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‘Misinformation From Eversource,’ More DisappointmentNot only has Dan Rosenthal been disappointed with the recovery response by Eversource in the wake of Tropical Storm Isaias, but now the utility is not even providing accurate information to its liaison, the first selectman said August 7.First Selectman Dan Rosenthal was very clear in his latest post-Tropical Storm Isaias CodeRED message: the utility charged with providing electricity to Newtown continues to fail with restoration. This time, he said, the utility’s efforts are not only slow, but the information given to the utility’s liaison to forward to local leaders was wrong.Rosenthal opened his August 8 message by saying he had been given incorrect information by Eversource the previous day. As a result, many residents who had expected to see utility crews begin working on their streets were once again let down.The full transcript of Saturday evening’s message follows:“Good evening, this is First Selectman Dan Rosenthal.“I would like to apologize for what appears to have been misinformation from Eversource last evening. Many of the roads that I mentioned did not see crews last evening and some of those areas are just seeing crews now.“In past events, the information I received from our community representative has been reliable and consistent and our representative is not to blame here. It appears the approach taken by management has been to restrict the representatives’ access from what is referred to as the ‘war room,’ where they plan and allocate resources.“This is a complete departure from previous practice and has led to all kinds of frustration on my part, as other than being told there are crews in town and there are more and more, there is not much more clarity as to a plan.“While I will continue to push to make sure we are getting an equitable allocation of line crews, I do not want to share misinformation and build false hope. Eversource now says Newtown will be substantially restored by noon on Tuesday and I wish I had more than that for you right now.“Some progress was made in town again today with total outages down to 45% from 55% yesterday and blocked roads are down to 32 from 40 yesterday and our DPW employees are working with an Eversource Make Safe crew to open more roads this evening.“Tomorrow the following locations will be open for charging and Wi-Fi: the community center from 7 am to 5 pm, high school from 6 am to 9 pm — as well as showers — Reed School from 8 am to 4 pm and the library back parking lot.“Water is available for your own containers at Hook and Ladder, Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook substation, Dodgingtown and Botsford fire houses and the Parks & Recreation Maintenance Facility adjacent to Reed School. There are also garbage containers at Botsford, Sandy Hook and Dodgingtown fire houses for spoiled food.“I am as upset with all this as you are and there will come a time when this is over to demand a full review and seek accountability. This storm did a lot of damage, but the lesson learned should be that we do not continue to do the same things in terms of preparation and expect a different result.“Thank you and good night.”‘Historic Restoration Effort’ During A PandemicEversource, meanwhile, claimed “significant progress” in an e-mail sent to its customers early Sunday afternoon.“Significant restoration progress was made overnight. Since Saturday morning another 160,000 customers have been brought back in power. We know you’re still out and we’re working hard to get you back. Town-by-town estimates are posted on our website, and this information is being updated regularly,” the email stated.Statewide, Eversource reported 839,000 customers were left without power due to the storm.“While many town estimates show substantially complete on Monday or Tuesday, overall we expect to have 90% of all Eversource customers in service by this evening. There also are some towns that present extra challenges due to the significant damage or the remote nature of these communities,” Sunday’s e-mail continued.“With more than 2,300 crews on the ground, we expect to have restoration substantially complete by Tuesday at 11:59 p.m. Substantially complete means fewer than 1 percent of customers in a town are still without power, so most customers in that town will likely be back in power sooner.”Responding to this level of widespread damage involves significant behind-the-scenes logistics, the utility pointed out in the e-mail.On its website Sunday, the utility further explained those efforts, saying in addition to those out working on lines, “there are thousands more coordinating the effort behind the scenes. From orchestrating the movement of thousands of new utility poles and transformers to the areas where they are needed most, to securing more than 6,500 beds for crews and serving more than 30,000 meals daily during a pandemic – our support teams are dedicated to ensuring that our team can get the job done as quickly and safely as possible.“To safely accommodate crews repairing the incredible damage Isaias left in its wake, Eversource has established staging areas across the state while adhering to strict social distancing, hygiene and sanitation measures to safeguard the health of our team and communities.”Eversource Vice President of Supply Chain and Property Management Ellen Greim was quoted online, saying the pandemic “has created many unique challenges and required thoughtful consideration of how we are operating our staging areas and mobile command centers that dispatch crews to outages, as well as how we are supporting our crews with the materials, food and lodging that they need.“As we limit the number of team members working in confined spaces,” Greim added, “we have established large staging areas to accommodate the hundreds of additional vehicles and trailers required to support this historic restoration effort. Additionally, we have established smaller staging sites in our hardest-hit communities to efficiently move tools and equipment where they are needed most.”Some local residents do not want to hear any excuses from Eversource. Among a stream of tweets since the storm Newtown resident Elissa Altman tagged The Newtown Bee in a few, including one Saturday: “As was just pointed out to me: no water in a pandemic — No ability to wash hands. No ability to wash clothes. No ability to flush toilets. The safest COVID state in the country is CT.“Until now.”At 2:45 pm Sunday, Newtown was still listed with a noon Tuesday, August 11 estimated restoration. There were still 4,771 residents — 41.63% of the utility’s local customers — without power five full days after the storm.Power At PJ’sNewtown’s only laundromat, PJ’s Laundry never lost power. The Sandy Hook Center business has a generator, and a staff that has been very busy in recent days, according to business owner Sharon Doherty.“We saw an uptick on Thursday,” Doherty said early Sunday afternoon. Behind her, every washing machine and every dryer in her 100 Church Hill Road establishment was being used.“Around then, a lot of people realized power wasn’t coming back very soon,” she said. Eversource announced on Saturday at Newtown would be “substantially” back online around noon Tuesday, August 11.Doherty greeted most customers as they arrived at the door. When possible, she would direct them toward an open machine or two. Otherwise, she would put them on a wait list.“We’re full right now,” she told one woman who was juggling three very large bags of laundry. “I can put you on the list, which is about a 20 minute wait right now.”After hesitating for a moment, the woman opted to have her name added to that wait list.Residents are not the only ones who count on the local business. Contracted utility workers have learned about the laundromat at well.“We take care of the laundry for the utility guys, so we’re getting an influx from them too,” Doherty said. “When something like this storm happens, they’re coming into the area and staying at a local hotel. They’ll drop their laundry here at the end of their shift, and we clean it for them.“Then they’ll come back at 5:30 or 6 in the morning, before they begin their shift, and we’ll have it all ready for them,” Doherty said.Outside the laundromat Sunday afternoon, Patty and Anthony Prestera were among those waiting for a few open machines. The Sandy Hook residents were lucky, finding a bench in the shade just outside the laundromat’s door. Both took it in stride when told they would need to wait to get their laundry started.“What are we going to do?” Mr Prestera said. “It’s hot at home. The air isn’t moving inside the house. We’re not in a rush.”Nodding across the parking lot toward Cover Two Sports Café, which was also doing a very brisk business Sunday afternoon, he said the restaurant would be the next stop once the couple started their laundry.“We’ll probably head over there, grab a few beers and some lunch,” he said. “Can’t do anything about the power, so it’s not worth getting upset over. Might as well make the best of it.”

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Power Restoration Hovering Around 50/50 Mark, Four Days After IsaiasUPDATE (Sunday, August 9, 2020): This story has been update to reflect who responded to the August 8 incident in Pootatuck Park . * * * * *Four days after Tropical Storm Isaias, just about 50 percent of Newtown remains without electricity.Eversource — already taking heat for its lack of preparation for the storm as well as its poor response — did not earn any new fans in Newtown Saturday. It was tough enough to hear from their first selectman a day earlier that there was not a single Eversource crew in town on Thursday night. Then on Saturday residents learned that Newtown is near the bottom of the restoration list. When the utility announced its restoration estimates around 1 pm August 8, there was Newtown, toward the end of the line.Newtown. Tuesday, August 11, Noon.That’s what residents saw when they visited the utility’s website.Very few towns had later dates, although a few neighboring towns did fare worse. Bethel and Monroe’s estimates are 6 pm Tuesday; Danbury’s is midnight Tuesday.At 5 pm Saturday, 5,579 of Newtown’s 11,460 Eversource customers — or 48.68 percent of the town — was heading toward another night without power.In a CodeRED message Friday evening, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal said Newtown is not alone in its struggle to become reenergized.“My counterparts in other communities are having a similar experience with a lack of communication and, more importantly, results, but I am hopeful that the clarity I received this afternoon is a harbinger of things to come," he said in part.Hours earlier Rosenthal had been given a specific lists of roads that Eversource crews — or their contracted support crews — would begin working on.At the time of his third CodeRED in as any evenings, the first selectman said “slow progress” had been made. The total number of outages dropped from 65% on Thursday to 55% on Friday, and the number of fully blocked roads was at 40, down from 44.“Certainly not an achievement worthy of a victory lap, however there is reason for hope,” Rosenthal said.He also acknowledged should all 23 of the roads on the list provided by Eversource be put back online Saturday, it would account for “roughly 1,000 homes online, bringing total outages to around 45%. Not music to everyone’s ears, but for the first time I am finally getting specific work area information from Eversource,” he said.Restoration Road ScheduleThe lucky roads listed on Friday night were as follows: Jordan Hill, Bradley, Nutmeg, Honey, Serenity, South Main, Brushy Hill, Baldwin, Juniper, Sugar Street and Sugar Lane, Roosevelt, Lincoln, Deep Brook, Head O’ Meadow, Boulevard, Queen, Joan, Old Gate, Cedar Hill, Glen Road, Walnut Tree and Shady Rest. Meanwhile, Newtown Police Department offered a reminder on its Facebook page Friday that its officers are helping. Two officers spent much of hours using the department’s Hummer to canvas the town, getting to roads that were still blocked. Police officers delivered food and water to residents stuck on many of those blockages.Residents were reminded that they could contact the PD with concerns about family members, friends, neighbors, et al.“We will certainly do our best to help them or direct them where they might find the help,” the department said on its post.The non-emergency number of Newtown Police is 203-426-5841.A full list of resources — including information on where to fill up on potable water, use a charging station, food disposal locations, etc — has also been published by the Town. The full list is available here.Treat Lines As Live, AlwaysIn a dire warning to heed what officials repeat, over and over, following such storms — treat all downed wires as if they are live — a dog in Sandy Hook died Saturday morning after finding its way onto such a scene.A dog in Pootatuck Park could not be saved after it touched a downed power line that turned out to be alive. Firefighters were sent to the scene. Eversource was routed at its highest priority, but the dog died.

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Not only has Dan Rosenthal been disappointed with the recovery response by Eversource in the wake of Tropical Storm Isaias, but now the utility is not even providing accurate information to its liaison, the first selectman said August 7.

News

Newtown Prepping For Fall Sports Under New CIAC Guidelines

Newtown Prepping For Fall Sports Under New CIAC Guidelines Newtown is readying for sports to begin again, following the release of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference’s (CIAC) 2020-21 Fall Sports Plan. Read more here. Newtown is readying for sports to begin again, following the release of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference’s (CIAC) 2020-21 Fall Sports Plan.Matt Memoli, Newtown’s athletic director, said the district will be using the newly released CIAC fall plans when preparing its fall procedures.“They did a phenomenal job of putting together a well-thought-out plan,” Memoli said in a recent phone interview.The CIAC’s plan was released on July 31. By August 3, Memoli said Newtown’s tryout dates were being determined and were expected to be posted to the Newtown High School’s Athletic Department’s website, nighthawksports.com, within the week, along with more specific information.The first day of football and cheerleading practice is set to be August 17. According to Memoli, all teams are expected to begin practicing by August 27.The CIAC announced that it had worked with “a multitude of stakeholders since the decision to stop interscholastic athletics this past March,” and it has maintained since then that when the time is right, Connecticut will play again.”Health metrics and the playing of youth sports in the state since June 20, “support the return to in-person instruction, education-based interscholastic athletics, and other co-curricular activities that are critical to the cognitive, physical, social, emotional, and mental health of our students.”The CIAC emphasized in the document that the plan is fluid and will be in a “perpetual state of evaluation” as COVID-19 health metrics in Connecticut continue to be monitored.“The appropriateness of holding youth sport and/or interscholastic athletic contests can change at any time,” the plan reads. “The CIAC will continue to consult with our stakeholders and will adjust offerings as appropriate, including the stop of interscholastic athletics, should the health metrics direct that action.“If a student tests positive for COVID-19, the school/district must be notified immediately and [the local department of health] must be contacted,” the guide states. “The local [department of health] will direct the appropriate process. The CIAC will continue to work with local districts and [departments of health] to define the process as more information becomes available.”Other ConsiderationsSome of the guidelines in the plan share that students must practice in a cohort of no more than 15 students, determined to be “a reasonable number of student-athletes for coaches to work conditioning and skill progressions with while schools return to in-person instruction,” and that all contests will be scheduled regionally to limit transportation and maintain play in a geographic region.The CIAC expects to provide further details on individual sport mitigating strategies later.Other considerations outlined in the plan include:*Having each school district determine how the athletic fields will be used throughout the school year and the appropriateness of spectators and fan attendance.*During practices and conditioning, having athletes remain grouped in smaller cohorts.*Adequate cleaning schedules for athletic facilities.*Self-screening for any observable illness by all staff and students.*Hand-washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or the use of hand sanitizer.*Having all students bring a water bottle and food not to be shared.*Wiping down weight equipment before and after each use.*Using locker rooms as little as possible.*Schools “must consider social distancing requirements” when scheduling transportation for fall contests.With regard to face coverings, the CIAC plan says cloth or disposable face coverings should be worn when not engaging in vigorous activity; face coverings should not be worn when engaging in high intensity aerobic or anaerobic workouts, distance running, or swimming; plastic shields covering the entire face must be approved by CIAC; officials should wear face coverings whenever possible; and coaches and contest personnel must wear cloth face coverings.More Local PlansLocally, Memoli said he expects a virtual meet for parents and students will be arranged ahead of tryouts.The biggest change will be the number of students allowed together at once and the spacing between groups, as it is not something that needed to be addressed before the pandemic. Newtown’s coaches have had time to fine-tune the CIAC’s plan’s procedures for each sport, according to the athletic director.There may be other areas that become more problematic, Memoli said, and the department is working to figure those out.Memoli also said all out-of-state competitions are canceled.While some aspects have yet to be determined, Memoli stressed that everyone in the athletic department is doing everything they can to make sports for varsity, junior varsity, and freshman work this year. He is also looking at the middle school level programs.“We’re going to do everything in our power to have seasons for all those levels,” said Memoli.

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Hit Hard By Isais? Check These Resources For Residents

Hit Hard By Isais? Check These Resources For Residents Read what resources are available for residents in the wake of Tropical Storm Isaias here.Within hours of Tropical Storm Isaias moving through the community on August 4 — leaving thousands of residents without power and some with severely damaged homes — Newtown’s Emergency Management Team announced options for residents who need to dispose of food, obtain non-potable water, and reach local resources if needed.By Friday, August 7, Newtown Community Center was a busy resource and cooling station for residents. Director Matt Ariniello said just under 70 people had visited the center before 11 am, and the previous days had also been busy.More resources available in the community are listed below.Charging stations for cell phones and other electronic equipment and Wi-Fi access are available at the following locations:C.H. Booth Library (25 Main Street), during daylight hours, additional seating has been set up in the courtyard to the south of the building.Newtown Community Center (8 Simpson Street) and Newtown Municipal Center (3 Primrose Street), weekdays between 7 am and 9 pm.Newtown High School (12 Berkshire Road), weekdays between 6 am and 9 pm.“Be mindful that many residents may need this assistance; we may need to monitor and allocate time, as such your time may not be unlimited and we ask that you consider others,” the team said in its release. “Also, please bring your own device adapter and charging cable, and power strip and/or extension cord, if possible.”Social distancing and the wearing of face masks are required at all these locations, and time may be limited for charging and/or Wi-Fi, depending on the demand for both services, the team cautioned.Non-potable water is available at three of the town’s fire stations: Botsford Fire Rescue (315 South Main Street), Hook & Ladder (12 Church Hill Road), and Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue main station (18-20 Riverside Road). BYO containers.Showers are available at Newtown High School weekdays between 6 am and 9 pm. Residents must enter through the lower rear “glass” entrance — drive past the main entrance and then bear right, toward the rear parking lots.Dumpsters — for food waste only — have been placed at the Botsford, Dodgingtown (55 Dodgingtown Road/Route 302) and Sandy Hook main fire stations.The Town of Newtown hopes to begin curbside storm debris pickup and removal of storm generated debris sometime on or after August 17.Only trees, limbs, and similar storm debris from the August 4 event is FEMA reimbursable. The town hopes to complete the pickup of storm debris within a three-week period.Property owners are to place all August 4 debris within 10 feet of a curb/roadside. The debris must not extend into the roadway. Roadway intersections and driveway sitelines may not be impaired by piles of debris.As a matter of safety for both residents and crews who will be doing this work, residents are to keep at least 75 feet away from all crews and equipment. Injuries may be caused by flying debris or distraction.“We want to keep everyone safe during this operation and complete it as expeditiously as possible,” the team stated, while also asking residents to check on any elderly or frail neighbors to be certain they are safe.Anyone with special health needs or questions can contact Newtown Human Services Director Natalie Jackson at 203-270-4330 or natalie.jackson@newtown-ct.gov, or Newtown Health District Director Donna Culbert, 203-270-4291 (203-270-4200 after hours) or donna.culbert@newtown-ct.gov.Important Numbers And Contact InformationThe Newtown Emergency Management Team also reminds residents of the following emergency sources and contact information:*If there is a life safety emergency, call 911.*To report or check on a power outage call 800-286-2000, visit eversource.com, or text OUT to 23129.*Newtown residents are encouraged to register for the town’s CodeRED announcements and for Smart 911, a service that helps emergency responders by automatically providing detailed information to dispatchers during Emergency 911 calls at newtown-ct.gov/emergency-management or 203-270-4370.*Check the News tab at newtown-ct.gov. Residents can also register there to have notices automatically sent to them.*Connecticut’s free information and referral service, call 211 or visit 211ct.org.*First Selectman’s office, 203-270-4201.*Emergency Management/Fire Marshal, 203-270-4370.*Newtown Community Center, 203-270-4349.*Newtown Human Services, 203-270-4330.*Newtown Health District, 203-270-4291.*Newtown Communications routine line, 203-270-4200.

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Health

Lawmakers Announce 'U Drive, U Text, U Pay' As Local Traffic Expert Shares Concerns

Lawmakers Announce 'U Drive, U Text, U Pay' As Local Traffic Expert Shares Concerns While distracted driving enforcement is heightened during targeted campaigns like one launching this week, a Newtown traffic safety scientist believes Connecticut and the nation will have to ratchet up enforcement as he worries behaviors like texting while driving may be getting worse.While distracted driving enforcement is heightened during targeted campaigns like one launching this week, a Newtown traffic safety scientist believes Connecticut and the nation will have to ratchet up enforcement as he worries behaviors like texting while driving may be getting worse.This week marks the launch of “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” — Connecticut’s annual distracted driving enforcement and checkpoint program. The potentially life-saving campaign is being commended by Newtown State Representative Mitch Bolinsky, who is employed as a driving instructor when he is not in session.“According to the National Safety Council, distracted driving has become the number two cause of preventable death behind the wheel, only exceeded by operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs. But, not for long. Distracted driving fatalities are increasing each year and, I believe, may soon be the leading cause of death while driving,” said Bolinsky.“I support law enforcement and well-publicized events like this because they absolutely save lives. However, I wish it weren’t needed at all. Texting while driving kills and, often, there’s no second chance,” he added.“There’s nothing more valuable in the world than life itself, and none of us will ever get or send a text message important enough to possibly take our own, or someone else’s life,” he continued. “It can wait. It must wait. There are people who love you. How would your one bad choice affect them?”Through the initiative, Bolinsky said officers will be cracking down on motorists who text, talk, or distract themselves with a hand-held mobile phone while driving. The campaign runs August 1-15 and is now in its sixth year.The community will see an increased and highly visible law enforcement presence on the roadways as officers will be stopping and ticketing anyone who is texting and driving.Over the past decade, distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of vehicle crashes on the nation’s roads. Since 2015, nearly 33,000 crashes in Connecticut have involved a distraction, resulting in 45 fatal crashes.Fines in Connecticut for violations begin at $150 for a first offense, increase to $300 for a second offense, and are $500 for subsequent violations.AAA Praises HwangAAA Northeast applauded State Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) on August 5 for his continuing efforts to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.At a news conference at Fairfield Police Department, AAA joined Sen Hwang, Fairfield Police, Connecticut State Police, and other traffic safety advocates, including Newtown police commission member and traffic safety scientist Neil Chaudhary, PhD, to call attention to the “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” campaign.Senator Hwang called distracted driving accidents both preventable tragedies and “a national epidemic with over 3,150 dying annually in vehicle crashes due to distracted driving, and [a] one in four probability that a vehicle crash involves a cell phone.”“Most of us are guilty of peeking at our phone and typing a quick text while we are driving,” Hwang said. “Unfortunately, a few distracted seconds could forever change your life and possibly the lives of innocent victims and their families.”Despite numerous educational and advertising campaigns reminding drivers to put phones away while driving, motorists continue to partake in dangerous behavior behind the wheel, said Fran Mayko, AAA Northeast spokeswoman.And even though enforcement efforts such as the “U Drive. U Text. U Pay.” campaign can change behavior temporarily, motorists tend to fall back into their bad driving habits involving cellphone use, said Mayko.This is why Dr Chaudhary is expressing concern.He said that raw data over the last few months — while many fewer drivers were on the roads due to pandemic restrictions — showed young male drivers still operating under some type of driving distraction.“That is the only demographic where we saw a slight increase, all others went down during the spring when the coronavirus had a lot of businesses and places shut down, resulting in fewer vehicles on the road,” Dr Chaudhary said.Distractions And AgingThe traffic scientist suggested a kind of perfect storm in the making, as virtually everyone uses mobile technology everywhere, including behind the wheel, and as these younger males, who are still showing greater tendency to ignore or discount distracted driving safety, begin getting older.At the same time Dr Chaudhary sees an already aging driving population (60 and older) that has already exhibited risk factors tied to distractions like dashboard readouts and infotainment systems becoming more savvy with, and using smart phones for, things like texting.“As older drivers become more inclined to use smart phones, there will be a natural extension to doing things like texting or using other phone features while driving,” he said. “And these are folks who already tend to have delayed reaction times and slower reflexes.”That is why he strongly supports frequent and systematic law enforcement initiatives to both educate and punish those who text and drive, or who are at risk because of some other similar distracting activity.“The rates of distraction among these older drivers is still much lower than among younger drivers, but if this increase persists it could indicate a dangerous trend,” he said.Dr Chaudhary’s concern extends to pedestrians, who are more often becoming victims when drivers are not paying attention.“According to NHTSA, about 15 percent of all injury crashes nationally have distraction as a factor,” he said. “These distractions claimed nearly 3,000 lives in 2018, including 400 pedestrian lives.”Hwang added that traffic and safety is “paramount.”“The recent tragic incidents of vehicle-pedestrian accidents heightens the need for increased enforcement and awareness,” he added. “It is all about saving lives.”Chaudhary also sees a continued uptrend in mobile device ownership and use.“Over the five-year period from 2014 to 2018, based on most recent available data, there was a 53 percent increase in the number of cell phone-only households in Connecticut,” he said. “That means for that for many more people, 100 percent of their communications follow them into their vehicle.”Mayko, the regional AAA spokesperson, said one solution could be simply using a “do not disturb” feature on one’s mobile device — if drivers know how to activate it.The setting will not interrupt the driver with alerts, notifications, or calls while in a moving vehicle.“Unfortunately, many drivers don’t realize such a setting appears on smartphones,” Mayko added.In fact, a 2018 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study found that half of drivers whose cell phones had DND features did not activate the setting because they either did not know the feature existed, did not know how to use it, or simply chose not to use it, she said.For more information and resources, CLICK HERE

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Features

Show What Life Looks Like Now Residents can share photos of “life now” for possible publication in The Newtown Bee. To submit a photo, e-mail the image to reporter Eliza Hallabeck, eliza@thebee.com, with a brief description, including the names of those pictured. Share photos of “life now” for possible publication in The Newtown Bee; submit photos and descriptions of your life, whether home or abroad. Submissions will run as space allows in an upcoming edition.This will be an ongoing featured item in the pages of The Newtown Bee. The newspaper has been chronicling town happenings since 1877, and, with the help of residents, we hope to capture today’s changing world through these submitted images.The deadline to submit photos for each week’s paper is Wednesday at noon. To submit a photo, e-mail the image to reporter Eliza Hallabeck, eliza@thebee.com, with a brief description, including the names of those pictured.‘Living My Best Life’Newtown resident Danielle Watt Justus, who submitted a recent photo of her taken at the Neurovation Center in Sandy Hook, shared that the center has helped her face the COVID-19 pandemic. After being about halfway through her sessions, Justus said in an e-mail that she experienced great relief.“I’m less anxious and less depressed... My sense of well-being has improved. After trying many therapies, this approach is the most significant change I’ve experienced.” She is “living my best life” now, she says.A ‘Newly Adopted Baby’Christine O’Neill, who works in the planning department at Newtown Municipal Center, shared a recent photo of Gwendolyn, her cat.“Since [COVID-19] started, I’ve been spending a lot more time at my computer,” O’Neill wrote in an e-mail. “Consequently, I’ve moved Gwendolyn’s bed next to the screen so that I can give her chin-scratches in between Zooms!” O’Neill added that she is happy to “show off my newly adopted baby.”

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Show What Life Looks Like Now

Residents can share photos of “life now” for possible publication in The Newtown Bee. To submit a photo, e-mail the image to reporter Eliza Hallabeck, eliza@thebee.com, with a brief description, including the names of those pictured.

Features

Area Promoters ‘Fielding’ Limited Concert Series — Grace Potter Headlining Both

Area Promoters ‘Fielding’ Limited Concert Series — Grace Potter Headlining Both As some COVID-19 restrictions have relaxed and data about outdoor virus transmission trends indicate diminished risks for smaller gatherings, two local concert promotersare hoping to bring some music and laughter into peoples’ lives.As some COVID-19 restrictions have relaxed and data about outdoor virus transmission trends indicate diminished risks for smaller gatherings, two local concert promotersare hoping to bring some music and laughter into peoples’ lives.Waterbury-based Premier Concerts/Manic Presents along with NHCPA South Farms, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of New Haven Center for Performing Arts Inc, is joining with South Farms in Morris for the socially distanced Twilight Concerts On The Farm series, featuring Grammy-nominated Grace Potter and comedian Nikki Glazer.Potter, whose latest album, Daylight, was released in 2019, has been described by SPIN magazine as “one of the greatest living voices in rock today.”Potter will be kicking off Twilight Concerts on the Farm at South Farms in Morris on August 22. Comedian Nikki Glaser, familiar from several Netflix specials and her Comedy Central series “Not Safe with Nikki Glaser,” is next up with two shows on August 30. The Marcus King Trio has also been added to the roster with a set scheduled for Tuesday, September 8 at 5 pm.All shows are on sale now.South Farms InfoLocated about 30 minutes from Newtown, the South Farms shows will take place on more than 10 acres of manicured farmland. The venue will boast a beautifully structured grid layout, adhering to public health guidelines while still maintaining the intimacy of live concerts.The vast spacing and outdoor conditions (open air) help reduce potential transmission and encourage social distancing. Tickets entitle the bearer plus one to enjoy the show their own 8- by 8-foot grid, each bordered by an additional 8-foot-square empty space for distancing, and lined with aisle spacing. Each grid is designed for two guests and the grid design on the grounds is offset to maximize stage view. Grids cannot be merged.Guests are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets for comfortable seating and enjoying the farm field. Bringing in food and beverages is prohibited, but food trucks and a full bar will be available on site.Face masks are mandatory when entering, exiting, and moving throughout the venue, e.g., to restrooms or concession areas. Masks are not required when guests are in their grid spaces.Hand sanitizing stations will be dispersed throughout the venue, and high-touch areas such as door handles and counter surfaces will be regularly and consistently disinfected throughout the show.Restrooms will be cleaned and restocked regularly throughout the show. Everyone entering the venue — including guests, artists, crew and staff — will be health checked, including a temperature check and short questionnaire. Masks and gloves will be available upon request.Per State order, the venue has a reduced capacity of 25 percent, making tickets extremely limited. Grace Potter Grid Tickets are $160, and Nikki Glaser Grid Tickets are $100. No more than two people are allowed in each grid, and individuals must purchase a full grid.Find tickets and more information - CLICK HERERidgefield Playhouse SeriesIf you need your Grace Potter fix sooner, the Ridgefield Playhouse kicks off its concert series on August 15 with the multitalented singer/songwriter/musician as well, featuring two special solo acoustic performances at 4 pm and 8 pm in Ballard Park, 485 Main Street/Route 35 in Ridgefield.The music continues Friday and Saturday, August 28-29, in the field adjacent to the Playhouse, at 80 East Ridge, with musicians who also happen to be Connecticut natives. On Friday, the double bill of American Idol winner and Guilford resident Nick Fradiani and Fairfield County’s own Alternate Routes begins at 7 pm. On Saturday, also at 7 pm, the Season 1 winner of NBC’s The Voice, a Stratford native as well as a University of Hartford Hartt School of Music graduate, Javier Colon will take the stage. Opening for Colon will be singer-songwriter Dante Palminteri.Tickets for either Grace Potter acoustic set are $65 each or $200 each for select VIP seating; Nick Fradiani/Alternate Routes tickets are $30, and tickets for Colon are $25.For more information or to purchase tickets to these shows, visit ridgefieldplayhouse.org or call the box office at 203-438-5795.

Area Promoters 'Fielding' Limited Concert Series Story Area Promoters ‘Fielding’ Limited Concert Series Area Promoters 'Fielding' Limited Concert Series Features None

Features

The Top Of The Mountain

The Top Of The Mountain Newtown, from a cat's point of view. The Ingersoll Auto Pop-Up Drive-In Movie Theater at Edmond Town Hall was having a rough week to begin with — a few of its recent screenings were canceled due to bad weather — but then Tropical Storm Isaias made things even worse. The strong winds of Tuesday afternoon’s storm destroyed the screen that had been in use on the western side of the historic 45 Main Street building since early June. So in-person movies — which were gratefully received during these pandemic days of social distancing — are on hold once again. The good news is, a new screen has already been ordered, so drive-in movies at Edmond Town Hall aren’t finished. Those who purchased tickets for the August 6 screening of Captain Marvel, or any of the upcoming screenings of Frozen, will receive refunds. Both films will be rescheduled once the new screen is installed, Edmond Town Hall Operations Manager Sheila Torres said, which could be as soon as the middle of next week. As soon as the new screen arrives, the installation will go quickly. “The first time we put the screen up, it was a lot of work, figuring everything out,” she shared. “This time, the brackets and screws are all in place. We just need to re-hang the screen itself.”C.H. Booth Library Director Douglas Lord was quick to announce, after the recent storm and power outages that followed, that while the library building may be closed, there is WiFi available for patrons while parked in its back parking lot. “One of our more recent upgrades blasts a great WiFi signal into the back parking lot. We’ll also be putting out extension cords and two charging stations… While you’re here you can take a couple moments to learn about the library’s curbside service and (weather permitting) patio browsing service!” he wrote in a message to patrons.We had it partially correct last week when we shared a photo of a bird nest at Newtown Municipal Center. Associate Editor Shannon Hicks had been told that the birds nesting above the southern entrance of the Primrose Street building were barn swallows, but Renee Baade thinks differently. In a note to us this week, Renee said the birds depicted in Shannon’s photo were actually cliff swallows. “Their nests have these distinctive shapes and downward shaped necks,” Renee pointed out. “Barn swallows tend to have more open nests,” she added. We compared photos of both types of nests. While some barn swallow nests do look similar to those of cliff swallows, we will agree with Renee that most cliff swallow nests do look like what was spotted recently at the municipal center.Newtown’s own Chef Plum was set to begin co-hosting a brand new show alongside Marysol Castro this week for NPR on Connecticut Public Radio. The series will be called Seasoned, and the first show was set to air on Thursday, August 6, at 3 and 11 pm, before this week’s print edition of The Newtown Bee went to press. The time slots previously belonged to the very popular and long-running Food Schmooze with Faith Middleton. According to a release, Seasoned will explore Connecticut’s local farmers, passionate chefs, food makers, and innovators. The radio show/podcast will feature guests who will discuss everything from how food is grown, harvested, and prepared across Connecticut to how we use food to celebrate and connect in our communities. Each week, the co-hosts will explore Connecticut’s current seasonal ingredients and the dedicated people who grow and prepare our food, or teach us how to do so.We learned some sad news from Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo recently. Meri, a seven-year-old female red panda, died on July 27. The zoo’s animal care team found that she had passed away in her sleep during the night, with no obvious signs of distress. It was later learned the cause was a cardiac condition. Born on June 27, 2013, at the Detroit Zoo, Meri arrived at Connecticut’s zoo on January 11, 2018, from Brandywine Zoo in Wilmington, Delaware. She was named for Meriadoc Brandybuck, a character in J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Lord of the Rings. She was a beloved member of the zoo family.Animals are everywhere this season, and the National Wildlife Federation recently released a reminder that opossums are nature’s pest control and cleanup crew. They can consume around 5,000 ticks in a single season. These unfussy omnivores do more than protect us by eating disease-carrying ticks; they also clean up our ecosystems by eating rotting plants and dead animals, according to the federation. These nocturnal creatures are resistant to rabies and are more likely to play dead than attack when they encounter humans. So the federation reminds all residents that if you see an opossum in your area, do not call an exterminator. This misunderstood marsupial keeps our ecosystems healthy and keeps humans safe from disease.Sandy Hook Promise had some big news to share on its Facebook page recently: Its “Back-To-School Essentials” PSA , launched in September 2019, was nominated for a 2020 Emmy for Outstanding Commercial. “Thank you Emmys/Television Academy for the honor, and BBDO New York, SMUGGLER, and director Henry-Alex Rubin for partnering with us on our mission to #ProtectOurKids and #EndGunViolence,” the announcement on Facebook read. See the full list of nominees at emmys.com/events/72nd-emmy-nominations-announcement.Speaking of social media, do not forget to tell us what you think when we ask a question on Twitter using #TellTheNewtownBee. Periodically, we will post a question to our Twitter account (@TheNewtownBee) with #TellTheNewtownBee included in the tweet. Some responses will be featured in a later print edition of the paper. Keep an eye out for our next question.The Newtown Bee is also collecting pictures, with descriptions, from local residents to depict “life now.” The deadline to submit photos for each week’s paper is Wednesday at noon. To submit a photo, e-mail the image to reporter Eliza Hallabeck, eliza@thebee.com, with a brief description, including the names of those pictured.I can picture next week’s column already as long you as promise to… Read me again.

Top of the Mountain for August 7 Story The Top Of The Mountain Top of the Mountain for August 7 Features None

Features

#TellTheNewtownBee: How Do You Prepare For Summer Weather Events?

Features

Top Five NewtownBee.com Posts For July 26 To August 1

Top Five NewtownBee.com Posts For July 26 To August 1 What are newtownbee.com readers reading? Here are the top posts for July 26 to August 1. What are newtownbee.com readers reading? Each week we compile a list of the most read posts published to our site. Here is a roundup of the week’s top five posts, based on number of page reads.Keep up with all the Newtown news by subscribing to the paper each week — click “Subscribe” at newtownbee.com or e-mail subscriptions@thebee.com — and check our website for updates. Along with the headline, date published, and a brief description of the story, a link to each story is below.“Black Lives Matter Is Not Marxist,” a letter to the editor written by Stephen Zakur, published July 20. Read more at newtownbee.com/07202020/black-lives-matter-is-not-marxist.“Eversource Responds To Escalating Bills As Complaints Crackle,” by John Voket, published July 29. Local social network posts in Newtown — and across Connecticut’s Eversource electrical service sectors — are crackling with complaints as consumers have been opening their latest bills to see their payments increasing. Even Newtown State Rep Mitch Bolinsky (R-106) said he is being inundated with constituent concerns. Read more at newtownbee.com/07292020/eversource-responds-to-escalating-bills-as-complaints-crackle.“Newtown COVID Cases Up By 11 As State Turns Attention To Younger Residents, Victims,” by John Voket, published on July 30. State sources said by 4 pm on July 29, the number of Newtown’s positive COVID-19 cases had increased by 11 — to 256 from the 245 reported around the same time last week. Three additional residents were also reported to the database of those lost to the novel coronavirus that has also drastically increased the number of fatalities across the nation to more than 153,000. Read more at newtownbee.com/07302020/newtown-covid-cases-up-by-11-as-state-turns-attention-to-younger-residents-victims.“Now Open Under Former Ownership,” by Shannon Hicks, published on July 31. A very familiar face welcomed Dave Athans and Linda Bailey when the door of Sandy Hook Diner swung open Monday morning. Former diner owner Ellie Lewis, who retired from the diner four years ago, had purchased the business again during the recent pandemic closure. The diner closed temporarily in March, and Lewis was contacted by the building’s landlord a few months later. Read more at newtownbee.com/07312020/now-open-under-former-ownership.“Secure The Blessings Of Liberty,” a letter to the editor written by Cathy Reiss, published on July 29. Read more at newtownbee.com/07292020/secure-the-blessings-of-liberty.

Top Five NewtownBee.com Posts For July 26 To August 1 Eliza Hallabeck Story Top Five NewtownBee.com Posts For July 26 To August 1 Top Five NewtownBee.com Posts For July 19 To 25 Featured Slider, Features None

Sports

News

Newtown Prepping For Fall Sports Under New CIAC Guidelines

Newtown is readying for sports to begin again, following the release of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference’s (CIAC) 2020-21 Fall Sports Plan. Read more here.

Sports

Resurfacing Of Dickinson Park Tennis Courts Means Everyone Shares At Treadwell Park

Resurfacing Of Dickinson Park Tennis Courts Means Everyone Shares At Treadwell Park Work done on the Dickinson Park tennis courts last week had a ripple effect on the courts at Treadwell Park.Work done on the Dickinson Park tennis courts last week had a ripple effect on the courts at Treadwell Park.With Dickinson’s five courts closed for resurfacing, it meant local tennis enthusiasts had to share the four available courts at Treadwell Park. Fortunately, the overlap is for a brief duration.A crew from Classic Turf Company LLC arrived at Dickinson Park on Thursday, July 23, to begin the weeklong project on the decade-old playing surfaces. Prep work was done Thursday and Friday, and then painting and re-lining the courts was done this week.The Woodbury-based company installed the post tension concrete courts in 2010. The courts were due to be resurfaced last fall, according to Parks & Rec Assistant Director of Parks Carl Samuelson.“With weather and other delays, we had to wait until the spring, and then this spring we had COVID come in,” Samuelson said July 29. “Now that we’ve been able to get them here, though, they’re right on schedule.”Cost for the resurfacing, Samuelson said, was $45,000. That fee includes the cost of resurfacing a basketball court at Dickinson. That court will be done in the fall, he said.Meanwhile, last week’s session of Newtown Parks & Recreation Summer Tennis Camp, which takes place at Dickinson Park, relocated across town to Treadwell Park.For the fifth of seven planned sessions presented by Fairfield County Tennis, campers reported to the Philo Curtis Road location for the four-day event.Students ages 4-15 can register for the camp’s two remaining sessions offered Mondays through Thursdays, with a Friday rain date if needed.Noncampers were able to use the Treadwell Park courts before each morning’s session began at 9:30 am, and then needed to wait until after each camp session concluded at 1 pm to vie for the courts.

Dickson tennis courts resurfaced, lessons move to Treadwell Shannon Hicks Story Resurfacing Of Dickinson Park Tennis Courts Means Everyone Shares At Treadwell Park Dickson tennis courts resurfaced, lessons move to Treadwell Featured Slider, Sports None

Sports

WestConn Cancels Intercollegiate Fall Sports Competition

WestConn Cancels Intercollegiate Fall Sports Competition Western Connecticut State University has announced the cancellation of intercollegiate competition during the fall 2020 semester. DANBURY — Over the past several months, institutions throughout the Little East Conference and their respective athletics departments have closely monitored the evolving situation surrounding COVID-19 and the pandemic’s impact on intercollegiate competition. The Little East Conference President’s Council announced July 28 that conference-sponsored competition, including conference championship events, would not take place for the duration of the fall 2020 semester. After careful review and with guidance from university administration, Western Connecticut State University has announced the cancellation of intercollegiate competition during the fall 2020 semester.“It is with a heavy heart and deep reluctance that we must cancel all contests for the fall 2020 semester,” said Director of Athletics and Recreation Lori R. Mazza. “The health and safety of our student-athletes and staff remains our top priority, and this is a sacrifice we must make to ensure their wellness, and that of the entire campus community. It is important to emphasize the important role that athletics plays in the lives of students and staff across campus and we look forward to returning to competition as soon as it is safe to do so.”Many student-athletes will be returning to campus to resume their studies and WestConn plans to provide a safe environment for those individuals to work with their coaches and practice in small groups. All proper protocols will be followed, including the phased resocialization plan provided by the NCAA. Social distancing, PPE, and limited capacity/group size are all part of the safety protocols that will be followed. The goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment for student-athletes to benefit from the athletic experience. The university recently released information about returning to campus, which can be found at wcsu.edu/reopen. FAQs can be found on the home page at westconnathletics.com.“Though this is not the outcome we had hoped for and worked toward, we appreciate everyone’s patience and support during this challenging time,” said Mazza. “We will continue to work with colleagues throughout the Little East Conference to discuss plans for winter and spring competition.”

WestConn Cancels Fall Sports Story WestConn Cancels Intercollegiate Fall Sports Competition WestConn Cancels Fall Sports Sports None

Sports

Sports Campers Play On

Sports Campers Play On Newtown Parks & Recreation’s sports camps are continuing this summer, with precautions in place due to the pandemic. Newtown Parks & Recreation’s sports camps are continuing this summer, with precautions in place due to the pandemic.At the Skyhawks Mini Hawk camp, early on the morning of July 16, campers were playing a game indoors at Hawley Elementary School under the guidance of camp instructors Alicia Fernandez and Jack Moulder. The “Mr Fox Game” was essentially tag, but instructors used pool noodles to touch the young players from a distance. The campers later went outside to play baseball, soccer, and basketball.Later in the day, the back fields at Newtown High School teemed with players practicing their softball and baseball skills in the Thoesen Baseball and Softball camps.“It’s just good to get out, and the kids are having fun,” said Ian Thoesen, who runs the camps and is the varsity baseball coach at NHS. Matt Paz, who is the NHS varsity assistant coach with Thoesen, also coaches at the camps. High school athletes participate, too, helping the younger students, Thoesen shared.Thoesen said the camps were making sure to follow guidelines to maintain a safe atmosphere. As he spoke, players practiced their pitches and catching skills behind him, while others played a game on a nearby field.

Newtown Parks & Recreation Sports Camps Underway Eliza Hallabeck Story Sports Campers Play On Newtown Parks & Recreation Sports Camps Underway Featured Slider, Sports None

Sports

The Spirit Of Giving For The Game Of Healing

The Spirit Of Giving For The Game Of Healing A collection of lacrosse equipment that had been spearheaded earlier this year by a local resident, to benefit a youth group in lower Fairfield County, is finally making its way toward its intended recipients. A collection of lacrosse equipment that had been spearheaded earlier this year by a local resident to benefit a youth group in lower Fairfield County is finally making its way toward its intended recipients.Stephanie Barnes launched the collection of pre-owned equipment in March. The Newtown resident intended to have donations delivered to Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse (BYL) in time for the spring 2020 season. COVID-19 slowed those plans.BYL is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission of increasing awareness and opportunity for youth living in the Park City.Over time, the league has grown. It is now under the umbrella of Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse Sports Academy, which is a year-round after-school program that provides “academic intervention, behavioral support, mentoring, leadership training and sports instructions to over 250 student-athletes throughout Fairfield County,” according to its website.According to its mission statement, one of BYL’s biggest goals is to “diminish the disparity between the quality of holistic sports programs available to Bridgeport’s urban youth and those offered to their suburban counterparts.”In seeking to reduce that disparity, BYLSA founder Donald Wilson leads a year-round effort that raises approximately $145,000 to pay for coaches, facilities, and travel team expenses, among other costs, he said this week.Those funds make it possible, he said, to offer the program nearly cost-free. Donations of equipment are equally critical for the Bridgeport program’s continuation.This past Monday morning, Barnes and Wilson caught up at NYA Sports & Fitness Center with Ian Yorty, executive director of the sports and fitness center. The three loaded a van with the donated equipment collected in March.While that collection was smaller than the one Barnes and Yorty had hoped to gather, both mentioned future outreach was more than a possibility.More Than A GameA former resident of the Black Rock section of Bridgeport, Barnes said the idea to collect for BYL began forming during the 2019 holiday season.“I’ve been very fortunate, even as a single mother, when it comes to extracurriculars for my son — sports, soccer, camp, all that stuff,” she said. Her father, she said, has always helped cover the extra costs of equipment for teams Barnes’s son wanted to be involved with.Juliano Barnes played lacrosse with Newtown Youth Lacrosse for a few seasons before switching to soccer. When he decided last year to return to lacrosse, Barnes chose to take on the cost of her son’s new equipment as a Christmas gift.“I always knew that it was very expensive, but I hadn’t really felt it until I purchased all of his lacrosse equipment for the spring,” she said. Barnes spent between $500 and $600, she said.That was when she began thinking about the Bridgeport youth group, “who had come into my view through living in Bridgeport,” she said. “It made me think about them, and how they raise a lot of money in order to give the kids who want to play lacrosse in Bridgeport the opportunity to, for free.”Barnes is quick to point out that she is not blind to local families in need.“I’m not taking an entire suburban town and saying everybody in this town can easily access this,” she stated. “There are people who struggle everywhere.”Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse is for boys and girls ages 5 to 15. It launched in 2007 as its own entity, Wilson explained recently.“Over the years we transformed and morphed into Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse Sports Academy as a way to engage more children here,” he said over the phone on July 19. “Lacrosse is a pretty unique sport, and not every child would want to play. But to give them the opportunity to play others sports, and engage with others, and receive positive feedback, that’s why the program was expanded.”Within the academy, he said, BYLSA offers enrichment programs including yoga for children, mindfulness, and social and emotional learning (or SEL), among others.Dedicated to benefitting the youth of Bridgeport, the organization’s founders recognized that the cost of registration and equipment for lacrosse can be significant.“We strive to keep the costs as low as possible, and we do not want financial hardship to be in the way of an opportunity for children to be able to participate in the program,” according to the website’s FAQ page. Scholarships help cover some costs and come with a 10- to 15-hour commitment of volunteer time to BYL.Donated and new equipment is also provided to players.Donations, Williams said, “are really and truly the lifeblood of how we have been able to just deliver our programs to our youth here in Bridgeport.”Most of the program’s equipment and funding comes from families and businesses in Fairfield County. Those donations cover what could be a $400- to $500-per-person fee to outfit each player with equipment and cover insurance, Wilson explained. Most parents in Bridgeport, he noted, work two or three jobs. They cannot afford an outlay of a few hundred dollars for sports.Instead, each family is asked for a nominal fee.“We try to collect $65 from families, to pay for insurance and registration through US Lacrosse,” he said. “It’s something we try to get from them, to invest in their child’s future.”The program is not funded by the City of Bridgeport.“We really depend on generous families, and private and corporate funding, to keep up with paying for our coaches, facilities, travel expenses, stuff that our youth really can’t afford at their level,” Wilson said.“We do our best to get these resources, to deliver to the youth in Bridgeport and beyond,” he said, bringing up another important point: Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse Sports Academy is open to boys and girls across the county, not just the city in which it is based.“Our academy has multiple sports, and is open and diverse, to attract everyone to come and play, not just for Bridgeport residents,” he said. “We really want to get folks from outside of Bridgeport to come in and play and really just give them a different perspective.“Everyone can’t just be in their bubble and think the world is just in their little corner,” he added. “Diversion and inclusion is very important to us.”Wilson sees lacrosse as more than a sport. He sees it as an exercise in healing, for one thing.“It’s really a spiritual game, created for healing, and good sportsmanship, and good family atmosphere, and culture,” he said Sunday. While the sport is often seen as one that is played in the suburbs by the elite, “the true essence of the game is a medicine game,” he added.Calling it The Creator’s Game, Wilson pointed out that lacrosse is a Native American sport. Many scholars have said that the game heals players through the physical exertions of running, throwing, and playing.“It’s meant for healing,” he said. “When warriors played this game, the real healing came in the battle for the ball. When you fight for the ball, and you exert your energy, the more the Creator will smile on you.”Wilson also fell in love with the game for its spiritual connections.Teaching youth, he said, “to be more mindful, and to experience the healing, is especially what’s so needed in Bridgeport, with all the trauma and the violence.”A Collection LaunchedYorty said last week he felt the collection for BYL was a perfect match for NYA after hearing about the nonprofit organization from Barnes.“Once she shed more light on what they were about, it’s right along the lines of what we do,” he said. “NYA looks to connect the community through sports and wellness, and support youth sports in particular. So this was right up our alley.”The timing was also advantageous.“It was the time of year when there’s a lot of lacrosse activity coming through our doors,” Yorty added. “We thought it might be a good opportunity to catch some eyeballs and hopefully be able to help out this organization.”Members of Newtown Newcomers & Neighbors, of which Barnes is a member, collected donations during two afternoons in early March.NYA, according to Yorty, then kept the bins in place.“We kept the bins out so people could drop off donations,” Yorty said last week. “We were planning on extending the collection, but unfortunately things got cut short.”Like countless other things this year, the project was derailed by the arrival of the coronavirus across the region. Following one of the orders from Governor Ned Lamont that ordered most businesses to cease operations, NYA temporarily closed its doors. The donations — helmets, backpacks, sticks, etc — were put away until Monday, when Wilson drove to Newtown to pick up everything.Barnes is aware, she said, of “kids in Bridgeport who have nothing, while many others have so much.“It’s an unbelievable thing we take for granted here in the suburbs,” she said.“The thing is,” she said last week, “when you get out of your own bubble, and if you were to go to Bridgeport and meet the team, and these people involved with this program, your life just opens up.“It’s a different world, and a beautiful world, with beautiful people.”Wilson is hoping the collection in Newtown will continue here and elsewhere, with a result wider beyond what will be seen on the lacrosse field.“I believe what Bridgeport needs is a Newtown-style response to the violence here in this city,” he said. Wilson was referring to the kindness shown to Newtown since 12/14, and the positive effect it has had on many in the town.“Our youth is really suffering from adverse child experiences,” he said. Taking kids away from that “could really change their lives,” he said. “These kids can succeed. Give them positive role models and resources.“Taking them away from the negative impacts of their environments and communities can really be life changing for the youth in Bridgeport, and I see that being possible with support,” he added.NYA’s executive director on Monday said he anticipates additional collections for Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse.“We could make this a regular event,” Yorty said before he and Barnes helped load the donations into Wilson’s van. “This one was cut short, but we’ll continue to host collections. That, and next time local organizations need to update their equipment, hopefully they’ll remember this collection and come to us.”For additional information about Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse Sports Academy, including donation and program opportunities, call 203-273-6084 or visit bridgeportyouthlacrosse.org.

Newtown donates lacrosse equipment to Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse Shannon Hicks Story The Spirit Of Giving For The Game Of Healing Newtown donates lacrosse equipment to Bridgeport Youth Lacrosse Featured Slider, Sports None

Today's Events

August 9, 2020

Edmond Town Hall Pandemic Building Review Subcommittee (virtual) meeting (agenda posted)

NOTE: Due to continued COVID-19 concerns, most meetings are being conducted online. Click through the agenda below for information on joining this meeting.

agenda posted

August 09, 2020 at 05:00 pm

Ingersoll Auto Pop-Up Drive-In: "Frozen" **CANCELED**

Due to damage to the pop-up drive-in theater screen, tonight’s movie has been canceled. Ticket-holders will receive refunds.

~~Edmond Town Hall rear parking lot, 45 Main Street~~

~~Tickets $10/vehicle, $8 for optional popcorn special, have printed receipt ready or be prepared to show cell phone through closed window of vehicle (reservations must be done by 8, online only)~~

~~Lot opens at 8:30, show starts at 9~~

~~Screenings of blockbuster 2013 animated film featuring the vocal talents of Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, et al, rated PG, continue nightly through August 13~~; 203-270-4285, edmondtownhall.org.

August 09, 2020 at 08:30 pm

Special Editions

After Extended Vacancy, Main Street's Inn Readies For Reopening

A Pandemic To Which No One Is Immune

I agree with the points raised here for ordinary times; however, the magnitude of the surplus funds this year is extraordinarily large. Projected start of year surplus is now a seven figure number, approaching 2% of the annual school budget. Is there a point at which the surplus becomes so large that taxpayers should be allowed to vote on what is done with it? At present, we vote on the school budget, which is tied to a specific operating plan. What goes into that plan is debated in a public forum and single digit percentage changes are considered substantial and important to taxpayers. If we underspend that plan by a similar significant amount, should it really be a given that the money can be spent on items not in the specific voted upon operating plan without taxpayer input? For nominal amounts, I agree with BOE discretion, but when the amounts grow as large as they have this year, I'm not so sure that's the right approach. It starts to render the vote on the budget and operating plan less meaningful.

A Bridge Over Muddied Waters

I would suggest you look up the Connecticut Constitution. The present one (that State and Local officials take an oath to uphold) was adopted by referendum, in 1965. Black people did vote in Connecticut then and were present at the Constitutional Convention. As to the Federal Constitution, it has been construed by the Supreme Court to apply to All Citizens.

The Reality Of Black Experiences

Could The Bee please explain the article published last week, but not available on the website, about how Eversource had actually lowered generation rates, starting 7/1/2020? There was no mention of the rate increase that folks are complaining about. I have been quite confused about what is going on, although of course what matters most is the "amount due" on the bill. The regulations and the way our bills are broken out are confusing, but it doesn't help when the local news source seems to be reporting something so different from what people are actually experiencing.

Eversource Responds To Escalating Bills As Complaints Crackle

Vinny! Stop clicking that pen!!!! Boom

Date: Fri 19-Jan-1996

Not a criticism of you, but I am appalled you had to define "Pandora's Box". What is the state of our education system. Good points all, and they have kept coming up since we purchased Fairfield Hills all these years ago. What will the effect be on our municipal services. Will we need more police ? Will our all volunteer Fire Departments be able to handle the building project at completion. (Last year the Fire Chief in Brookfield spoke against a apartment project saying in part, they did not have sufficient apparatus and in the event of a major incident they could not guarantee sufficient manpower.) What exactly is "affordable housing". I know it is a percentage of the median income. My brother lives in Stamford. A developer got around zoning by building affordable units. To qualify you can make up to $80,000 a year. Of course they are making rents at the high end of "affordable". We need to do something with Fairfield Hills. Maybe we should have gone with a golf course or Horse facility. It is not generating any tax revenue, is taking money from the town, and those abandoned buildings, and tunnels underneath, are becomming more and more dangerous every year.

Fairfield Hills Opening Pandora Box

Show What Life Looks Like Now

After Extended Vacancy, Main Street's Inn Readies For Reopening

Newtown Prepping For Fall Sports Under New CIAC Guidelines

Hit Hard By Isais? Check These Resources For Residents

Lawmakers Announce 'U Drive, U Text, U Pay' As Local Traffic Expert Shares Concerns

Show What Life Looks Like Now

Area Promoters ‘Fielding’ Limited Concert Series — Grace Potter Headlining Both

The Top Of The Mountain

#TellTheNewtownBee: How Do You Prepare For Summer Weather Events?

Top Five NewtownBee.com Posts For July 26 To August 1

Newtown Prepping For Fall Sports Under New CIAC Guidelines

Resurfacing Of Dickinson Park Tennis Courts Means Everyone Shares At Treadwell Park

WestConn Cancels Intercollegiate Fall Sports Competition

Sports Campers Play On

The Spirit Of Giving For The Game Of Healing

Home & Garden Spring 2020

Guide To Newtown 2020

Holiday Gift Guide 2019

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 2018

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

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After Extended Vacancy, Main Street's Inn Readies For Reopening

Newtown Prepping For Fall Sports Under New CIAC Guidelines

Hit Hard By Isais? Check These Resources For Residents

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Show What Life Looks Like Now

Area Promoters ‘Fielding’ Limited Concert Series — Grace Potter Headlining Both

The Top Of The Mountain

#TellTheNewtownBee: How Do You Prepare For Summer Weather Events?

Top Five NewtownBee.com Posts For July 26 To August 1

Newtown Prepping For Fall Sports Under New CIAC Guidelines

Resurfacing Of Dickinson Park Tennis Courts Means Everyone Shares At Treadwell Park

WestConn Cancels Intercollegiate Fall Sports Competition

Sports Campers Play On

The Spirit Of Giving For The Game Of Healing

Home & Garden Spring 2020

Guide To Newtown 2020

Holiday Gift Guide 2019

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 2018

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