controversial

Ambulance Reports | October 10-17, 2019

Join The 2020 Census Team

Main Street Multifamily Proposal Remains Controversial

Proposed Riverwalk Apartment Complex Gains Wetlands Approval

Newtown Resident, American Hero: World War II Veteran Awarded Quilt Of Valor

Rebuilding After Fire, One Family Is Very Grateful For Countless Acts Of Kindness

Way We Were, Week Ending October 18

Snapshot: Owen Brown

It’s Time To Scare Up Votes For NMS Scarecrows

Team Effort Leads Nighthawk Girls To Cross Country Championship And Boys Earn Second

Field Hockey Team Remains Perfect, Edges Immaculate 1-0

Swim Team Defeats Brookfield Bobcats, Edges Pomperaug Panthers By One Point

Boys’ Soccer Team Defeats New Fairfield, Falls To Weston

Girls' Booters Earn Victories And Sixth Tie

For Better Health October 2019

Home & Garden Fall 2019

The Newtown Bee's Back To School Guide 2019

For Better Health May 2019

Home & Garden Spring 2019

Guide To Newtown 2019

Holiday Gift Guide 2018

Home & Garden Spring 2018

The Newtown Bee's Special Edition, 12/14/12