Lightning Strike Ignites Botsford Industrial Ruins
Botsford, Sandy Hook, and Hook & Ladder volunteer firefighters responded during a thunderstorm at about 4:01 pm on Monday, August 19, to a fire that was reported to be in the vicinity of Interstate & Lakeland Lumber at 46 Swamp Road in Botsford and found the blaze to be located nearby, amid the industrial ruins of the former Batchelder aluminum smelting plant at 46-A Swamp Road.Botsford, Sandy Hook, and Hook & Ladder volunteer firefighters responded during a thunderstorm at about 4:01 pm on Monday, August 19, to a fire that was reported to be in the vicinity of Interstate & Lakeland Lumber at 46 Swamp Road in Botsford and found the blaze to be located nearby, amid the industrial ruins of the former Batchelder aluminum smelting plant at 46-A Swamp Road.Deputy Fire Marshal Steve Murphy said his investigation into the cause of the blaze determined that a lightning strike likely caused a deteriorated wooden shed there to ignite and burn. There were no injuries in the incident.The property has no electric service, and there was no evidence of a fire having been set, resulting in a lightning strike being the likely cause of the fire, he said.The 30-acre property, which is owned by the town, is designated as a “brownfield,” or former industrial property, which would need extensive cleanup of toxic waste to be used again for some purpose.Botsford Fire Rescue Company First Assistant Chief Pete Blomberg said that when he arrived on the scene, an about 450-square-foot wooden roof was engulfed in flames.Firefighters used about 3,000 gallons of water to extinguish the blaze. Considering that the site holds industrial ruins, which make it especially difficult to fight fires, firefighters wanted to be sure that they would not have to return to the hazardous property to put out any fire that might rekindle, he noted.“We were working under pretty hazardous conditions... We had to make sure it was out,” he said. “We knocked it [the fire] down pretty quick,” he added.Even getting to the fire itself proved difficult, with firefighters needing to cut back overgrown brush that obstructed deteriorated driveways on the property.About ten firefighters responded to the call, which lasted approximately 90 minutes.The former industrial site is considered a hazardous location due to its deteriorated steel buildings, extensive debris, and toxic waste piles. The firm that formerly operated the graffiti-strewn facility went out of business. Over the years, the town has considered putting the property to some new use, such as a solar/electric energy site, providing that funds become available for a cleanup project and new construction.industrial fire Andrew Gorosko
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Botsford, Sandy Hook, and Hook & Ladder volunteer firefighters responded during a thunderstorm at about 4:01 pm on Monday, August 19, to a fire that was reported to be in the vicinity of Interstate & Lakeland Lumber at 46 Swamp Road in Botsford and found the blaze to be located nearby, amid the industrial ruins of the former Batchelder aluminum smelting plant at 46-A Swamp Road.
Hope On Main Street Comes To TownTwo local residents formerly active with Relay For Life in Newtown are organizing a new event to honor cancer patients and survivors, remember those lost to cancers, and raise funds for the American Cancer Society.Gayle DiBenedetto and Chris Farrington, formerly active with Relay For Life in Newtown, are co-chairing a new event to raise money for the American Cancer Society.Hope On Main Street will take place Saturday, September 7, in front of Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street in Newtown. The public event will kick off at 5:30 pm and include a special speaker, clergy, and bag pipes/music. Gifts will be handed out to cancer survivors and a walk down and back up Main Street will take place.For a $10 donation, a luminary bag will be provided to be decorated and/or inscribed at the Hope On Main Street event with a special message to a cancer survivor, caregiver, or in memory of a loved one lost to cancer.According to the co-chairs, “The intent is to have the luminary bags lit and flanking both sides of Main Street, starting at Edmond Town Hall, and hope to go as far down Main Street as we possibly can go.” Luminaries will remain lit until the early morning hours.Volunteers are still sought to assist with planning Hope On Main Street. Organizational meetings will continue weekly, Tuesday evenings at 6 pm, at NYA Sports & Fitness Center, 4 Primrose Street, through September 3 .E-mail Gayle DiBenedetto or Christopher Farrington at hopeonmainstreet@gmail.com to volunteer. For more information, visit Facebook.com/HopeOnMainStreet.To donate, visit crowdrise.com. Organizers hope to raise $30,000.Hope On Main Street to debut Sept 7 at ETH Story Hope On Main Street Comes To TownHope On Main Street to debut Sept 7 at ETHHealth, NewsNone
Swimming Locations Shift Into End-Of-Summer HoursResidents are reminded that the Town’s two public swimming locations will shift into their end-of-summer hours this week.Residents are reminded that the Town’s two public swimming locations will shift into their end-of-summer hours this week.As of August 19, Eichler’s Cove and Treadwell Park pool will be on limited hours.Through September 1, both locations will be open from 2:30 to 8 pm Mondays and Wednesdays; 2:30 to 7 pm Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays; and 10 am to 7 pm Saturdays and Sundays.The final day of the 2019 season will be Labor Day Monday, September 2. Both locations will be open from 1 to 7 pm that day.For additional information, including day pass fees, contact Newtown Parks & Recreation at 203-270-4340 or visit newtown-ct.gov/parks-recreation.
Mile Hill Road Drainage Repair Project Resumes Workers for Empire Paving General Contractors of North Haven were back on the job last week at Mile Hill Road, where they are preparing to replace a failed large culvert that formerly carried Deep Brook diagonally south-to-north below that busy roadway.Workers for Empire Paving General Contractors of North Haven were back on the job last week at Mile Hill Road, where they are preparing to replace a failed large culvert that formerly carried Deep Brook diagonally south-to-north below that busy roadway.Workers had been away from the site for the past several weeks as the state Department of Transportation (DOT) studied exactly what construction work needs to be done to get Deep Brook flowing again in its normal course below the road.In June, workers diverted the northward flow of Deep Brook to the west, which allowed the stream to cross below Mile Hill Road farther to the west. When the repair project is completed, the brook diversion structure will be removed.On Wednesday, August 14, normal two-way traffic on the affected section of Mile Hill Road was converted to alternating one-way traffic as a construction crew used equipment in finding the underground location of natural gas lines in the area. Knowing where the gas lines are located is necessary so that the planned placement of pilings to stabilize the terrain will not damage those gas lines.Although short in length, Mile Hill Road is an important link in the roadways that interconnect Route 25, Route 34, and Interstate 84. The part of Mile Hill Road affected by the drainage project is a steeply sloped section of roadway which lies between Mile Hill Road’s intersection with Tinkerfield Road and Queen Street, and its intersection with Mile Hill Road South.The location of the two travel lanes on that broad 500-foot-long section of Mile Hill Road will be repositioned, as needed, to accommodate work on the drainage repair project.DOT spokesman Kevin Nursick said the 130-foot-long, six-foot-diameter failed corrugated metal culvert that carried Deep Brook will be replaced by a 168-foot-long reinforced concrete culvert that is seven feet in diameter. The new culvert will be assembled in about 21 segments. That new culvert will be positioned about 30 feet below Mile Hill Road.The culvert will be installed in two stages, so that no detour would be needed during the repair project, he said. The project is expected to be completed by mid- to late fall. The urgent repair project started on April 30.The drainage repairs were estimated at about $200,000 last spring, but after the DOT learned the extent of the problem, planned spending was increased to up to $3 million. The DOT has needed to secure environmental protection permits for the project.Notably, the tributaries of Deep Brook, which lie downstream of Mile Hill Road, are in a state-designated wild trout management area and are considered prime breeding areas for native brook trout.Mile hill road darinage project resuming Andrew Gorosko
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AAA Study: Vehicle ‘Infotainment’ Systems Distracting Older MotoristsOlder drivers are distracted more than eight seconds longer than their younger counterparts when they use certain in-car infotainment systems because the technology is hard to use and poorly designed, a AAA study has revealed.Newtown resident and traffic safety scientist Dr Neil Chaudhary remembers the day not too long ago when he got his first vehicle with a large, digital “infotainment system” on board.“My assumption was this thing wouldn’t be in my vehicle if it was going to be a distraction,” he said. “But I found it incredibly dangerous.”While that may be a common observation, it had particular implications for Dr Chaudhary, who is the distracted driving specialist among his colleagues at Trumbull’s Preusser Research Group (PRG). PRG supplies premier investigators of behavioral traffic safety related issues to clients including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), National Institute for Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, National Safety Council (NSC), and the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT).So he was particularly interested when collaborative research between the AAA Foundation and the University of Utah resulted in a new report that found older drivers are distracted more than eight seconds longer than their younger counterparts when they use certain in-car infotainment systems. This latest study is the seventh phase of groundbreaking distracted driving research by AAA and the University of Utah.While some may automatically assume that disparity is simply a result of those operators being somewhat older, this new AAA research has proven it is because the technology is hard to use and poorly designed — something that Dr Chaudhary concurs with.“I completely agree with the researchers that vehicle manufacturers need to consider older operators when they design vehicles,” he said. “We’re already there when you consider the proportion of drivers who are older — and that will become much more prevalent in the next few years.”He said auto makers are providing vehicle technology that is very helpful to older drivers, particularly rear observation cameras that can help those who may be physically compromised when backing their vehicles up in reverse. Blind spot indicators that are common on many vehicles are also a big help, he added.“Unfortunately, I think the belief is that as you age, you become a worse driver, but many studies have proven that is not the case,” he said. “Certainly, there is a subset of people that at a certain age should no longer be driving. But many older drivers self-regulate, like avoiding driving at night or avoiding making left turns. The only place you see a real difference statistically is with older drivers who travel more miles — but that could be said for all drivers or a select segment of older drivers.”Stats And SpecificsIn the study, the research arm of AAA reports that voice commands for calling, texting, navigating, or tuning radios in one of six infotainment systems caused 55-75-year-old drivers, on average, to divert their eyes from the road longer than 21-to-36-year-old drivers.It further determined that older adults, who took between five and nine seconds to complete in-car tasks on these infotainment systems, experienced slower response times and more visual distractions, even though these systems created potentially unsafe distractions for all drivers.The vehicles used in this study included the Volvo XC9, the Audi A6 Premium, the Nissan Pathfinder SI, the Lincoln Navigator, the Mazda CZ-5, and the Cadillac CT6.“Voice command functions in new cars certainly have the potential to extend the mobility of older drivers,” said Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman. “But poor design, complex systems, and in-car position that make it difficult to easily complete simple tasks are causing more harm than good to older drivers.”For any driver, no matter the age, taking your eyes off the road for just two seconds doubles your crash risk, she added.Both AAA and Dr Chaudhary believe it is critical that car manufacturers find ways to design less-demanding systems to improve driver comfort and safety since older drivers are becoming the fastest growing demographic in the US. According to Mayko at AAA, within the next decade, more than one in five drivers on the road will be over 65.“Complex in-car technology is a design problem, not an age problem,” Ms Mayko pointed out. “Designing systems to meet the safety and comfort needs of aging drivers would benefit all of us.”Researchers tested the visual and cognitive demand created by infotainment systems in six 2018 vehicles on the two driver age groups when they used voice commands, touch screens, and other interactive technologies to call, text, tune radios, or program navigation, all while driving.Unanswered QuestionsDr Chaudhary said while this latest study is very comprehensive and helpful to other traffic safety authorities as well as the general motoring public, there are still a couple of questions that remain unanswered.“They use a similar method in all of the AAA distraction studies, which is measuring reaction time using a secondary task — that measures accuracy to a stimulus. But I haven’t seen anything that really says their method is predictive of crashes,” he said. “It is a measure of cognitive load, but not predictive of crashes. You’re investing more brain power in a primary task, and it probably means less focus on the road, but I would love to see something done with a simulator that shows an increase in crashes correlated to that increased reaction time. I think that’s a missing piece.”Dr Chaudhary also noted some of the secondary tasks that research subjects are being asked to do are inconsistent with anything a driver would be required to do, like calculating more complex math problems.“Are the researchers creating an environment that is realistic to what we experience when actually driving?”The Newtown traffic expert said PRG has just completed gathering data in Louisiana, Arizona, Nevada, and in Virginia that will analyze how frequently “people reach for the dashboard or interact with the vehicle infotainment system,” he said.“So far, we’re not seeing any difference across ages — everybody seems to be interacting with the technology at about the same rate,” he said. “But we’re also seeing it’s a relatively infrequent activity. Only between one-half of one percent and one percent of drivers are interacting with the onboard systems at any given time. It’s not like driving holding a cell phone, where there is much more frequency with the interaction, although that group is relatively small as well.”Dr Chaudhary sees the kinds of studies from AAA and organizations like PRG as prompting vehicle designers and manufacturers to make accommodations in their infotainment systems for drivers sooner than later. But he believes the real evidence will come from studies that actually tie the use of these systems to crash risk, versus simply gauging the potential of increased cognitive load.“I always wonder if these devices actually increase crashes,” Dr Chaudhary said, adding that several colleges and universities, including UConn, have simulators in which those studies could be done, “but it’s always a question of the cost to do these types of studies.”Visit aaa.com/distraction for information on the full study and the previous research.Vehicle 'Infotainment' Systems Distracting More Older Motorists John Voket
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NewArts 'Matilda' Director Reflects, Reveals Secrets About Spectacular RunNewArts dual cast production of the musical "Matilda" has wrapped, but Director Michael Unger is looking back on the run celebrating his inspired actors and crew, along with revealing a few secrets and flubs that may have been missed by most audience members.Whether you saw the somewhat older and more experienced Newt cast, or the equally talented and energetic Chalk cast — or both — it is impossible to argue that this summer’s NewArts version of the musical Matilda was anything short of professional grade.The dual cast of Roald Dahl’s dark but redeeming production was brought to life over the first two weekends in August by a combined cast and crew numbering well over 100. This year’s participants, from the phenomenal Joseph DeVellis, who portrayed the deliciously campy but appropriately nasty Agatha Trunchbull, to the youngest ensemble members carried onward and upward a tradition of theatrical excellence that Newtown’s NewArts organization has made its hallmark since forming in 2013.Since that first post-12/14 summer, when many young creative types in town were still recovering from the Sandy Hook tragedy, NewArts launched, combining expertly produced musicals with ARC, a character development program promoting strength, confidence, and emotional regulation aimed at helping each participant discover grit, resilience, and greater well-being.And by the end of each production run, everyone involved reaped the benefits.Less than 48 hours after Matilda’s final curtain call at Masuk High School in Monroe, Director Michael Unger was back on stage dismantling of sets and packing rented equipment ahead of a well-deserved family vacation before his departure to a brand new post as artistic director at Skylight Music Theatre in Milwaukee. Mr Unger also took a few minutes to chat with The Newtown Bee and look back on some of the high points of this year’s summer musical.After each of the shows, including the August 11 finale, he said, it was hard to judge whether the young thespians, or their parents, siblings, and guests were more thrilled.“Everybody was so jazzed, and every show got better and better for each cast,” Mr Unger observed.“I feel this was as fully a realized production as we’ve had — much like School of Rock,” he added, referencing the organization’s 2016 production. “But I think our Matilda could have stood up against any regional production of the play anywhere. Both casts had gems of performances, and I was so excited to see how high-level everyone was every moment they were on stage.”It was not lost on the NewArts director that over the course of the two productions attended by The Bee, each of the actors portraying the title role of Matilda was pressed into impromptu dealings with technical issues.On August 4, Matiya Kouassi mustered on terrifically with a complicated first act scene involving a silhouette projector that suddenly became unplugged — leaving her to expertly navigate dialogue in tandem with an offstage actor without any accompanying visual prompts. On August 11, Scarlet Tanzer quickly realized her body microphone was not working in her opening scene and compensated magnificently, pushing the volume on her dialogue and opening song, effectively projecting over the orchestra’s swell with the presence of mind to avoid sounding forced or shrill.“They both adjusted like pros,” Mr Unger complimented.Both casts did equally well delivering on difficult choreography.“Unlike last year’s Newsies, which focused on a core group of more skilled dancers for the complex dance numbers, in Matilda, all the kids were dancing all the time.”Actors As Stage HandsMr Unger also praised the many leads and ensemble members who served in dual capacities, helping to move everything from huge set pieces designed to look like massive books to a classroom full of school desks, other scenic furnishings, and the notorious “telly” into place with great precision and effect.“Because the set pieces are so big and there are 11 desks to bring on and off stage four times during the show, the kids served as the engine for all those set changes. And there were some itty-bitty kids helping move those huge sets,” he said. “It was probably hard to see, but these kids who ranged from age seven to 20 were actually making all those set changes happen.“I knew I wanted the set pieces to be large, and there are a lot of short scenes with quick changes. So we moved forward with the intention of making those changes in the background as scenes played out downstage,” the director added.Speaking of the “telly,” Mr Unger said that high profile set piece was located on Facebook for $20, and was modified with an onboard power source and monitor that could be controlled remotely from a backstage iPad so it could be actively moved around the stage while playing specific content, without the obstacle of wiring to trip anyone up or limit its range of motion.The aforementioned silhouette projector and corresponding shadow play scenes were also initially perplexing to the director.“When I came for the first day of rehearsal, I wasn’t exactly sure how to tackle the acrobat story in the shadow play, because I didn’t know anyone who was a puppeteer,” Mr Unger recalled. “I knew how I wanted it presented, but didn’t know how I was going to do it.”Enter NewArts Director of Education Danny Dyer.“Danny said he had built some puppets and didn’t have much experience with shadows, but he was willing to give it a whirl. So he created 40 puppets, and each cast was instructed on how to manipulate them,” he said. “It was a great opportunity for the kids to become more involved to do something very unique, and it provided a vocabulary to that storytelling that was exactly what I was looking for, kid style. Luckily, Danny stepped up and did a tremendous job. It ended up better than I ever expected.”Mr Unger added that most productions of Matilda use pre-produced projections of the shadow puppets or a film, while the NewArts production was somewhat unique in that it had not one, but two separate groups of live puppeteers manipulating the images for each Chalk and Newt production.“This was also kid-powered, like the set changes,” he said.Unique Set PiecesNewArts audiences this year witnessed the first use of massive books that spun around and opened into various sets like Matilda’s bedroom and Miss Honey’s cozy kitchen.“We adapted those from Newsies and put spines, covers, and pages on them to convert them into the kinds of books that Matilda describes reading,” Mr Unger said. “I wanted those scenes to open like a book. [In prior productions], set pieces involve little kids’ letter boxes, but Matilda is a bit older, and she’s not into letters, she’s into books. So using little letter boxes felt wrong to me. So I worked with the designer to create the books.“I don’t know anyone else who has done this with the production,” he said. “This was our idea.”Because of certain sensitivities to the 12/14 tragedy, in prior productions, Mr Unger has been pressed to alter original lyrics that he found inappropriate or offensive, and this year was no different. Upon contacting Tim Minchin, Matilda’s original writer and lyricist, Unger found someone who was completely on board with accommodating those changes.“There were just some lyrics that would just not fly for me in Newtown, and they were very generous in letting me change what I have to change,” he said.Finally, there was the unanticipated and seemingly perfect casting of Joseph DeVellis.“I knew he would be funny in the role, but never realized how devastating his truth would be in terms of his insight into Agatha’s damage,” Mr Unger said. “His acting was able to convey why Trunchbull is the way she is, similarly to Scrooge, who is so often played simply as a jerk. But if you understand what broke his or her heart as a child and you can make that villain someone you can sympathize with, you’ve won.“Joey’s character had such depth in those scenes where he’s arguing with Matilda, you just believe she was so damaged as a child that she grew up into the incredibly mean and insecure adult he portrays. To really feel Agatha’s history is something that set Joey above and beyond,” he said. “In fact, Van Dean, who is one of the original Matilda producers and who has seen every Trunchbull on Broadway and in London, said Joey was among the three best he’s ever seen.”Looking to the future and his new job in Wisconsin, Mr Unger said Newtown will still be on his mind as he mulls the possibility of restaging A Christmas Carol this winter. Stay tuned for more news on that front in the coming weeks.In the meantime, to learn more about NewArts, visit newarts.org or follow the organization on social media.NewArts 'Matilda' Director Looks Back On Spectacular Run John Voket
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NewArts dual cast production of the musical "Matilda" has wrapped, but Director Michael Unger is looking back on the run celebrating his inspired actors and crew, along with revealing a few secrets and flubs that may have been missed by most audience members.
Something Wild To Do: An Up Close And Personal View Of Animals At Beardsley ZooMost of the animals at Connecticut's Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport are born there or at another zoo, are in need of zoo care, and many are released into the wild.BRIDGEPORT — The zoo — a wonderful place for people to see animals up close and personal — is much more than just a place with caged wildlife. Far from it.Most of the animals at Beardsley Zoo in Bridgeport are born there or at another zoo, are in need of zoo care, and many are released into the wild. There are some permanent zoo residents, such as a bald eagle that suffered a broken wing, that are taken in from the wild.“He found a home with us here,” said Newtown resident Jim Knox, education curator for Beardsley Zoo, which is easily accessible off Route 25 and open year ‘round. In some instances, animals come to the zoo after they are confiscated if they were kept illegally.“We care for animals that don’t have the ability to care for themselves anymore,” Mr Knox said. “Our mission is conservation, education, research, and recreation. But if people aren’t having a good time, they aren’t coming back.”Beardsley has 280,000 visitors each year, so plenty of attendees are taking advantage of the opportunity to see, in person, animals they might not otherwise catch a glimpse of. The animals themselves are the big draw, but there are birthday parties, corporate outing opportunities, and various children’s programs offered.Children can get close to prairie dogs by climbing into a tunnel just for them and putting their heads up above ground in an enclosed see-through plastic bubble that makes them feel like one of those creatures.Mr Knox noted that people think of the zoo as a place for recreation and to appreciate animals. The zoo is every bit of that and more, he pointed out.Beardsley Zoo is one of 235 organizations around the world that are a part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Collectively, they care for approximately one million animals.“Many of those are endangered species,” Mr Knox said.The Amur leopard cubs at Beardsley are among a couple hundred in human care in the United States, and less than 300 on the planet.Among the caretakers for the leopard cubs are Chris Baker and Newtown’s Bethany Thatcher.“I think it’s really cool, but I might be slightly biased,” Mr Baker said. “People get sucked in by different animals,” said Mr Baker, adding that from alligators to turtles to goats, there is something for everyone.Visitors might concur that, in Mr Baker’s words, it is pretty cool to visit the zoo. Beardsley has more than 100 different species. Individually, there are 500 animals — more than 1,000 individual species if you include invertebrates.Beardsley has partnerships as close by as in-state, with the Connecticut DEEP, for example, and as far away as Russia and China. “All around the world, really,” Mr Knox said. “We have an international reach because of our partnership. We are a neighborhood zoo. We are a family facility. That said, we are a family facility with a global reach, a global partnership.”Beardsley Zoo is an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and participant in its Species Survival Plan programs, committed to the preservation of endangered animals and actively developing strategies that will protect species and preserve their wild habitats, according to the website, beardsleyzoo.org.The zoo provides educational programming on- and off-site and does a lot behind the scenes that zoo visitors do not see. For example, over the past 20 years, Beardsley Zoo has reintroduced more than one million Atlantic salmon to native waters in Connecticut.A quarter from each admission cost ($16 for adults, $13 for children 3-11, $12 for 62 and over; children under 3 are free) is used for “conservation of wild creatures in wild places,” Mr Knox said. “It’s a community effort,” Mr Knox said.That money goes to a variety of wildlife needs. An example of the zoo helping out with wildlife and its international reach is a condor that zoo guests might have seen five years ago that is now flying wild in the Andes Mountains in Columbia.One way in which people can help is via naming opportunities for families, individuals, and corporations. The red panda habitat’s building, for example, is named after Bob Natt of Easton.The Beardsley Zoo educates about 60,000 children on school trips to the zoo each year. A new education amphitheater is expanding the zoo’s teaching opportunities.Mr Knox said children can indirectly assist in the zoo’s mission without even going there by reading. “The more they read, the more they know, and the more they know, the more equipped they are to protect these animals,” Mr Knox said.Emma Carney is an animal care specialist who pointed out that the animals at the zoo are set up with the habitats they need, all the while providing guests with ideal viewing options.The red pandas, for instance, have an outdoor/indoor area, and both allow public viewing from the same enclosed area. These pandas also have access to a space of their own, closed off to the public’s eyes.“If they’re overwhelmed by people, they can go in and hang out on their own,” Ms Emma Carney said.The pandas, like many animals at the zoo, remain outside throughout the winter months. “They deal with cold weather really well,” Ms Carney said.There are otters, anteaters, wolves, a bison that shares space with white tailed deer, and many more animals on the 52-acre piece of land.“It’s been a fabulous summer. We’ve had so many things happen,” said Beardsley Zoo Public Relations Officer Lisa Clair, adding that the cooler months are a great opportunity for guests to see the animals and noting that the zoo is open year-round, closed only on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day.Ms Clair said many of the animals are more active in the fall and winter. This is a rare opportunity to see Amur leopard cubs. “They grow very quickly. To see them in their most playful age is really special,” said Ms Clair, adding that it will not be too late to see them this winter. “They love the snow and the rain.”The zoo is renovating and “reimagining,” as Ms Clair describes it, the farmyard for the first time since the 1970s, and it is expected to reopen sometime this fall.The newest species at the zoo is the spider monkey; the endangered animal joined the zoo this summer. Beardsley Zoo Curator of Animal Care Rob Tomas mentioned earlier this summer that the zoo has plans put an anteater in the area built for the spider monkeys, once the spider monkeys adapt, to make good use of the space, since the monkeys will tend to stay up high.“It’s not to say you won’t see a spider monkey riding an anteater once in a while. It’s pretty cool to see that they can be that close,” Mr Thomas said.Another fun reason to visit the zoo!The Beardsley Zoo is located at 1875 Noble Avenue, Bridgeport. It is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm. For more information, visit beardsleyzoo.org.Beardsley Zoo Feature Andy Hutchison
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Families Enjoy Spider-Man Movie Night
Families enjoyed a night at the movies with the Parks & Recreation Department Tuesday.Spider-Man crept through dozens of young imaginations as the sky grew dark on Tuesday evening. With lights out at Reed Intermediate School, where the cafetorium filled with scents of fresh popcorn, parents and children enjoyed a Movie Night as they watched Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse on August 13.Ahead of a day’s worth of light rain, and possible summer storms in the evening forecast, organizers on Monday had announced the event would move to its rain location, Reed Intermediate School, rather than spreading picnic blankets out at Fairfield Hills. Hosted by Newtown Parks and Recreation Department and Newtown Prevention Council, the night’s events included a 6 pm performance by dancers with Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance.More than a dozen dancers moved through routines and tap numbers in groups large, small, and solo, showing off talents that have won the crew qualifying titles in the past.Following their acts on stage was DJ Austin Dailey, who joined the group of curious young faces and led them through interactive dances.The cafetorium was overrun with the sounds of scampering feet and laughter. Disco lights splashed across children’s smiles as DJ Dailey asked, “Can you hop? Can you hop on one foot?”He then switched songs and sang with them about “Driving and Dancing,” and prompted more dance moves. “Can you cross your legs? Can you wave your arms?”The party continued until movie time, after 8 pm. Trickling in were additional guests carrying lawn chairs and holding hands with more children anticipating an evening with their favorite superhero.Many more arrived to make the night a success. The 50 or more people in attendance enjoyed the movie, said Kate Geerer, who helped coordinate the event. Newtown Prevention Council member Chelsea Prenata worked the concession stand with Ms Geerer, Assistant Director of Recreation RoseAnn Reggiano, and Recreation Commission Chairman Ed Marks.Movie Night 2019 recap Kendra Bobowick
Story Families Enjoy Spider-Man Movie NightMovie Night 2019 recapFeaturesNone
Who’s That Bee: Anna KalinowskiOur new series introduces readers to the staff members of The Newtown Bee, one department at a time. We continue this week with Anna Kalinowski, a member of Bee Publishing Company’s Production department.Name: Anna KalinowskiTitle: Graphic DesignerDuties: I am part of the production team. I’m responsible for the overall layout and production design for The Newtown Bee and its sister paper, Antiques and The Arts Weekly newspapers for print and web, plus advertisements and special sections. I also do photo editing, enhancing and retouching, and some software troubleshootingFun Fact: I enjoy going to the gym and also exploring regional breweries.who's that Bee: Anna Kalinowski Story Who’s That Bee: Anna Kalinowskiwho's that Bee: Anna KalinowskiFeaturesNone
Snapshot: Dolly WhiteOccupation: It’s been varied. I went to UCLA for political science and teaching. I worked doing tax sheltered annuities. I also worked in real estate, helping my mother with writing the ads and with sales. I ended up teaching high school age students in juvenile hall, and I loved it. I wish I had started teaching sooner. I enjoyed making a difference helping those boys get ahead. They liked me and trusted me.Family: I have two children, eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.How long have you lived in Newtown? I’ve lived in Newtown for only two years. I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and am a Latter-Day Saint. I lived there until my father was sent to oversee the building of the secret atomic bomb in Oak Ridge, Tenn. After living in Tennessee, we moved to California and opened Dolly’s Donuts. I spent most of my life in California.What do you like to do in your free time? I like meeting celebrities. I was club champion at the Beverly Hills’ Bel-Air Country Club. When I was there, I played golf with Bing Crosby — and he only played with the pros. In 1962, my parents and I went on a cruise to Hawaii, and at the Captain’s Dinner, we met John Wayne. We stayed a month with him on the Big Island when he was making Donovan’s Reef, and we stayed friends. I also like going to the events at the Newtown Senior Center and doing yoga there.Do you have a favorite book? I have a library of around 300 books and have been rereading the classics. My favorite book would have to be A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.What is your favorite travel destination? I went to the Pyramids of Egypt with friends. Egypt is like California, but hotter. After going there, I now collect camels.What is the best part about Newtown? I really like the combination of the new Senior Center in the Newtown Community Center.Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My dad, Tay. He started out teaching me photography in the dark room. He wanted me to be a famous photographer. He went back to college to do law, but he never used it. He liked to study, and he liked books, so now I have a beautiful library. He instilled a love of books and learning in me.If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? Albert Einstein. I was happy to find out we’re both German. He’s someone I admire and would want to talk to about his studies in physics.What is your favorite musical genre? I had taught mambo and cha cha dancing, so I like Latin music. I also like country and rock ‘n roll.Do you have a favorite movie? I loved watching Shirley Temple movies.What is your favorite food? Living here now, I like the New England Clam Chowder. Also, the Senior Center always has good food.What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? “Do to others as you would have them do to you,” Doing good deeds is my specialty. I want to do good in the world.What is something you cannot live without? Chocolate.What is your proudest accomplishment? Saving about 500 boys’ futures in juvenile hall. I’m proud knowing I had helped their confidence and changed their life around. Also, I’m proud being a certified member of the International Turtle Club (Outershell Division) since 1969.Snapshot: Dolly White Story Snapshot: Dolly WhiteSnapshot: Dolly WhiteFeaturesNone
No Controversy This Time: Cover Two Successfully Defends Women’s Softball CrownA pair of two-run home runs sparked second-seeded Cover Two Sports Cafe to a 7-3 win over fourth-seeded Forest Construction in the Newtown Women’s Softball championship game, at Treadwell Park, on a beautiful August 9 evening.A season ago, Cover Two claimed the title by virtue of being the top seed despite trailing second-seeded Black Swan 2-1 in the fifth inning when lightning and rain thwarted the contest. The finalists left the field not knowing officially who had won, and a unanimous vote by each of the league’s team managers was to default to the rule book’s stipulation that in the event of a tie the better seed wins.“Last year, we won due the rain and the lightning and stuff, so this really feels good for all of us to play seven innings and win it outright,” said Cover Two outfielder Sandy Doski, who clinched the victory with a catch of a fly ball down the left field line.Cover Two fell behind 2-0 in the second inning but tied the score in the bottom of that inning took the lead for good with a three-spot in the bottom of the third. Maranda Kimberly led off the third with a triple to center and scored the go-ahead run on Jill Waldron’s single to left for a 3-2 lead. Katie Burke’s homer to left center pushed the lead to 5-2.Forest Construction, which had upset top-seeded Dental Associates in the semifinals to earn a spot in the pinnacle game, got a run back in the top of the fourth.Christine Clark and Rose Pagett set the table with singles to begin the fourth. Kristen Brassard drove in a run but was denied a hit as Cover Two outfielder Kimberly hustled to field the hard-hit ball and get the force out on a base runner at second. That play helped limit Forest Construction to a run, leaving the score 5-3 as the game headed to the last of the fourth.The scored remained 5-3 through the top of the fifth. In the bottom of the inning, Kimberly blasted a home run to the gap in left center, extending the lead to four.Kayla O’Grady pitched three hitless innings in relief of Lynn Baylis, who was solid in four frames to begin the night.O’Grady pitched a one-two-three sixth with the help of Waldron’s snare of a line drive at second base. O’Grady pitched around an infield error in each the fifth and seventh innings.Forest Construction, which piled up the runs in a 19-10 triumph in the semis, jumped out to the early lead on Cover Two with a pair in the second inning on three consecutive doubles. Kathy DeAngelis led off with a double and scored on Clark’s two-bagger, before Laura Nelson delivered an RBI extra-base hit of her own.Cover Two answered in the bottom half of the second. Alli Modzelewski led off with a single to center and Cathy Hall walked. Laura Grant provided a run-scoring single to slice the lead in half, and Lorie Lindo’s sacrifice fly to right evened the score.Forest Construction had a chance to reclaim the lead in the third but with two one and two out, outfielder Modzelewski made a running, shoestring catch on a dipping liner to shallow center to end the threat.Both teams turned in some solid defense, with Chris Jannott turning in a nice running catch in left for Forest Construction, and Kimberly and Doski doing the same for Cover Two.Women's Softball Championship Andy Hutchison
Story No Controversy This Time: Cover Two Successfully Defends Women’s Softball CrownWomen's Softball ChampionshipSportsNone
A pair of two-run home runs sparked second-seeded Cover Two Sports Cafe to a 7-3 win over fourth-seeded Forest Construction in the Newtown Women’s Softball cham...
Not Just Balls And Strikes: Umpire Sean Kerins Does More Than Call The Game — He Manages It While Working With The Players Baseball umpires at the local/youth level, in the eyes of fans and players alike, may seemingly be there to call balls and strikes or rule a baserunner safe or out.Baseball umpires at the local/youth level, in the eyes of fans and players alike, may seemingly be there to call balls and strikes or rule a baserunner safe or out.Although those may be duties of umpires, Newtown Babe Ruth Baseball Umpire Coordinator Sean Kerins — who calls games himself — says there are three elements of umpiring: Managing the game, controlling the game, and keeping the integrity of the game.“People, coaches, players, and parents think umpires are there to make calls, but we are there to manage and control the game, keep it moving, control behavior, and make sure people are treated with respect. This should be easy but is very difficult to enforce. When you deal with the success or failure of someone’s child, it becomes hard to manage them at times. Keeping the flow of the game is really hard, especially when a team is struggling with throwing strikes or fielding,” Kerins said.Kerins added that looking out for the wellbeing and integrity of young players when they are struggling is essential. There are instances in which a child has not pitched much and can not throw a strike and gets frustrated. “On top of it, they balk at younger ages. I will not call a balk but explain to the coach present what they did to balk. I do not want to put extra pressure on a kid 13 and younger who is learning — even if I get some flack from opposing coaches and fans,” Kerins said.“I feel like I am an extension of the coaching staff. I have the ability to teach players, coaches, and sometimes fans the rules of the game. The kids and most of the coaches are great. I like talking with the players and getting to know them,” he added.Kerins works games either in the field or behind the plate from April through October, minus some time off in August, and umps about 90 games per year. The games Kerins calls on smaller fields for the youngest players run approximately one and a half to two hours, and the larger field games last between two and three hours.He and his wife, Maureen (Mo), have lived in Newtown since 1999. Their children, Johnny, Ricky, Kathryn, Brian, and Sean all played Newtown baseball — the boys into high school and Kathryn until she was ten years old.Kerins played throughout his childhood as well as four years in high school (New York Military Academy in Cornwall, N.Y., 1978-1982) and three at the collegiate level (Dominican College in Blauvelt, N.Y., 1982-84); he was a catcher, so the view from behind home plate is second nature when calling balls and strikes as the home plate ump.He umpired for about two years in his early 20s and started calling games in Newtown two decades ago. “I umpired for high school with the Western Connecticut Umpire Association. I was introduced to low level college baseball while with that Association,” Kerins said. Due to work commitments with Sealed Air Corporation, he gave up the advanced umpire levels but still works games at the 8-21-year-old age levels.Kerins started with Newtown ball in 1999. He was a Newtown baseball division director two times, 2001-08 and 2011-18. Kerins was the Newtown Baseball coaches certification trainer from 2003 to 2006 before that process moved online. Kerins has been an umpire trainer since 2007 and has been umpire coordinator since 2016. Additionally, he coached the game from 1999 to 2017.Kerins umpires games differently depending on the age group. The strike zone is bigger for 8-, 9-, and 10-year-olds to encourage batters to swing. As players grow up, the strike zone is changed to better reflect the high school strike zone. Additionally, the teams move from the 70-foot base paths to the 90-foot base paths when the players turn 13.There is an exception. “For all district, state, and regional games, we stay with the high school strike zone for all ages. There is a lot more on the line,” Kerins explains.“There are a few rules modified depending on the age group. We do not typically call balks at the younger age groups (8-10). We give pitchers one warning about balks (for ages 11-13),” said Kerins, adding that balks are called consistently for players 14 and older.Umpiring can be a thankless job at times.“Most fans and coaches are great, although you have your times when they are not so great. There are times the fans get out of control. They show up, ready to yell at the umpire. They do not realize we are human and will miss calls. There have been some tough situations,” Kerins said.“In my experience, the coaches set the tone for the team — both players and fans,” he said. “When coaches that do not allow their players to be disrespectful to the umpire, the fans will follow suit. The coaches will have discussions but never raise their voice.”There are different ways to defuse situations, and Kerins certainly figured out a good one at game in town not long ago.“Last year, I was up at High Meadow. A visiting team fans were commented loudly about many pitches. Between innings, I walked off the field and sat with them in the bleachers. They were silent. I looked up and said ‘you do have a better view from here than I do from behind the plate.’ They laughed for the rest of the game,” Kerins said.“I do feel the fans are growing to be more difficult every year, or I am becoming more impatient with disrespect. I tell coaches all the time, ‘youth players are following you and parents’ example. If you treat us disrespectfully, they will learn that behavior.’ Again, the majority of fans and parents are great,” Kerins said.“The plate umpire has full control of the game. All umpires like control. The plate umpire has the difficult task of concentrating on every pitch. The strike zone has more room and frequency for criticism. The field umpires have less plays to call but the greater chance of having bang-bang plays,” Kerins added. “The toughest part of umpiring is getting a call wrong. Players and coaches work very hard with their teams. An umpire does not want to make a questionable call that may drive the result of the game.”Of course, part of the (foul) territory that comes with being behind the plate is having a foul ball deflect off part of the mask or, ideally, another piece of protective equipment. Kerins notes that attention to detail when getting into position behind the plate goes a long way.“I hate getting hit by foul balls. Usually, if you get hit be a foul ball, I am not set up correctly,” he said.Kerins’ favorite part about umpiring: “The friendships with the other umpires. I really like many of the guys. The majority want to do a great job and succeed. Also, I love being around the gems. I love being a part of good baseball. Watching a great play or a player who struggles be successful is fun.”There are many memories from unusual and thrilling or nerve-racking games Kerins has called.“A pitcher from Kent School was being scouted by colleges and pro teams. I was behind the plate. There were many speed guns and cameras pointing at home plate. I just kept praying have a good strike zone,” he recalls.Another fond memory was a 14-inning game between Ridgefield and Danbury High. “The game was very intense. For seven innings, the crowd was reacting to every ball/strike call,” said Kerins, adding that the game ended on a steal of home.“I was doing a 9-year-old game behind Hawley School. The game ended on a unassisted triple play. Redding had bases loaded, no outs. There was a line drive to the shortstop, who caught it, tagged the kids that came off second and first,” Kerins recalls.In his role as coordinator, Kerins assigns all the games for Newtown Baseball, conducts umpire trainings for youth and adults, and assess umpires and their skill set. For youth programs, there is training that goes for about two to four hours.“We will bring you to a live, younger age group game to give you supervised experience. There is a written exam on the National Babe Ruth website,” Kerins said.“The older age groups have on-field training. For your first several games, you are partnered with an experienced ump. There is a online test you need to take with the National Babe Ruth website,” he added.For the high school level, there is three-day training and written 100-question exam. “You will start at the freshmen and JV level before being asked to work varsity,” Kerins said.Umpires learn to make calls both behind the plate and out in the field from the get-go. “You start calling balls and strikes immediately; you switch on and off from the plate to the field with a partner,” he said.Umpires earn from $25 to $110 per game, depending on their level and if games have one- or two-person umpire crews. Those interested in learning more about becoming an umpire may visit the Newtown Babe Ruth website, newtownbaseball.com.Umpire Sean Kerins Andy Hutchison
Story Not Just Balls And Strikes: Umpire Sean Kerins Does More Than Call The Game — He Manages It While Working With The PlayersUmpire Sean KerinsSportsNone
Ally McCarthy Uses Writing Skills To Attend Running Camp With Olympian
Only the fastest runners can excel in a track or road race, but those with a knack for writing and sharing their story have a chance to keep up with an Olympian and international medalist.Only the fastest runners can excel in a track or road race, but those with a knack for writing and sharing their story have a chance to keep up with an Olympian and international medalist.Just ask Ally McCarthy. The standout distance runner, upon hearing about a contest from her Newtown High School Coach, Becky Knapp, entered into an essay competition for a spot in Brenda Martinez’s Altitude Training Camp, which was held July 30 through August 2 in Big Bear Lake California.McCarthy, who will be a sophomore at Newtown High this fall, was selected as one of just 11 runners — including only three representing states other than California — to join Martinez, a 2016 Olympian, on a four-day running excursion for girls.Martinez, who was a United States Track and Field outdoor runner-up and indoor runner-up in 2013 and 2012, respectively, and a bronze medalist in the 2013 World Outdoor competition, accepts essays from runners each year and liked McCarthy’s topic and writing abilities upon receiving her entry this past winter.“I was so excited,” McCarthy said of finding out she had been selected just after the school year ended.McCarthy’s essay touched on 12/14 was about “how sports has helped our town and brought us together and how it has helped me become a better person,” she said, adding that soccer and track have given her confidence while providing an outlet.“I love running for a lot of reasons. When I run alone, it’s a time to think and escape from the outside world. It’s something my dad and I love to do together as well. When I run with my friends, we always have so much fun talking, sometimes singing, or just enjoying each others company,” she added.The opportunity to train with Martinez gave McCarthy another reason to like running. The participants ran approximately ten miles each day of the camp, and they stayed in a cabin as part of this unique adventure.“I look up to her so much. She’s such an inspiration to me. It was so cool,” McCarthy said."I started following Brenda on Instagram when I started to see Ally’s potential as an 800 runner. Brenda posts her workouts and I used them as inspiration on training Ally. When Brenda posted the contest I immediately thought of Ally, not only because of her talent but because she’s genuinely a great kid. Ally is a hard worker, gets along with everyone, and inspires everyone not just in sports but in life. She’s a great kid and deserved this experience to continue to inspire her with her desire to run and train," Knapp said.McCarthy, who first got into running around the age of eight and started participating in track competitively in middle school, runs indoor and outdoor track at NHS and is an All South-West Conference honoree. The top female in the most recent Newtown Turkey Trot 5K, she also helped the soccer team capture the SWC championship this past fall and is part of the AC Connecticut club soccer team that qualified for a national competition this summer.Clearly, McCarthy has plenty of running talent, but said she gained a lot from participating in the camp.“I learned so much from Brenda. She’s so humble, and she’s really into giving back to the community and inspiring you. She gave us a lot of tips and tools for running,” McCarthy said.Race strategy and an emphasis on nutrition were among those pointers given by the Olympian,” McCarthy said.According to the USA Track & Field website, usatf.org, Martinez first started running with an after-school track club when she was five, and while she didn’t find success in her first race as a 100-meter sprinter, she kept going until she found her niche as a middle distance runner. Martinez set numerous school records throughout high school and college. She is sponsored by New Balance.This experience also provided runners a chance to see a different part of the country — McCarthy had traveled to California before, but this was her first time to the southern portion of the state, where she and the other participants ran in elevations as high as 8,000 feet — and a chance to meet new people with common interests.“I always love meeting other runners. It was so fun, and everyone can relate really well,” said McCarthy, adding that the trip was not just about running and included paddle boarding and hiking.McCarthy, who is a middle-distance and distance runner, is looking forward to putting some of the camp experience to the test this coming school year.“I’m super-excited. We didn’t lose that many seniors this year, so I think we’ll be pretty good,” she said.And win or lose in a given race, nobody will be able to take away the fact McCarthy ran along side an Olympian.Ally McCarthy Track Andy Hutchison
Story Ally McCarthy Uses Writing Skills To Attend Running Camp With OlympianAlly McCarthy TrackSportsNone
Newtown Soccer Club Brings Connecticut First National Title Since '67
It had been more than 50 years since a Connecticut soccer team won the United States Adult Soccer Association National Amateur Championship. Newtown Pride FC put the state back on the national map this past weekend, and the team is looking forward to more big things after defeating Houston-based Horizon FC 4-0 in the pinnacle game in River Grove, Ill., on August 3.It had been more than 50 years since a Connecticut soccer team won the United States Adult Soccer Association National Amateur Championship. Newtown Pride FC put the state back on the national map this past weekend, and the team is looking forward to more big things after defeating Houston-based Horizon FC 4-0 in the pinnacle game in River Grove, Ill., on August 3.“It was a long journey — a little luck and a lot of talent to get there,” said Head Coach Mike Svanda, a longtime Newtown resident who co-founded the team along with his son, Matt, who is also a player and manager on the team.After a 2-0 upset win over the Chicago-based and 16-time Croatian National Soccer Federation champs RWB Adria in the August 2 semifinal, Pride FC became the first Connecticut team to reach the decisive game since 1970, Mike Svanda said. The last time a Connecticut team won it all was in 1967, when the Hartford Italian American Stars AC came out on top.Leading 1-0 but with RWB Adria pressuring, Pride FC got a momentum-changing goal on a tremendous solo effort by Quenton Swift in the 87th minute.“It took a lot of pressure off us because they were bombarding us,” said Matt Svanda, whose team opened the scoring on another clutch goal, off the foot of Tavoy Morgan, in the 54th minute.In the decisive game, Sandy Hook resident Mauro Dos Santos scored on a header off an assist from Chris Salifou in the eighth minute for a 1-0 lead to set the tone in the championship match. Matt Svanda said the goal relaxed the team and let it settle into the game.“To see the team collectively pick my 74-year-old father up and dance around and cheer Newtown Pride and sing and dance with him on their shoulders made it all worthwhile for me,” Matt Svanda said.US Soccer President Carlos Cordeiro [naviga:u]congratulated the team in a tweet[/naviga:u] that included a photo of Pride FC celebrating its triumph.Pride FC had earned the state title for the fifth year in a row, then bested the New Jersey state champions 6-1, defeated the New York state champs 3-1, and beat the Pittsburgh Steel FC 2-0 to win the Region 1 championship and the right to compete in the national tourney.Celebration PlannedThe team is holding a championship celebration at Lions Bleecker Street Pizza, 123 South Main Street, this Saturday, August 10, at 2 pm. Attendees will receive a free slice of pizza along with an opportunity to meet the players and coaches.Pride FC is part of the Connecticut Soccer League, which is governed by the US Soccer Federation, and was founded by the Svandas in 1998. Pride FC has included players who have moved on to play on top-tier professional teams in the United States as well as overseas.With the national triumph, Pride FC has kicked open some big-time soccer doors. The distinction as national champs qualifies the lineup for the Lamar Hunt US Open, which features the top teams in the country, including high-level professional squads such as the New York City Red Bulls, NYC FC, and New England Revolution. It is possible Pride FC can earn a home match against one of these teams next spring, Matt Svanda said.Additionally, by virtue of the national title, Pride FC will gain some international competition experience, as the team will host Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Regions’ Cup winners from Poland next summer.“There’s a lot of big soccer coming,” said Matt Svanda, adding that this is the first time the US and Europe are holding the event, with the European winner set to host the game the following summer.The Pride FC roster includes players who have competed at a high level elsewhere, including Lucas Sousa, one of the championship game goal scorers, who has played for Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense, one of the top teams in Brazil, Matt Svanda noted.The team’s regular play begins the Sunday after Labor Day and resumes in the spring; the full schedule is yet to be announced. Home games take place at Newtown High School’s Blue & Gold Stadium as well as on the back field natural surface.In 2012, Pride FC dedicated its play to give back to the community of Sandy Hook for the long-term betterment of the community, and Pride FC aims to raise awareness and spread love in communities across the country through the game of soccer in honor of the Sandy Hook Elementary School victims, according to the team website, [naviga:u]newtownpridefc.com[/naviga:u].The team has raised about $50,000 for local charities, including Newtown Youth and Family Services, Newtown Parent Connection, and the Newtown Community Center, during the past five years.“On this journey, I am sure we had the spirit of 26 precious souls helping us,” said Mike Svanda, who has five children, four of whom live in Newtown, and 11 grandchildren, ten of whom are still in town.Pride FC players are Albert Aidoo Afful, Shaquille Saunchez, Quenton Swift, Ibrahima Keita, Israel Arichabala, Lucas Gabriel Sousa, Filipe Dutra, Giovani Reillo, Chris Salifou, Matheus Truma Ruiz, Lamin Janneh, Mauro Dos Santos, Sikele Sylvester, Oscar Acosta, Tavoy Morgan, Salah Oumorou, Michael Semedo, Clayton Ulmer, and Matt Svanda.Highlights from the games may be viewed at [naviga:u]mycujoo.tv[/naviga:u]; search Newtown Pride FC to select complete game footage and highlights, including the awards ceremony and celebration toward the end of the final game file.The team may be followed on [naviga:u]Facebook[/naviga:u], [naviga:u]Twitter[/naviga:u], and [naviga:u]Instagram[/naviga:u] @NewtownPrideFC.Pride FC Soccer Champs Andy Hutchison
Story Newtown Soccer Club Brings Connecticut First National Title Since '67Pride FC Soccer ChampsFeatures, SportsNone
Like Father, Like Son (And Daughter.. And Grandchildren): Three Generations Of Thoesens On The Baseball Diamond
The old saying “like father, like son” has a new twist in the Thoesen household. Or, to be more accurate, on the baseball diamonds.The old saying “like father, like son” has a new twist in the Thoesen household. Or, to be more accurate, on the baseball diamonds.Ian Thoesen, head coach of the Newtown High School baseball team and an instructor for The Nighthawks Summer Baseball Camp, is the middle man in three generations of baseball enthusiasts. When growing up learning about tgame of balls and strikes, he got pointers from his dad, Guy Thoesen. Now, Ian coaches his own children, and both work together at the summer camp. They also both provide baseball instruction through Norwalk-based Integrated Sports Training.“He coached me all my life — all through high school,” said Ian, whose fond memories include defending Little League World Series champions from Trumbull in the following season’s regional tournament three decades ago. “He got me into the business of doing lessons and coaching.”Ian’s son, Donovan, 7, is getting involved with baseball. His daughter Madison, 12, plays softball, and youngest daughter, Sofia, 10, is not involved with the game on the diamond, but does play basketball. All three children are coached by Ian.He has run the Nighthawks camp — which provides up-and-coming players instruction on hitting, fielding, throwing, pitching, and base running — for six years and has more than 20 years of coaching, providing lessons, and running camps under his belt.“I love it. I think it’s just fun teaching the kids — especially at an early age,” Ian said. “It’s fun to see them grow. It’s fun working with kids, seeing the smile on their faces when they’re doing something well.”And when it is your own children, all the better.Ian has coached players in Wilton throughout all of these years, leading them as pre-teens on up through high school/ college age in summer league play with American Legion baseball. He coaches players ages 7 to 9 in the summer camp. “I’m looking forward to when they start coming up into our program in a few years,” Ian said.Both Ian and Guy played baseball at a high level. Ian played three seasons of professional ball with independent league teams in Waterbury, Indianapolis, and Massachusetts as a pitcher and third baseman and Guy played minor league ball in the Philadelphia Phillies organization, including at AA ball in Boca Roton, Fla.Guy, who pitched in the minors after pitching and playing in the infield in high school, has 50 years of experience in coaching, instruction, and scouting.Guy, who runs GT Baseball through Integrated Sports Training and has instructed such players as Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Charlie Morton, expects this out of his players, regardless of age: “Basic fundamentals, attitude. I like them to be committed to the game.”Ian wants his players to have a good attitude, work hard, and have fun.“Baseball’s a metaphor for life. It’s being on time and working hard and, like anything, enjoying the process,” Ian said.Madison plays for the Thunder travel team and is a pitcher, shortstop, and third baseman. She earned MVP honors in the team’s Danbury Memorial Day Tournament championship triumph this past spring.“Just playing with a team — all the excitement of striking someone out in a championship game and scoring the game-winning run — it’s very exciting,” Madison said of what she enjoys about playing softball.Having dad as coach means a familiar face in the dugout — as well as having coach at home for dinner.“It’s fun. He’s been my coach for a lot of teams,” Madison added.“I like scoring. It feels good,” Sofia said of her favorite part of playing basketball.Ian’s wife, Stefanie, is also a big component in the Thoesen sports scene.“I love it. I love watching my kids play,” said Stefanie, who gets involved beyond getting her children to and from the fields and courts by taking team photos and doing team writeups for local media.Nighthawks Summer Baseball Camp sessions take place at Newtown High Monday through Friday, from 9 am to noon. Age range is 6 to 13, and players are broken into age groups. Cost is $205 per session. Register through [naviga:u]Newtown Parks and Recreation online[/naviga:u]. For sessions the weeks of August 12, 19, 26, use activity number 409516.Thoesen Baseball Camp Andy Hutchison
Story Like Father, Like Son (And Daughter.. And Grandchildren): Three Generations Of Thoesens On The Baseball DiamondThoesen Baseball CampSportsNone
Online auction, being done pro bono by Fairfield Auction, is raising funds for C.H. Booth Library, through sale of surplus items from library’s collection, proceeds to benefit efforts to preserve library’s museum and archive collections, ongoing through September 5.
Works by the late Florence Marie Dohanos and Lucy Durand Sikes (1937-2017), selected and curated by their daughters, Newtown artists and friends Linda Dohanos and Julia Sikes-Provey, respectively, on view weekdays through August 30, hosted by Newtown Cultural Arts Commission.
Maplewood at Stony Hill, 46 Stony Hill Road, Bethel
Free 60-minute information session concerning memory impairment and the impact associated with dementia, second session August 27 (Caring for Caregivers), light refreshments, reservations requested; 203-207-4100, InfoStonyHill@maplewoodsl.com.
Public invited to join co-chairs Gayle DiBenedetto and Christopher Farrington to learn about new fundraising event for American Cancer Society that will include luminary bags honoring those lost to cancer and celebrating those who continue to battle the disease, all-ages event to debut September 7 on Main Street, meetings continue weekly to September 3; hopeonmainstreet@gmail.com, facebook.com/HopeOnMainStreet.
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.
