Summer Travels Lead To ‘The Making Of A Holocaust Educator’ Summer travels have led Newtown High School social studies teacher Rachel Torres to being excited for the 2019-20 school year: She documented traveling to Lithuania and Poland while learning about the Holocaust.Summer travels have led Newtown High School social studies teacher Rachel Torres to being excited for the 2019-20 school year: She documented traveling to Lithuania and Poland while learning about the Holocaust.Ms Torres kept track of her travels through an online blog, torrestopia.blogspot.com.On the first day of her trip, July 14, she announced she had arrived safely after a flight to Moscow, then Lithuania.“I settled in and decided to venture out to the streets of Vilnius on my own. The hotel is located in the ‘Old Town,’ and the history and architecture is breathtaking,” the first day’s blog post reads. “I want time to slow down so I can take this all in. This feels so surreal to me. I have never been to Europe, and I am overwhelmed by the amazing opportunity I have been given. Tomorrow, the rest of the group arrives, and the work begins.”Weeks later, while reviewing her memories from the trip at The Newtown Bee’s office, Ms Torres still seamed breath-taken with the experience.She called her blog “The Making of a Holocaust Educator.”While her travels began on July 14 with the first blog post, her adventure began months before. She was dedicated to helping NHS fulfill the Connecticut Holocaust and Genocide Education Awareness Act standards.“I had become really interested in seeing how I could incorporate that mandate more fully into my classroom,” Ms Torres said, explaining that all public schools in Connecticut need to meet the new act’s standards since it was passed in 2018.So in June, she attended a two-week seminar for educators at The Olga Lengyel Institute (TOLI) in New York City.From there, as she documented in a post on July 12, she became “an unlikely Holocaust Educator,” as she is of Puerto Rican descent, born and raised in the Bronx.“Fast forward 35 years, and now I’m a high school history teacher,” she wrote. “I’ve taught in several school districts, two of urban demographics. Where I teach now and will be the place I will eventually retire from, is at Newtown High School, in Sandy Hook, CT.”Ms Torres said people do not need to be “of a particular culture to feel empathy... We all understand suffering, pain.”The post further explains that after an anti-Semitic remark was made toward one of her students, Ms Torres became that student’s advocate. The incident led her to the University of Hartford’s “Teach for the Future: Holocaust and Genocide Education in the 21st Century” conference in October of 2018.“With the new [Connecticut] state law mandating educators to teach about the Holocaust, I wanted to equip myself with the latest information on how to effectively implement this significant historical topic,” Ms Torres wrote.After the conference, she learned about a then upcoming trip to Lithuania and Poland. From “Day 1” to “Day 13,” as she titled her blog posts, Ms Torres documented her travels and all she learned about on her journey.“Often the Holocaust is reduced to a number... My experience taught me that it’s not a number. These are people who lived ordinary lives like you and me, had a culture, made contributions to society throughout Europe, had children, they were teenagers... They were just regular people,” Ms Torres said after the journey. “In order to understand the magnitude of the Holocaust, I want my students to have an appreciation for Yiddish culture and pre-war Jewish life, so they can have a context of the dramatic impact that the Holocaust had.”To share that lesson, Ms Torres said it is important to her to first teach about the culture. She has big plans for the upcoming school year, including a potential trip for students to New York.“For my students to develop empathy and compassion for what occurred to those Jews, they need to understand who they were before they were destroyed,” said Ms Torres. “It makes it more real, more palpable to them.”The learning expedition in Lithuania and Poland was led by Trinity College’s Professor Samuel Kassow. The group visited former Jewish quarters, synagogues, sites of former ghettos, and concentration camps. A trained tour guide also led the group through sites. Ms Torres described it as “constant learning of information”Many of her fellow travelers were visiting where their grandparents had lived or perished. Ms Torres said it was a humbling experience, and it was her first time traveling to Europe.“It was an amazing experiential trip for me,” Ms Torres said. “It’s one thing to teach about a historical period, but to actually visit the places that you teach about — it adds a whole other dimension to your own learning and how you plan to teach it to your students.”Ms Torres said she loves her job and she is passionate, so her lessons on the subject will now be on a “whole other level.”Between the conferences, her recent trip, online webinars, and other lessons, Ms Torres estimates she has spent more than 200 hours of her own professional development on the subject of the Holocaust.Ms Torres said a number of supports made her Holocaust Education possible: The Konover/Coppa Fund; the University of Hartford’s Greenberg Center; the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford; Trinity College; the University of Connecticut’s Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Life, Voices of Hope; the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford; the Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut; Newtown Public Schools; and the trip was coordinated by the The Jewish Hartford European Roots Project and the University of Connecticut’s Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, where she will serve as an Educator Fellow.According to Ms Torres, Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue and NHS Social Studies Department Chair Amy Deeb provided professional development and “invaluable support to equip me with the pedagogy and strategies for effective Holocaust instruction.”“What I want my friends, my colleagues, my students to get from this experience that I got is that we have to challenge bias, we have to stand up for civil rights, and we have to make sure we are critically thinking about the things that we are seeing in our society so that we make sure it never happens again,” Ms Torres said, questioning whether society is watching for the signs — like an ideology that exploded and permeated through an entire continent — that led to the Holocaust.NHS Teacher Travels To Study The Holocaust Eliza Hallabeck
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Hawleyville Center Design District Zoning Rule Change Proposed The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) is scheduled to consider a proposed zoning regulation change that would affect the method used in calculating the maximum amount of residential space allowed in mixed-use developments in the Hawleyville Center Design District (HCDD) zone.The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) is scheduled to consider a proposed zoning regulation change that would affect the method used in calculating the maximum amount of residential space allowed in mixed-use developments in the Hawleyville Center Design District (HCDD) zone.A public hearing at which the proposed technical changes would be aired is scheduled for the P&Z meeting that will start at 7:30 pm on Thursday, September 5, at Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.P&Z members discussed the proposed HCDD zoning rule changes at their August 15 meeting.George Benson, town planning director, has said the proposed rule changes would bring the HCDD zoning regulations into conformance with the Sandy Hook Design District (SHDD) zoning rules on the residential space topic. The SHDD zone, which the P&Z created in 1995, was the first of several such design districts locally. The P&Z created the HCDD zone in 1999.The purpose of the Hawleyville Center Design District is to encourage and promote the creation of a neighborhood business district that will include mixed-use activities, improvements, and development typical of a village center. The intent is to promote business activities within the district that will serve the surrounding neighborhoods and, to a lesser degree, accommodate services that are compatible with the district’s proximity to the Exit 9 interchange of Interstate 84.The proposed zoning regulations would alter how the P&Z determines the amount of residential space that is permitted in a mixed-use development in the HCDD zone in cases where a special zoning permit is required for construction.Currently, the number of dwellings allowed is keyed to the size of the site, with a maximum of one dwelling allowed per one-half acre. In the proposed rules, a dwelling would have a maximum size of 1,200 square feet, with the residential space allowed overall expressed in terms of a fraction of the gross floor area of a mixed-use building.Generally, the proposed rules concern the maximum residential construction density in areas that have mixed commercial/residential development in HCDD zones.Fairfield Hills HousingIn other business at the August 15 P&Z session, P&Z Chairman Don Mitchell said that the Board of Selectmen and P&Z are slated to have a joint meeting on September 23 to discuss the Fairfield Hills Master Plan Review Committee’s recommendation that a revised master plan allow for some residential development at the town-owned Fairfield Hills core campus.Potentially permitting multifamily housing at Fairfield Hills would require the P&Z to modify the Fairfield Hills Adaptive Reuse (FHAR) zoning regulations, Mr Mitchell said.Mr Mitchell told P&Z members that it is important for them to attend the session to stay informed about the housing topic.Several past proposals to create multifamily housing at Fairfield Hills have drawn stiff opposition from the public, with those proposals later being removed from consideration.hawleyville housing zoning rules Andrew Gorosko
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The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) is scheduled to consider a proposed zoning regulation change that would affect the method used in calculating the maximum amount of residential space allowed in mixed-use developments in the Hawleyville Center Design District (HCDD) zone.
Community Center Hosts Welcome WeekThe Newtown Community Center staff has announced Welcome Week from August 26 through 30. Open to the entire community, Welcome Week offers free activities each day to include “something for everyone of all ages,” the announcement states.Join center staff from Monday, August 26, through Friday, August 30, and experience the types of activities the new venue has to offer. Events are held at the center, 8 Simpson Street, Fairfield Hills.Events include:Monday — Tai Chi, 6 to 7 pm. Yoga, 7:15 to 8:15 pm.Tuesday — Swim Evaluations, 1 to 2 pm. Dance Fusion, 6 to 7 pm.Wednesday — Community Art Studio, 1 to 3 pm. Adult Ballet, 6:30 to 7:30 pm.Thursday — Swim Evaluations, 1 to 2 pm.Friday — Crafternoon, 1 to 3 pm.Learn more about the Newtown Community Center at newtowncommunitycenter.org. Call 203-270-4349 for more information.Welcome Week at Community Center Story Community Center Hosts Welcome WeekWelcome Week at Community CenterNewsNone
P&Z Hearing Slated On Farmers’ Market Food Trucks
The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) has scheduled a public hearing to receive comments on its regulatory proposal to allow food trucks to become a permanent feature of local farmers’ markets.The Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) has scheduled a public hearing to receive comments on its regulatory proposal to allow food trucks to become a permanent feature of local farmers’ markets.The hearing will be held at the P&Z meeting, which starts at 7:30 pm on Thursday, September 5, at Newtown Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.In April 2016, after extensive discussion, the P&Z approved zoning regulations that provided for a one-year trial period, during which a small number of food trucks were allowed as a feature of farmers’ markets in order to gauge the workability of such an arrangement.Locally, during the growing season, the Newtown Farmers Market is conducted from mid-June to late October on Tuesdays from 2 to 6:30 pm at Fairfield Hills. Over the years, that event has been held at various locations at Fairfield Hills. This year, the market is being conducted off Keating Farms Avenue, at the site where Woodbury Hall stood before its demolition.George Benson, town planning director, said August 20 that following the one-year trial period for food trucks, which ran during the 2016 market season, the market did not return to the P&Z seeking to make the food trucks a permanent market feature.“When they (market) had the food trucks, it was fine... The trial period was successful... We didn’t have any issues with it,” Mr Benson said. The trial period was designed test the operational aspects of having food trucks present at a farmers’ market, not the profit that food truck operators would derive from being at the market.When food truck operators showed an interest in doing business at the farmers’ market this year, the town Land Use Agency decided to let them return, Mr Benson said. The zoning regulations to be aired at the September 5 public hearing would formalize food trucks as a permanent feature of farmers’ markets.Market MasterSue Shortt is one of the market masters at The Newtown Farmers Market. Ms Shortt said August 21 of the proposed zoning regulations, “I hope they [P&Z] approve it.”This season, the market has had the food truck known as Sonny’s Grinders at the market, she said. The truck sells sandwiches and offers foods with an Asian character. Occasionally, other food truck operators have come to the market this season, she added. Ms Shortt said she expects that food trucks that sell pizza would do well at the market.During the 2016 market season, the market had one food truck. It sold french fries.Besides a market fee, food truck operators who do business at the market pay a town Health Department fee for food service inspection.Suzette LeBlanc, the Health Departments’s food service inspector, explained that food trucks are subject to inspections for sanitary conditions similar to the inspections conducted at conventional eateries located in buildings.In late July, Newtown attracted about 20 food trucks to Fairfield Hills when the Chamber of Commerce of Newtown and the town Parks & Recreation Department jointly staged the Second Annual Newtown Day event.The P&Z’s proposed zoning regulations, which would make food trucks a permanent aspect of local farmers’ markets, specify several conditions.According to the proposed rules: a maximum of three food trucks would be allowed at each farmers’ market session; the trucks must be parked on asphalt; food truck vendors must register with the town at least two weeks before the first farmers’ market session of the season; and if there are more than three food truck operators who want to participate, the market will hold a lottery to determine who will be allowed to attend.The P&Z defines a farmers’ market as a seasonal outdoor event where items are offered for sale to the general public, including fruits, vegetables, herbs, plants, flowers, eggs, honey, maple syrup, dairy products, jams, jellies, baked foods, and seasonal items like Christmas trees and cemetery baskets.HistoryIn April 2016, after lengthy discussion, P&Z members unanimously approved zoning rule changes that allowed farmers markets to have “temporary food establishments,” thus permitting vendors to sell various prepared foods. The regulations allowed food vendors to operate either from a food truck or within a tent.The farmers’ market had sought that zoning rule change to boost attendance and spur business activity. In 2016, Mr Benson cautioned that it may take the market “a few years” before such increased sales materialize.Following discussion, P&Z members unanimously approved a motion to allow temporary food establishments to do business at the farmers’ market.What is now The Newtown Farmers Market at Fairfield Hills began as an all-organic market in Sandy Hook Center.The market started in a parking lot behind the former St John’s Episcopal Church on Washington Avenue and was also temporarily located at the former Lexington Gardens site on Church Hill Road. It returned to St John’s, after which it gained permission to hold the market at Fairfield Hills.In its first year there, the market was staged near the former main entrance to Fairfield Hills. During the following two years, it was positioned near Danbury Hall, a building that has since has been demolished. The market then moved to the area north of Shelton House.The town-owned Fairfield Hills core campus is in the Fairfield Hills Adaptive Reuse (FHAR) zone. The P&Z allows a farmers’ market in the FHAR zone provided that it complies with the state Department of Agriculture definition of a “certified farmers’ market.” Items offered for sale at a local farmers’ market must be Connecticut-grown or made from Connecticut-grown produce.food trucks at farmers market Andrew Gorosko
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Fairfield Auction Conducts C.H. Booth Library Fundraiser
Residents have the unique opportunity to own furniture and antiques once housed at the C.H. Booth Library by bidding on designated items for sale through online fundraising auctioneer Fairfield Auction.Residents have the unique opportunity to own furniture and antiques once housed at the C.H. Booth Library by bidding on designated items for sale through online fundraising auctioneer Fairfield Auction.The “Newtown Library Fundraiser” went live on August 2 and will be accepting bids until Thursday, September 5, at 6 pm, at .https://tinyurl.com/chboothfundraiserEach item was evaluated by Newtown resident Jack DeStories, owner of Fairfield Auction in Monroe. In addition to providing Mr DeStories’ knowledge of antiques, Fairfield Auction is hosting the fundraiser pro bono as a way to support the library for all it does.“It’s something we try to do when we can,” Mr DeStories said.According to the C.H. Booth Library, “All funds raised by the ‘Newtown Library Fundraiser’ will benefit efforts to preserve the library’s valuable museum and archive collections, which include all the artifacts and furnishings left to the library by its benefactress Mary Hawley in the 1930s, plus hundreds more.”None of the items for sale are from the Hawley family or created by a local craftsperson, but some items have been visible to the public for years at the library in various rooms.“All in all, it’s been a lot of work to identify and move the surplus items and get them online, but we’re very happy to make sure that people have the opportunity to take them home as wanted,” C.H. Booth Library Director Douglas Lord said.There are 15 pieces available for viewing and bidding, all of which are currently located in the Hawley Gallery on the third floor, for those interested in seeing the items in person.The items range from furniture to small antiques, and include two Deacon’s Benches from 1860 that were previously located in the back hallway of the library; an Empire Mahogany Settee, circa 1830; a 15-inch Victorian Ruby Glass Lustre from 1880; a Victorian Marble Mantle Clock, circa 1890; and a handmade dollhouse from the late 20th Century.“The dollhouse is kind of a fun thing,” Mr DeStories said. “Every room is fully furnished and filled with lots of detailed items. It would be a tremendous purchase for the right person, the right kid.”Bidding Process“In terms of bidding, everyone has their own bidding strategies,” Mr DeStories said.Since it is a timed online auction, he encourages people register early to make sure they understand how the auction software works.“The system only applies the minimum bid that it takes to become the high bidder. Even if you leave a high bid, it doesn’t mean that it’s going to be displayed on the system immediately,” Mr DeStories explained. “So you can bid $200 and you may be the high bidder at $22, until someone bids $23, then it’ll keep going that way… it will only apply the amount it takes to bid competitively against the other bids on the system.”If anyone has difficulty registering or bidding, he recommends calling Fairfield Auction at 203-880-5200.The C.H. Booth Library states, “Items are as-is, all sales are final, and there are no guarantees. Buyers must transport the items themselves, and bids are online-only. All items must be paid for and picked up at the library between Friday, September 6, and Friday, September 13.”As of August 20, almost everything available through the auction had a bid and some had multiple.Mr Lord says the library hopes to raise $1,000 through the “Newtown Library Fundraiser.”To view the Newtown Library Fundraiser items and place a bid, visit https://tinyurl.com/chboothfundraiser. Contact the C.H. Booth Library’s Reference Desk for question related to the auction at 203-426-4533.Newtown Library Fundraiser Alissa Silber
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BOS Approves Children’s Adventure Center Expansion, Lease Newtown's Board of Selectmen have approved a lease arrangement along with an expansion of the Children’s Adventure Center into most of the vacant adjacent space formerly occupied by the Senior Center.Following a closed executive session August 19, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal notified The Newtown Bee that the Board of Selectmen have approved a lease arrangement along with an expansion of the Children’s Adventure Center into most of the vacant adjacent space formerly occupied by the Senior Center.Mr Rosenthal said following the closed session, selectmen returned and unanimously approved an annual lease of $36,000. Once all the paperwork is reviewed and signed off by all parties, the early childhood center that serves children from 2½ to 5 years old will occupy the entire Riverside Road facility, except for one large room.That space — the former Senior Center’s piano room — is being reserved as storage for equipment and supplies used by the Registrars of Voters. The registrars currently use a storage room at Town Hall South, but the first selectman said as the police department readies for its relocation to a new headquarters, that building needs to be completely vacated.The Social Services department, formerly at Town Hall South, has relocated into the Center for Support and Wellness at Fairfield Hills, and the Parks & Recreation administrative offices have already fully shifted to space in the new Community Center.Mr Rosenthal said stipulations of the lease include a cooperative arrangement between the town and the Adventure Center, which is the municipality’s official state-sanctioned childcare center. The town will be responsible for snow plowing, landscaping, utility costs, and any significant structural or mechanical repairs.“The selectmen want the Children’s Adventure Center to succeed,” Mr Rosenthal said. “So we want to work with them on this. It makes the most sense to let them expand to occupy most of the rest of that building.”The first selectman said that he believes the town would be hard-pressed to easily find another tenant for the space given the floor plan configuration, and that a tenant would need to be an appropriate fit for relocating next to an active preschool.He said the lease is structured with a seven-month advance notice for termination, and terms could be renegotiated annually.“The Children’s Adventure Center has a long and distinguished record of success serving Newtown families and others from the immediate area,” he said. “And as the town’s subcontractor for childcare services, I’m happy to see they have the opportunity to expand to better serve our families and children in need of daily care.”Mr Rosenthal said the selectmen deemed it a fair lease and were pleased that the revenue would approximately offset the expense for municipal services and utility costs.“I think we landed in a good spot with this initial lease arrangement,” he said.Several hours after receiving the news of the lease approval, CAC Executive Director Anna Ruggiero was still gleefully ecstatic. She said the expansion would effectively permit the center to eliminate its waiting list of parents and others seeking full-day childcare or who need to utilize the center’s before and/or after school programs.“There’s just not enough affordable childcare in our region,” Ms Ruggiero said. “It’s a reality that we have families struggling in our town to afford the care they need to be able to work. And some of them — single parents — are paying up to one-third of their pay just to afford childcare so they can work.”Ms Ruggiero said she has also seen cases in two working parent homes where one of the parents may just be working to cover the cost of childcare.“So expanding the center has been a long-term goal of mine going back over five years,” she said. “With this new lease and the ability to expand, we can help more of our families. We’ve had some on the waiting list since last November.”Ms Ruggiero said the long waiting list is also a testament to the quality of the Adventure Center’s programming and the legacy of its co-founder — the late Mae Schmidle.“I don’t believe I’d have the level of passion for this place that I do if it wasn’t for working beside Mae,” Ms Ruggiero said of her predecessor.The expansion into the former Senior Center space will also allow the CAC to create an entire new classroom, which means it will have more job opportunities for students in the Newtown High School, and in area college early childhood education programs.“I love having these young people come in to work with us,” she said. “They bring energy and fresh perspectives, and they love to just get down on the floor and play — the kids absolutely love it,” Ms Ruggiero said.BOS Approves Children's Adventure Center Expansion, Lease John Voket
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Summer Travels Lead To ‘The Making Of A Holocaust Educator’ Summer travels have led Newtown High School social studies teacher Rachel Torres to being excited for the 2019-20 school year: She documented traveling to Lithuania and Poland while learning about the Holocaust.Summer travels have led Newtown High School social studies teacher Rachel Torres to being excited for the 2019-20 school year: She documented traveling to Lithuania and Poland while learning about the Holocaust.Ms Torres kept track of her travels through an online blog, torrestopia.blogspot.com.On the first day of her trip, July 14, she announced she had arrived safely after a flight to Moscow, then Lithuania.“I settled in and decided to venture out to the streets of Vilnius on my own. The hotel is located in the ‘Old Town,’ and the history and architecture is breathtaking,” the first day’s blog post reads. “I want time to slow down so I can take this all in. This feels so surreal to me. I have never been to Europe, and I am overwhelmed by the amazing opportunity I have been given. Tomorrow, the rest of the group arrives, and the work begins.”Weeks later, while reviewing her memories from the trip at The Newtown Bee’s office, Ms Torres still seamed breath-taken with the experience.She called her blog “The Making of a Holocaust Educator.”While her travels began on July 14 with the first blog post, her adventure began months before. She was dedicated to helping NHS fulfill the Connecticut Holocaust and Genocide Education Awareness Act standards.“I had become really interested in seeing how I could incorporate that mandate more fully into my classroom,” Ms Torres said, explaining that all public schools in Connecticut need to meet the new act’s standards since it was passed in 2018.So in June, she attended a two-week seminar for educators at The Olga Lengyel Institute (TOLI) in New York City.From there, as she documented in a post on July 12, she became “an unlikely Holocaust Educator,” as she is of Puerto Rican descent, born and raised in the Bronx.“Fast forward 35 years, and now I’m a high school history teacher,” she wrote. “I’ve taught in several school districts, two of urban demographics. Where I teach now and will be the place I will eventually retire from, is at Newtown High School, in Sandy Hook, CT.”Ms Torres said people do not need to be “of a particular culture to feel empathy... We all understand suffering, pain.”The post further explains that after an anti-Semitic remark was made toward one of her students, Ms Torres became that student’s advocate. The incident led her to the University of Hartford’s “Teach for the Future: Holocaust and Genocide Education in the 21st Century” conference in October of 2018.“With the new [Connecticut] state law mandating educators to teach about the Holocaust, I wanted to equip myself with the latest information on how to effectively implement this significant historical topic,” Ms Torres wrote.After the conference, she learned about a then upcoming trip to Lithuania and Poland. From “Day 1” to “Day 13,” as she titled her blog posts, Ms Torres documented her travels and all she learned about on her journey.“Often the Holocaust is reduced to a number... My experience taught me that it’s not a number. These are people who lived ordinary lives like you and me, had a culture, made contributions to society throughout Europe, had children, they were teenagers... They were just regular people,” Ms Torres said after the journey. “In order to understand the magnitude of the Holocaust, I want my students to have an appreciation for Yiddish culture and pre-war Jewish life, so they can have a context of the dramatic impact that the Holocaust had.”To share that lesson, Ms Torres said it is important to her to first teach about the culture. She has big plans for the upcoming school year, including a potential trip for students to New York.“For my students to develop empathy and compassion for what occurred to those Jews, they need to understand who they were before they were destroyed,” said Ms Torres. “It makes it more real, more palpable to them.”The learning expedition in Lithuania and Poland was led by Trinity College’s Professor Samuel Kassow. The group visited former Jewish quarters, synagogues, sites of former ghettos, and concentration camps. A trained tour guide also led the group through sites. Ms Torres described it as “constant learning of information”Many of her fellow travelers were visiting where their grandparents had lived or perished. Ms Torres said it was a humbling experience, and it was her first time traveling to Europe.“It was an amazing experiential trip for me,” Ms Torres said. “It’s one thing to teach about a historical period, but to actually visit the places that you teach about — it adds a whole other dimension to your own learning and how you plan to teach it to your students.”Ms Torres said she loves her job and she is passionate, so her lessons on the subject will now be on a “whole other level.”Between the conferences, her recent trip, online webinars, and other lessons, Ms Torres estimates she has spent more than 200 hours of her own professional development on the subject of the Holocaust.Ms Torres said a number of supports made her Holocaust Education possible: The Konover/Coppa Fund; the University of Hartford’s Greenberg Center; the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford; Trinity College; the University of Connecticut’s Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Life, Voices of Hope; the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford; the Jewish Federation of Western Connecticut; Newtown Public Schools; and the trip was coordinated by the The Jewish Hartford European Roots Project and the University of Connecticut’s Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, where she will serve as an Educator Fellow.According to Ms Torres, Superintendent of Schools Dr Lorrie Rodrigue and NHS Social Studies Department Chair Amy Deeb provided professional development and “invaluable support to equip me with the pedagogy and strategies for effective Holocaust instruction.”“What I want my friends, my colleagues, my students to get from this experience that I got is that we have to challenge bias, we have to stand up for civil rights, and we have to make sure we are critically thinking about the things that we are seeing in our society so that we make sure it never happens again,” Ms Torres said, questioning whether society is watching for the signs — like an ideology that exploded and permeated through an entire continent — that led to the Holocaust.NHS Teacher Travels To Study The Holocaust Eliza Hallabeck
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Summer travels have led Newtown High School social studies teacher Rachel Torres to being excited for the 2019-20 school year: She documented traveling to Lithuania and Poland while learning about the Holocaust.
Newtown Residents Journey To West Virginia For World Scout Jamboree
More than 45,000 Scouts and their leaders from 167 countries across the world traveled to the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia for the 24th World Scout Jamboree, from July 22 to August 2. Read about the personal experiences of Newtown residents from the 24th World Scout Jamboree.More than 45,000 Scouts and their leaders from 167 countries across the world traveled to the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia for the 24th World Scout Jamboree, from July 22 to August 2.The World Scout Jamboree is an educational event designed for young people from the National Scout Organizations to develop leadership and life skills. It is also created to bring different nationalities together in one place to create a united Scouting movement that promotes peace and cultural understanding.The first World Scout Jamboree to ever take place was in London in 1920. From then on, every four years, a different country has hosted the event.The only other time the World Scout Jamboree has been in the United States was more than half a century ago, in 1967, at Farragut State Park, Idaho.This year’s 12-day World Scout Jamboree experience had three host countries: the United States of America, Mexico, and Canada. Its theme was “Unlock a New World,” which focused on having the Scouts unlock new adventures, cultures, and friendships.At the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia, Scouts participated in activities and programs that captured the organization’s five core principles of adventure, friendship, leadership, service, and sustainability.Since the Summit Bechtel Reserve is a training, Scouting, and adventure center — where the BSA’s National Scout Jamborees are also held — there were opportunities for Scouts to go whitewater rafting, rock climbing, mountain biking, zip lining, and skateboarding.There were also a variety of what the jamboree called “international venues” that included Food Houses, the Global Development Village, World Scout Centre, and Faith & Beliefs.Read on to hear about the personal experiences of Newtown residents from the 24th World Scout Jamboree:Jeffery, Spencer, And Ty JorgensonNewtown resident and cubmaster Jeffery Jorgenson drove the family’s motorhome to West Virginia — a 13-hour drive — so his two sons, Spencer and Ty, could experience the World Scout Jamboree for the first time, even for just a day.Spencer, 13, is a Boy Scout in Troop 770 and Ty, 10, is a Cub Scout in Pack 270.“It was really cool,” Spencer said of the jamboree. “I got to meet a lot of people from different countries all around [the world].”Spencer spoke with people from Mexico, Britain, New Zealand, and Korea, and even conducted a mini mock news segment in front of a green screen for the first time.Ty echoed his brother’s enthusiasm, citing the green screen as a highlight of the activities they participated in, and that the overall jamboree experience was “awesome.”Ty also enjoyed trying all the food from other countries, learning about the different cultures, visiting the large tree house onsite that had information about ecological initiatives/sustainable energy, and receiving a Mexican Woggle when he engaged in some patch trading.“I do suggest if it is in your area, or if you do have the money and the time, to go see or participate in a World Jamboree,” Spencer encouraged. “It’s a very moving — and I feel an important — experience of Scouting, and I feel like everyone should try to go at some point if you are in Scouts.”Both brothers are also passionate about advocating for more boys and girls to join the Scouts, saying it comes with plenty of fun activities throughout the year, opportunities to make friends, and the ability to be part of a great community.Gregg And Jackson BaimelJoining the Jorgenson family in the motorhome to this year’s World Scout Jamboree were their friends and fellow Newtown residents Gregg and Jackson Baimel.Mr Baimel has volunteered his time as a Boy Scout and Cub Scout leader for nearly a decade. He currently serves as an Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 770 and is a Roundtable Commissioner with the Scatacook District of the Connecticut Yankee Council.His 14-year-old son, Jackson, is a Star Scout and the Senior Patrol Leader with Troop 770.With such involvement in the Scouting world, the father and son duo were eager to participate in their very first World Scout Jamboree.“It’s the first time that it has been in the United States since [1967], so we looked at it as a ‘once in a Scout lifetime’ opportunity and didn’t want to miss it,” Mr Baimel said.While they were there, they connected with other Scouts and leaders from home as well as from Germany, Brazil, Japan, and Columbia. They enjoyed dining at a Columbian tent for lunch, which was among the variety of different nationally-themed eateries.“It was a pretty remarkable event,” Mr Baimel said. “Forty thousand youth were there, 10,000 leaders, and about 20,000 visitors daily.”Bear NikitchyukBoy Scout Bear Nikitchyuk, 15, of Troop 770, based at St Rose of Lima, made his way through the Cub Scout ranks throughout elementary school before becoming a Boy Scout at the age of 11.He recognized what a rare opportunity it was for the World Scout Jamboree not only to take place in North America — the first time in more than 50 years — but to also be in the age range eligible to apply for attendance.“I was selected to be part of the official United States contingent,” Bear explained. “The Scouts were collected into troops geographically. I was with United States Troop 110 that had Scouts from all over Connecticut, and [it] even had a Scout from Massachusetts. Three of our Scouts were from Newtown. We were in SubCamp C at the jamboree with other troops from the United States and around the world.”To get there, Bear and his fellow locally chosen Scouts took a bus early in the morning from Meriden, Conn., to the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, West Virginia.Upon arriving, the Scouts worked together in the rain to build their camp, and since they were fortunate to arrive earlier than others, they helped troops from different countries get their camp areas set up, as well.While there was a big opening show and closing ceremony for the jamboree attendees, Bear said almost every night each base camp had their own party with entertainment.“My favorite part of the jamboree was meeting new people from around the world. Our troop was connected with a troop from Sweden, so we had some chances to get to know each other,” Bear said.Being Ukrainian-American, Bear also enjoyed getting to meet Scouts from Dnipro, Ukraine, and was able to use a wristband system to electronically exchange contact information with the those he met.Bear had the opportunity to interact with more international Scouts because of the popularity of trading at jamborees.“I brought patches, neckerchiefs, and shirts, and other things to trade. I came home with Polish flag sunglasses, [a] Portuguese rain jacket, a neckerchief from Brazil, a shirt and hat from Finland, and patches from many other places,” he detailed.Throughout his time in West Virginia, Bear also participated in rock climbing, the mile-long zip-line, whitewater rafting, and he visited the information tents that covered all sorts of topics and cultures.After his first World Scout Jamboree, Bear is now eager to attend the next one and hopes to visit the European Jamboree in 2020.Thaddeus TeraszkiewiczBoy Scout Thaddeus Teraszkiewicz, 15, of Troop 70, based at Cullens Youth Center, was also selected to be part of the 24th World Scout Jamboree’s Troop 110.“It sounded like a great adventure to meet people from all around the world,” Thaddeus said of what inspired him to seize the opportunity to go.While he was there, he participated in activities that allowed him to learn more about the three host countries and about different cultures and religions.“It was one of the greatest experiences of my life,” Thaddeus said. “I got to make new friends from all over the world, I went to concerts, played volleyball at the top of a mountain with a group of Chileans, rock climbed, went whitewater rafting, and so much more.”While at the jamboree, he traded items with other Scouts and now has souvenirs from a variety of countries. The mementos serve as a reminder of all the friends he met, and he has continued to keep in contact with the Scouts that he met there.“I think everyone should have this experience,” Thaddeus said. “It changes the way you see people from different parts of the world.”Nick WolfNewtown resident Nick Wolf, 27, has been a Boy Scout for the last 22 years, having originally started his scouting career in Cub Scouts at Pack 570 at St Rose of Lima. Today, he is an Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 370 in Sandy Hook, based out of the United Methodist Church.While this may have been his first World Scout Jamboree, he has attended four National Boy Scout Jamborees since 2005, two of which were held at the Summit Bechtel Reserve.“This was a once in a lifetime event I couldn’t pass up...” Mr Wolf said.He attended the jamboree with his longtime friends Venturing Scout Kayla Ruge, 26; Eagle Scout Andrew McCloskey, 26; and Girl Scout Gold Award winner Suzanne Leslie, 28.The group participated in a Ham Radio activity, communicated with people from around the world, and spent most of the day trading patches/neckerchiefs with fellow Scouts.“The experience was similar to a national jamboree, where there [were] Scouts in every direction with a smile on their face, many heading to activities (such as kayaking, shooting, or BMX racing) while others were in the shade trading neckerchiefs and patches with other Scouts,” Mr Wolf explained. “What made this event different was interacting with Scouts from across the world and seeing different uniform types and trying to trade patches with someone in a different language.”He is already looking forward to attending the next major Scouting event at the Summit Bechtel Reserve, which will be the 2021 National Boy Scout Jamboree.As for the 25th World Scout Jamboree, it is already scheduled to take place in Saemangeum, South Korea, from August 1 to 12, 2023. The theme will be “Draw Your Dream.”For more information about the 24th World Scout Jamboree, visit 2019wsj.org.World Scout Jamboree Alissa Silber
Story Newtown Residents Journey To West Virginia For World Scout JamboreeWorld Scout JamboreeFeaturesNone
Snapshot: Hanna RoehrsOccupation: I am a homemaker, babysitter, dog-sitter, and weaver. I was a lab technician, but I stopped working in the lab after we had our two sons. They are close in age, and I helped with the kids in preschool and kindergarten. I worked for six years part-time at Ferris Acres Creamery, and that was a great job. Now I take care of the home. My husband travels a lot for work, and it makes it very convenient for us that I can stay home.Family: My husband’s name is Ingo. Our two sons, Mario and Timo, live close by. Our oldest son, Mario, lives in Danbury with his wife, Natalie, and daughter, Ella. Our youngest son, Timo, lives in Nanuet, New York.Pets: None of my own. We owned a German shepherd, but he passed away. Now I take care of Mario’s German shepherd a lot.How long have you lived in Newtown? For 23 years.What do you like to do in your free time? I enjoy weaving and playing tennis. I started a weaving group in town called Weaving Newtown in 2012. We meet every Monday evening from 6 to 9 pm. Everyone is invited to come. We meet at the Newtown Congregational Church in the lower level.Do you have a favorite book? I don’t have a favorite, but I like to read books that I bring home from my travels.What is your favorite travel destination? I like to visit foreign countries where I can find a history of fiber-related cloth or fabric. I’ve traveled to Peru, Guatemala, Ecuador, and recently to Bhutan and India. I’ve also seen a lot museums with historic fabrics and cloths in Germany.What is the best part about Newtown? I like living in a small community. It is how I grew up, and Newtown is kind of like that. Everyone knows their neighbors and they are usually all very helpful if help is needed. Another best part about the town for me is volunteering for Weaving Newtown, which belongs to the Newtown Cultural Arts Commission.Who has been the greatest influence in your life? My husband, Ingo.Who is your favorite musical artist? I like Bruce Springsteen.Do you have a favorite TV show? For a while it was the Big Bang Theory, but now I don’t have one.What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? “Don’t do to others what you don’t want to be done to yourself.” My parents always taught me that, and I’ve passed it on to my children, too.What is something you cannot live without? My family. I love having my husband and kids around.What is your proudest accomplishment? I would say all my hand-weaving prizes. I belong to the Handweavers Guild of Connecticut, and they have a biannual show. I won first prize twice for some of my woven items. I am also working on a Master Weaver Program. Hopefully, I can complete all my required woven items by the end of the year.Snapshot: Hanna Roehrs Story Snapshot: Hanna RoehrsSnapshot: Hanna RoehrsFeaturesNone
Flapjack The Kitten Hoping To Flip His Luck
Four-month-old Flapjack Shortstack — nicknamed Flap — is a sweet, special kitty at Kitten Associates in Sandy Hook in need of the community’s help. Flap was born with his right back leg twisted backwards and both front legs bent at the carpal.Four-month-old Flapjack Shortstack — nicknamed Flap — is a sweet, special kitty at Kitten Associates in Sandy Hook in need of the community’s help. Flap was born with his right rear leg twisted backwards and both front legs bent at the carpal joint.After speaking with a number of specialists, Kitten Associates President/Founder Robin A.F. Olson believes the abnormalities occurred due to his mother conceiving at only 5 months old and not having room in her uterus for all four of her kittens.Flap is undergoing weekly physical therapy and is being worked with daily to help him learn how to get around better. Thanks to the work of Kitten Associates, Flap will not need a leg amputation.For his front legs, they are doing short-term bandaging and looking into 3D leg wraps as well as reaching out to The Supervet in the United Kingdom for assistance. Flap is also seeing Dr Deb Weisman at Newtown Veterinary Specialists (NVS) regularly to evaluate his needs.To provide the best life for Flap, Kitten Associates is in immediate need of funds to provide food, basic vetting, and physical therapy for him. Checks and gift cards to Your Healthy Pet can be mailed to Kitten Associates, PO Box 354, Newtown CT 06470-0354. Folks can also donate through kittenassociates.org, Venmo “KittenAssociates,” use PayPal at paypal.me/kittenassociates, and purchase an item for Flap through the Kitten Associates’ Amazon Wish List.Flap is currently being fostered with his sister, Sugarsnaps Sugarpants, and the two enjoy spending time together.“His sister dotes on him and is so adorable and hilarious, they will definitely be a precious pair when the time comes for them to find their forever home,” Ms Olson said. “If someone is willing to wait, they can pre-apply now, but they have to have a glowing vet reference and I’d prefer they have a good deal of carpeted floors, so Flap can get around if we can’t get his front legs straightened.”Flap’s other sister, Tickle Nurbington, and her buddies Boom-Boom McGillicuddy and Trinket Worthmore will be ready to be adopted out mid-September.Kitten Associates is also looking for adults over the age of 18 who have experience with cats and can volunteer to spend 30 to 60 minutes with Flap and the kittens to help socialize them.Those interested in volunteering or donating can contact Kitten Associates President/Founder Robin A.F. Olson by e-mail at info@kittenassociates.org or call 203-744-9228. Stay up to date on Flap’s progress by following Kitten Associates on Facebook.Disabled Kitten Flapjack Alissa Silber
Story Flapjack The Kitten Hoping To Flip His LuckDisabled Kitten FlapjackFeatured Slider, FeaturesNone
The Top Of The Mountain
Newtown, from a cat's point of view.Our latest newtownbee.com home page poll received a lot of hits last week, regarding favorite movie genres. It looks, so far, like the perfect movie that could be made for Newtown would be a romantic comedy with some action and a little dab of horror.Botsford Fire Rescue will celebrate ten years of its summer fundraising efforts this weekend, when members of the volunteer fire and rescue company present their 2019 Botsford Summer Bash. The public is invited to the event, to be presented Saturday, August 24, 5 to 11 pm, at Botsford fire station, 315 South Main Street. Live music by Frandango will start at 6, but the grill will be running all night. There is no admission charge; proceeds will be made through the sale of food, drinks and T-shirts. The menu will include burgers, ribs, hot dogs, veggie burgers and corn on the cob. A full bar and soft drinks will also be available. The event is rain or shine.There is still a final walk and talk with First Selectman Rosenthal. Join our top official on Friday, August 30, in walking the trails at Fairfield Hills, weather permitting, from noon to approximately 12:45 pm. If it is raining or if walking is not an option for you, First Selectman Rosenthal issues an invitation to visit in his office, from 12:45 to 1:30 pm. It’s a great chance for a casual conversation — and a bit of exercise.One of our favorite worker Bees, Don Miner, celebrated a milestone this past Friday — 24 years working in production department at The Newtown Bee! Congratulations to Don, and thanks, as well. We appreciate his hard work!You know summer is winding down when the Treadwell Park pool and Eichler’s Cove swimming hours change. As of this Monday, August 19, through Sunday, September 1, swimming will be 2:30 to 8 pm, Monday and Wednesday; 2:30 to 7 pm, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday; and 10 am to 7 pm, Saturday and Sunday. On Monday, September 2 (Labor Day), the final pool hours for this season will be 1 to 7 pm.It’s still summer, though, and the American Red Cross reminds us that the need for all blood types remains high. You can help by donating. Newtown Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, 39 Toddy Hill Road (formerly Masonicare) is hosting a blood drive this Friday, August 23, from 1 to 6 pm. Walk-ins are welcome. Then, on Tuesday, September 3, the Lions Club will sponsor a blood drive at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, from 8:30 am to 6:30 pm. For details or to find another site for blood donations, visit redcrossblood.org.The Newtown Yoga Festival returns with a program of love on Saturday, August 24. This year, you’ll find yogis and a “buffet” of yoga and mindfulness events at the new Community Center, 8 Simpson Street, at Fairfield Hills. Day-of registration is at 8:30 am, the opening ceremonies begin at 9 am, and programs run to the Closing Mantra at 4 pm. Tickets bought online at newtownyogafestival.org are $40/person; or $50 at the door. You’ll want to bring your own yoga mat and any props you like to use.Waffle lovers will be happy to know that Cafe Xpresso, 150 South Main Street, is participating in the USA Finger Licking Dutch stroopwafel company’s Free Stroopwafel Day, this Saturday, August 24, from 8 to 11 am. A stroopwafel is a waffle/cookie made from thin layers of baked dough, with a thin layer of caramel-like syrup in between. Sound delicious? Call Cafe Xpresso at 203-304-9955 for more information.Did you realize how much it costs to put on the annual Labor Day Parade? Right around $30,000. That’s a lot of dough, but if you break it down, it’s barely more than $1 per resident of Newtown. Can you support the 2019 parade? It is such a great fellowship, with thousands of friends and families gathered in the center of town. Pre-parade visiting and noshing abounds, and kids begin to stake out the perfect spots for leaping out and snagging the candy that is sure to be tossed by numerous organizations taking part. It’s a fun, fun morning and a wonderful send-off to summer. What a deal, at only $1 per person, if everyone pitches in. Visit newtownctlabordayparade.org to donate. (And don’t forget to bring your nonperishables to donate to FAITH Food Pantry. Volunteers will be collecting along the parade route.)September is Baby Safety Month, sponsored by Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). You’ll find tips about keeping babies safe at all stages of growth at jpma.org. (I like the tip about getting down on hands and knees to see what a crawling baby actually sees — and spot danger before it happens. Think like a baby — or like a cat!)“Bee” part of the conversation! Contact editor@thebee.com, subject line Community Buzz, if you are interested in participating in the semi-regular casual conversations hosted by The Newtown Bee, or for more information. A single subject will be posed to five or six residents taking part, and the conversation will be moderated by a staff member of the paper. No need to be an expert on any subject — just be willing to share your thoughts with each other. Parts of the conversation may be used in future articles. We want to know what you think is important and hear your views. We are seeking a diverse group and welcome anyone age 16 and older to be part of the conversation. The next Buzz is tentatively scheduled for Friday, September 13.What makes Newtown so awesome? It’s the people, and we love to help our readers discover the people who contribute to this town. If your family has lived in town for four generations or more, contact alissa@thebee.com to take part in our semi-regular series about longtime residents. You can contact Alissa, as well, if you or someone you know would like to be our Snapshot, the weekly profile of people from Newtown/Sandy Hook. (Check out page 2 of any issue or search Snapshot at newtownbee.com if you are unfamiliar with our Snapshot format.)Hope On Main Street is coming to town, September 7. This fundraiser/walk for the American Cancer Society co-chaired by Gayle DiBenedetto and Christopher Farrington kicks off at Edmond Town Hall, at 5:30 pm. There will be luminarias lighting up Main Street, music, speakers, and opportunities to donate. The event honors those who have lost the fight with cancer, as well as survivors and caregivers. Find out more at facebook.com/hopeonmainstreet or e-mail hopeonmainstreet@gmail.com. Organizers continue to seek volunteers to help with this event.Former Newtown resident DeAnn L. Prosia is part of the upcoming exhibit at the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum, “The Trained Eye: The Art of Railroads & Stations.” DeAnn’s etching, a 12-by-12-inch piece, is entitled “Entrance to the City.” The show will open Wednesday, October 9, and runs through Sunday, January 5, 2020. An opening reception takes place Thursday, October 17, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. The museum is located at 295 West Avenue in Norwalk.You know as well as I do that this column is an entrance to Newtown. Be sure next week to... Read me again.Top of the Mountain Story The Top Of The MountainTop of the Mountain_83FeaturesNone
A Half Century Of Youth Football And
Cheer Success: NYF&C Celebrates 50 Years
This is the first in a series of articles, including a feature on cheerleading, covering Newtown Youth Football & Cheer as the organization celebrates the 50th anniversary of the youth program.This is the first in a series of articles, including a feature on cheerleading, covering Newtown Youth Football & Cheer as the organization celebrates the 50th anniversary of the youth program.A half century ago, representatives of Newtown’s Pop Warner Football team — sponsored by the Newtown Lions Club — suited up and took the field (Hawley Field to be exact) for the first time. A group of players broken into two teams — the older squad was named the Lions in recognition of the sponsor, and the younger group was nicknamed the Mighty Mites — ran the ball, tackled opponents, and participated in a sport that had started at the town’s high school only a handful of years prior.Inexperienced in everything from the process of strapping on their unfamiliar equipment to running plays on the gridiron, these football newcomers were a big part of planting the seed of what has become quite a tradition in town. Newtown youth football, although it has changed programs and league affiliations — going from Pop Warner and the Candlewood Valley Conference to American Youth Football and the Shoreline Conference over time — has been going strong ever since the 1969 season opener. Newtown’s youth football players and cheerleaders will kick off the 50th anniversary campaign this year, with games to begin Labor Day Weekend.The up-and-coming pigskin enthusiasts will put on their helmets, lace up their cleats, and line up across from opponents on the same home grounds — now called Taylor Field, behind Hawley Elementary School — where it all began a half century ago. The field is in the same area but goes left to right rather than front to back of the property now.There has been substantial overall growth in the program since its early days; now, there are six youth teams for grades 2-8, with the program adding teams to accommodate increased numbers of participants, allowing it to divide the grades. There is a combined grades 2/3 team and individual teams for grades four through eight. The helmet decals and colors have changed; different shades and combinations of blue, yellow, and gold present throughout the history of the program.“I’m pretty sure my reaction was ‘What’s Pop Warner Football?’” Mark Faller, one of the program’s first players in 1969, said of hearing the news from his father that there was a chance to play the game at an organized level for the first time. “I don’t think anybody knew how to snap a football.”Faller said Pop Warner was an unknown entity in Newtown back then. All of the town’s football players became familiar with it quickly, and Newtown football played under the Pop Warner umbrella all the way until 2005, when it switched its affiliation to American Youth Football, which is where things stand as youth football in town celebrates its 50th anniversary. It switched from the Candlewood Valley Conference to the Shoreline Conference in 2014.Football in Newtown has certainly come a long way since those early days, with teams piling up conference and state champions, although it had immediate success.The Mighty Mites, also referred to as the Junior Midgets in the 1969 issues of The Bee, won the town’s first game, defeating the Brookfield Jets 14-0 on September 14. “Scoring was by Speedy Wally Randall, who scored in the first quarter on a 32-yard reverse play and again in the third quarter on a 70-yard kickoff return. Extra points were added by Cris Wolfe and Jeff Cramer,” according to an article in the September 19, 1969, edition of The Bee.In the second game of the day, the Lions blanked the Brookfield Packers 13-0. Quarterback Mike Newman and Paul Granieri rushed for touchdowns in the win.The coaching was led by Charles Chamberlin, and the teams were supported by cheerleaders — much like they are today — as documented in those past issues of The Bee.Then an 11- or 12-year-old, Faller was thrilled for the opportunity just to play, and one of his fondest memories came at the end of a day that did not start out so great. He remembers not getting into a game with the Mighty Mites. A coach of the Lions saw Faller’s disappointment and put him in the older squad game. The young player got in for a play or two on defense and made his presence known by recovering a fumble. At the end of the game, he joined his Mighty Mite teammates, who had been waiting around since the earlier game for their team photo. Faller was still on a high and stood out in the picture.“I am beaming from ear to ear in this photo. I’ve got this huge grin,” said Faller, who went on to become sports editor at the Bridgeport Post, which became the Connecticut Post. Now, he is covering professional sports on the other side of the county, working as sports editor of the Arizona Republic.Jeff Cramer was the quarterback on the 1969 Lions.“He could throw the ball quite well. As he got older, he became a center,” said his dad, Al Cramer, who still lives in Newtown. Al Cramer coached at Newtown High School and also served as principal at NHS.Jeff Cramer went on to earn his doctorate degree and become executive director of oncology research at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and led a team in the creation of early stages breast cancer treatment Kisqali, which was approved by the Federal Drug Administration just before his retirement a couple of years ago, Al Cramer said. Additionally, Jeff Cramer’s name is on the patent for Claritin going back to his days as a researcher with Schering-Plough Corporation. Jeff Cramer currently resides in Chatham, N.J.Strong TiesA family with strong ties to the program from its inception to date is the Shpunts. Jack Shpunt’s days of coaching in this program date all the way back to 1972, and he has led teams at each of the program’s age or grade levels during a nearly 50-year run. “I used to go wherever they needed somebody,” he said.His brother, Bill, represented Newtown as a member of the Lions in its first season of 1969, and another sibling, Andy, also played in the program. Jack Shpunt, being the oldest sibling, did not have this youth football playing opportunity and suited up as part of the high school program’s first varsity team in the middle 1960s; he played offensive and defensive tackle.Football was around at the high school level in the 1940s. The Bee has records of six-man teams. “They stopped playing for a number of years,” Shpunt recalls.Shpunt was asked by Rick Medve to help coach the older team back in 1972, and little did he know how long his tenure would run.“I’ve really enjoyed over the years getting to know the kids. You spend so much time with the kids in football,” Shpunt said of coaching in the youth program, adding that he has made a lot of good friends through his connections to parents and other coaches.Shpunt said a game that stands out was a battle for the league championship with Monroe in the early 1970s. With Newtown trailing by a point, Phil Skalandunas stopped Monroe four times inside the 10-yard line. On the first play from scrimmage on Newtown’s ensuing drive, David Caruso rushed 95 yards for a touchdown and a lead the team wouldn’t relinquish.The 1974 team Shpunt helped coach, along with Bill Wertz and Lou Pepe, got to visit Cary, N.C., at the end of its perfect season to represent the state and play one of the best from Carolina, and won easily. The headline in the November 22, 1974, edition of The Bee reads “Lions Smash Dixie.” The 1975 team, which included a many of the same players, also had a stellar season and went to North Carolina for a postseason game.Even though the players had a lot to learn from the onset, they were among the best in the Candlewood Valley League from the get-go.“We were one of the best teams in the league for years at the beginning,” Shpunt said.Joe DeVellis served as a head or assistant coach from 2000-10 and was vice president of the program for a few years. Each of his sons, Joey, Jake, Justin, and Jaret played a dozen years of football in town, starting with the youth program and continuing through high school.“Each had their share of wins and successes, with playoff wins and some championships along the way. Jaret’s teams coached by Pat Smith and his staff were probably the most successful of all the teams that I have seen go through our program, traveling also to Florida a couple of times for national championships,” DeVellis said.During high school, the DeVellis children all helped out with summer camps, and each has continued to stay involved with the sport in some capacity or another.Jaret went onto play four years of football at Western Connecticut State University and received the National Football Foundation’s Hampshire Honor Society Award his senior year for academics. Joey is a teacher at Westhill High school in Stamford and has been a football coach there for seven years, the last two years as head coach. Jake is on the coaching staff at Seymour High School. Justin covers sports and broadcasts for News Channel 12.“Sports in general, as you know, teaches kids a lot about things they need to know in life. The youth football program was a positive experience. My sons have made many friends over the years. I have made many friends over the years. Sports has always been and continues to be important in a young person’s life. Football keeps youngsters involved and active in positive ways. Especially today with so many negative influences out there,” DeVellis said.Football, although predominately played by boys and men, has a long history of female involvement.“I had a team with three girls on it,” said Shpunt, adding that running back Dara Zemo was one of the best players on a 1987 seventh grade team he led.The youth program has always helped prepare the up-and-coming players for competition at the high school level, with the programs working closely together throughout the years.Steve George, who was part of the Newtown High School coaching staff for 18 years, including a decade-long run as the head coach through the 2016 campaign, points out that the youth feeder program is essential for success at the high school level.“You have to prepare the kids with the terminology and the proper tackling technique and blocking technique — the fundamentals of football is what it really is,” George said.“It is important to have the youth program on the same page as the high school program in regards to scheme, technique, and language. It helps with a smooth transition when the kids are in high school,” said Bobby Pattison, Newtown High’s current head coach, who played in the youth program from 1999-2001.“The best way to describe the experience was fun, win or lose,” Pattison said of playing in the youth feeder program.Sean Dunn served as president of the league for nearly a decade. His sons, Julian, Justin, and Joshua all played in the program for many years and continued their careers at the high school level; Julian went on to compete at the University of Maine.“It was an honor to lead the Newtown Youth Football and Cheer organization from 2008-14. I have many fond memories of the great people I worked with supporting the program and the amazing progress we made improving and growing the organization — including formally connecting the NYF&C youth as a pipeline of talent to the Newtown High School football and cheer programs, initiating community engagement as part of the player experience and launching ‘Newtown Day’ as a way to collectively celebrate our football and cheer teams and families. But most of all, it was all about the kids and what we could contribute to their athletic and personal development. I’m hopeful we positively influenced several generations of football players and cheerleaders with life skills that helped them beyond the program. Congratulations on 50 years NYF&C.”“The camaraderie between the coaches and players during the season was something I will not forget,” said Smith, who coached many young athletes — including his son, Colton — from 2005-13, leading several of his squads to conference, state, and American Youth Football national championship games. “All of my good friends were the parents of the players that I coached. I still stay in touch with a lot of the parents. I am also playing softball with seven of the players that I used to coach. We talk about the youth football days all the time and the great memories and championships we won together.”Youth Football And Cheer 50 Years Andy Hutchison
Story A Half Century Of Youth Football And
Cheer Success: NYF&C Celebrates 50 YearsYouth Football And Cheer 50 YearsFeatured Slider, SportsNone
This is the first in a series of articles, including a feature on cheerleading, covering Newtown Youth Football & Cheer as the organization celebrates the 50th anniversary of the youth program.
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
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
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.
Students entering grades 6-9 invited to join Jeremy O’Connell (Project Adventure instructor, NHS) for climbing, trust initiatives, group/cooperative activities and relay activities, sponsored by The Resiliency Center of Newtown, limited to 25 students, reservations required; 203-364-9750, beth@resiliencycenterofnewtown.org.
Newtown Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, 139 Toddy Hill Road
Donors must be at least age 18, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in generally good health, walk-ins welcome, appointments available; 800-RED-CROSS (800-733-2767), redcrossblood.org.
Screenings of musical comedy fantasy starring Lily James, Himesh Patel, et al, rated PG-13 and released in June, continue daily to August 29; 203-426-2475.
Screenings of musical comedy fantasy starring Lily James, Himesh Patel, et al, rated PG-13 and released in June, continue daily to August 29; 203-426-2475.
Screenings of musical comedy fantasy starring Lily James, Himesh Patel, et al, rated PG-13 and released in June, continue daily to August 29; 203-426-2475.
Screenings of musical comedy fantasy starring Lily James, Himesh Patel, et al, rated PG-13 and released in June, continue daily to August 29; 203-426-2475.
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.
