You’ll Be First To Know!
There is plenty to read at newtownbee.com, but so much more information to be found in print.There is plenty to read at newtownbee.com, but so much more information to be found in print. If you read the print edition of The Newtown Bee, or subscribe, you belong to an exclusive club — the one that gets the best of Newtown’s news, first.Subscribers and print readers will be first to read this week about an easement that expands open space in town; the financial health of the Board of Education; and a local Scout abuzz with her project. What else “bears” reading? Our series on Coexisting With Wildlife features the black bear this week. Do you know your ABCs? The Newtown Bee is up to “D” in this alphabetical series about the hometown. Be first to read our regular offerings, sports news, area press releases, and more.The Newtown Bee hits the streets every Thursday afternoon. Stop by our office at 5 Church Hill Road and purchase a copy of The Newtown Bee during our regular hours, Monday-Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, find us at one of several newsstands around town, call 203-426-3141, or go to https://classadz.vdata.com/Legacy/NewtownBee/Circulation/Subscriber/ to subscribe.“Bee” in the know! You won’t be disappointed.You'll Be First Story You’ll Be First To Know!You'll Be First_12Featured Slider, NewsNone
Restriction Rollbacks Come With Advice Urging Continued COVID Caution It was a big week in Connecticut as state officials balanced good news about multiple virus related restrictions being lifted with a grim notice that the state’s COVID-19 death count topped 8,000.It was a big week in Connecticut as state officials balanced good news about multiple virus related restrictions being lifted and state colleges reopening for increasing in-person learning with the grim notice that the state’s COVID-19 death count topped 8,000.On April 21, the total of laboratory-confirmed and probable COVID-19 cases reported among Connecticut residents was 332,995. On that day, 507 patients were hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, and the state’s virus-related death count ticked up to 8,027.At the same time, the Newtown Health District saw its COVID case count increase past another concerning benchmark to 2,013 — a jump of 53 new infections since last week — while the community’s losses to the virus held at 66.Health District Director Donna Culbert previously cautioned individuals to continue vigilance despite the increasing number of residents becoming protected by vaccines."I’m still strongly advising the mask, distance, and disinfect protocols, as well as urging residents to keep their visiting of others confined to small, familiar groups," Culbert told The Newtown Bee.By the time Governor Ned Lamont sat for an April 19 press briefing to announce the two-stage restriction rollbacks, the state was reporting that it had administered a total of 2,710,832 vaccines, with 1,113,184 state residents reported to be totally vaccinated.A total of 61% of all adults in Connecticut over the age of 18 had received at least one dose by then, and Connecticut was the second best state in the nation for administering the most vaccines per capita.All Connecticut residents over the age of 16 are currently eligible to receive the vaccines.Appointments must be made in advance at all clinics statewide. To learn how to make an appointment, visit ct.gov/covidvaccine and enter a zip code to find the nearest clinics.On April 19, Lamont announced that over the coming weeks he plans to further ease some of the restrictions on certain sectors that were put into effect at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.Effective May 1:*Bars that do not serve food can open for service outdoors. These establishments will still be prohibited from serving only alcohol indoors.*The eight-person per table limit will be lifted outdoors. This limit will remain in effect for indoor service.*The curfew for restaurants, entertainment venues, recreation venues, and theaters will be moved back an hour to midnight.And, effective May 19, contingent upon sufficiently low rates of infection and increasing vaccination rates, all remaining business restrictions will be lifted.The Department of Public Health will issue recommendations for indoor and other large outdoor events, such as concerts, as well as clarify where masking will continue after May 19.Colleges And UniversitiesAlso on April 19, Lamont announced that in-person classes will resume at state colleges this fall, with mask-wearing and social-distancing requirements still in effect. The announcement came at Gateway Community College on Monday, where leaders from colleges and universities in Connecticut joined the governor to discuss what campus life will look like this upcoming academic year.“I think the message here today is we’re open for business, come back,” Lamont said. “It’s going to be an amazing summer and a great fall.”Southern Connecticut State University President Joe Bertolino explained that the university is starting a gradual reopening process on June 1 and plans to “commence full operations on the ground” by August 1. Bertolino added that the university anticipates having faculty and staff resume in-person teaching this fall, and more than 70% of the courses are currently scheduled to be offered either in-person or hybrid.Janice Palmer, a spokesperson for Central Connecticut State University, said Central is also planning to have more students on campus this fall and expects to have 90% of its classes in classrooms, calling it “a very near-normal semester.”Judy Olian, Quinnipiac University president, said the university was able to offer a full “on the ground” experience this academic year, with 10% of its students opting to continue learning remotely.Yale and Wesleyan universities will require students to get vaccinated before returning in the fall, but many other schools have not made a decision yet, and the governor wants to wait to see if it will be necessary.In other education news, Lamont announced April 20 that the State of Connecticut, through the State Department of Education, is partnering with TeachRock to launch an innovative, standards-aligned arts’ curriculum in schools statewide that empowers teachers to engage with students using the history of popular music and culture.Presented by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend Steven Van Zandt’s Rock and Roll Forever Foundation, TeachRock works with participating school districts, at no cost, on the integration of classroom lesson plans that connect history, music, and culture in a way that is designed to resonate with students.“Using popular music to grab students’ attention and pull them into their academic curriculum is a creative way to engage students and help them achieve success in their studies, and I thank TeachRock for developing this program and working with us to bring it to Connecticut schools,” Governor Lamont said.“When I was a teenager, school wasn’t reaching me,” TeachRock founder Steven Van Zandt said. “It didn’t speak to my needs or interests, and I saw no future in a society I was supposed to be a part of. Then the Beatles saved my life. Rock and roll and soul.”Van Zandt said the arts gave him the confidence to forge a path in the world.“It’s vitally important that we provide curricula that students from communities that grew up around rock, soul, country, salsa, hip hop, and other styles will recognize,” he added. “We need to reach the part of their brain that responds emotionally and instinctively, that uses imagination rather than facts and specifics. Something that makes them relax and feel more comfortable about the very process of education. And right now is when kids need us the most.”Extending PreparednessThe following day, the governor said that pursuant to legislation approved by the Connecticut General Assembly, he signed a declaration renewing the public health and civil preparedness emergencies that were enacted to enable the state to provide an adequate response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The declaration will remain in effect through May 20.Concurrently, Lamont issued a series of new executive orders pursuant to the newly filed COVID-19 emergency declaration extension that considerably consolidates many the previously issued orders related to the pandemic and extends the duration of others.The governor explained that this new series — indicated by the sequence number eleven — reduces the number of currently active executive orders under the state of emergency by roughly 60%, helping to provide a clearer picture for residents of those that continue to be in effect.The executive orders include:Executive Order No. 11: Extends to May 20 various executive orders that have been identified as critical to pandemic response and recovery, except for those covered by Executive Order Nos. 11A through 11D.Executive Order No. 11A: Consolidates and renews sector rules and related enforcement authority so that the Department of Economic and Community Development can continue to issue changes to these rules as the circumstances evolve and vaccination rates increase.Executive Order No. 11B: Consolidates all of the temporary flexibilities and changes to liquor sales and service. Additional orders will follow to implement the governor’s announcement about liquor service outdoors.Executive Order No. 11C: Consolidates and renews authority for relevant agency heads to restrict visitation at congregate facilities in order to limit the risk of transmission of COVID-19.Executive Order No. 11D: Consolidates and renews contracting flexibility to procure essential goods, services, and real estate to respond to the pandemic.Executive Order No. 11E: Extends to May 20 executive orders that have been identified as critical to pandemic response and recovery.CTMirror content by Adria Watson was used in this update.COVID UPDATE 04-23-21 John Voket
Story Restriction Rollbacks Come With Advice Urging Continued COVID CautionCOVID UPDATE 04-23-21Business, Featured Slider, Health, NewsNone
You’ll Be First To Know!
There is plenty to read at newtownbee.com, but so much more information to be found in print.There is plenty to read at newtownbee.com, but so much more information to be found in print. If you read the print edition of The Newtown Bee, or subscribe, you belong to an exclusive club — the one that gets the best of Newtown’s news, first.Subscribers and print readers will be first to read this week about an easement that expands open space in town; the financial health of the Board of Education; and a local Scout abuzz with her project. What else “bears” reading? Our series on Coexisting With Wildlife features the black bear this week. Do you know your ABCs? The Newtown Bee is up to “D” in this alphabetical series about the hometown. Be first to read our regular offerings, sports news, area press releases, and more.The Newtown Bee hits the streets every Thursday afternoon. Stop by our office at 5 Church Hill Road and purchase a copy of The Newtown Bee during our regular hours, Monday-Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, find us at one of several newsstands around town, call 203-426-3141, or go to https://classadz.vdata.com/Legacy/NewtownBee/Circulation/Subscriber/ to subscribe.“Bee” in the know! You won’t be disappointed.You'll Be First Story You’ll Be First To Know!You'll Be First_12Featured Slider, NewsNone
Lightning Strike Starts Fire, Damages Sandy Hook HomeA lightning strike during yesterday's brief but intense thunderstorm caused a fire that damaged a private home, but did not injure anyone. UPDATE (Thursday, April 22, 11:30 am): This story has been updated to included comments from Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Chief Bill Halstead, and a note about the American Red Cross.* * * * *A lightning strike during a brief but intense thunderstorm that passed through the region Wednesday afternoon caused a fire that damaged a private home, but did not injure anyone.All five Newtown fire companies were dispatched to 26 Bradley Lane at 3:29 pm April 21, after being notified of a fire in the basement of that home. A teenager who was home at the time was able to leave the house and go to a neighbor’s.A lightning strike hit a tree approximately ten yards from the dwelling. A trench could be seen leading from the base of the tree toward the southeastern corner of the garage. Large splinters of the tree were scattered on the ground around it.The fire was centered in the garage of the 1½-story Cape style house. The online Assessor’s Database shows the owners of the 1,650 square foot home as Donald and Jacqueline Godbout. The homeowners returned to their home shortly after the fire started.Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Chief Bill Halstead was the officer in command of the scene. Halstead said Thursday morning that there was heavy damage to the garage. He did not think there was a basement under the garage, he added. "The fire appears to have started in the garage," he told The Newtown Bee. "There was heavy damage to the garage, which will need to be rebuilt."There was smoke damage to the house also, and some water damage in the kitchen," Halstead added.It took approximately 30 minutes for firefighters to extinguish the bulk of the fire. They remained on the scene for another hour to make sure any hotspots were out.Halstead said 35-40 firefighters were at the scene Wednesday afternoon.Fire Marshal Rich Frampton and Deputy Fire Marshal Steve Murphy were both on the scene. A Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps crew was also dispatched, per fire scene protocol. No injuries were reported.A representative from JP Maguire responded while firefighters were still at the property. Eversource and Spectrum crews also responded to the area.Water was shuttled to the scene on tankers from SHVFR, Botsford, and Hawleyville, as well as Stevenson.Southbury sent a crew to cover Sandy Hook’s main station, and Brookfield Fire sent a crew to cover Hook & Ladder’s station."It was a great job holding the fire to the garage," Halstead said. "Outstanding job by all companies on the scene," he added, offering thanks to Brookfield, Southbury and Stepney for station coverage, and to Stevenson "for responding to the scene with two tankers."The Connecticut chapter of the American Red Cross responded to help the family of three, providing "assistance to meet their immediate emergency needs," according to a Tweet Thursday morning by the state chapter. Bradley Lane garage fire Shannon Hicks
Story Lightning Strike Starts Fire, Damages Sandy Hook HomeBradley Lane garage fireFeatured Slider, NewsNone
Severe Thunderstorm Warning IssuedThe National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Newtown, with an incoming front expected to bring 60 mile per hour wind gusts and heavy downpours around 3 pm Wednesday.Residents are told to expect damage to trees and power lines.For your protection, during the storm, residents should consider moving to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building, or seeking some other safe place to shelter until the front passes.The warning is in effect until 4 pm.Severe Thunder Storm Warning Issued John Voket
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Flags To Remain Lowered Following Death Of Former Vice President MondaleThe President has ordered flags lowered again, this time to honor a former Vice President.President Joseph Biden on April 20 ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff in honor of Walter F. Mondale, the former Democratic senator and Vice President who died Monday, April 19.Mondale was 93 at the time of his death, which happened at his home in Minneapolis.Mondale had served as vice president under President Jimmy Carter, from 1977 until 1981.Flags were already lowered across the country, so the proclamation issued Tuesday afternoon effectively extends the period they will be down. Americans were ordered last week to lower flags to memorialize the eight people killed on April 15 during a mass casualty shooting incident in Indianapolis, Ind.Flags were to remain lowered until sunset today.With the new proclamation calling for Americans to honor their former Vice President, flags will now remain lowered until sunset of the day of Mondale’s interment.Biden’s proclamation opened by calling the former vice president “one of our nation’s most dedicated patriots and public servants.” Biden outlined Mondale’s decades-long career, from Minnesota attorney general and senator, to the country’s vice president and then US ambassador to Japan.“For nearly 60 years he had a remarkable partnership with his wife Joan, a devoted advocate for the arts, who passed away in 2014,” the President’s proclamation continued. “We mourned when he lost his daughter Eleanor in 2011 and today our Nation’s sympathies lie with his sons Ted and William and his six grandchildren.”In a statement issued Monday evening, former President Carter also remembered his late Vice President. Carter said he considered Mondale “the best vice president in our country’s history,” adding “Fritz Mondale provided us all with a model for public service and private behavior.”Following suit, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont also directed US and state flags in Connecticut to fly at half staff, for the same period.“On behalf of the State of Connecticut, my condolences are with the Mondale family,” Lamont said Tuesday. “Vice President Mondale devoted himself to championing the civil rights of all Americans and worked to ensure that everyone has opportunity to achieve success in their lives regardless of their socioeconomic background or upbringing. We are deeply grateful for his service to the United States and the legacy he leaves.”Associated Press content was used in the preparation of this story.flags lowered for former VP Mondale Shannon Hicks
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What’s In The Works?
The Newtown Bee is working for you and with you, to bring you the news you want.At The Newtown Bee, we are working on articles every week for our readers’ education and enjoyment, and subscribers get the first — and sometimes exclusive — look at stories in print.What’s in the works for the edition of April 23 includes a look at the progress being made by the Charter Revision Commission; the ABCs of Newtown — D is for...; a final review of next Tuesday’s referendum; reports from Planning & Zoning and Board of Education meetings; and “bear” with us as we report on coexisting with wild animals. You can look forward to breaking news articles, up-to-date COVID information, press releases, and our regular offerings, as well.There are plenty of stories and breaking news posted to newtownbee.com, but you’ll find full coverage in our print edition. For complete news about Newtown, join our subscribers in being in the know (https://classadz.vdata.com/Legacy/NewtownBee/Circulation/Subscriber/).What's In The Works Story What’s In The Works?Obit KlucsikNewsNone
Top Five NewtownBee.com Stories For April 11 To 17
Here is a list of the top five stories posted to newtownbee.com this week.Each week we compile a list of some of the most-read stories published at newtownbee.com. Here is a roundup of the week’s recent top stories, based on the number of page reads.Keep up with all the Newtown news by subscribing to the paper each week — click “Subscribe” at newtownbee.com or e-mail subscriptions@thebee.com — and check our website for updates.“Newtown Café Reawakens At Former Village Perk Site,” published April 10. Find out the buzz about Newtown Café, at 3 Glen Road, Sandy Hook Village, at newtownbee.com/04102021/newtown-cafe-reawakens-at-former-village-perk-site.“Republican Tony Scott Captures Vacant 112th District Statehouse Seat,” by John Voket, published April 14. Republican Tony Scott outpaced Democratic rival Nick Kapoor in a Special Election April 13 to win the open 112th District Legislative seat representing Newtown and Monroe. Read more at newtownbee.com/04142021/republican-tony-scott-captures-vacant-112th-district-statehouse-seat.“Sharing Sophia’s ‘Grace’ And ‘Hope’ Along Connecticut Trails,” by Eliza Hallabeck, published April 13. Newtown resident Don Ramsey found more than Connecticut’s majesty along the state’s trails this spring, when he took up a challenge in his granddaughter’s memory. Read more at newtownbee.com/04132021/sharing-sophias-grace-and-hope-along-connecticut-trails.“Coexisting In Harmony With Wildlife: Opossums,” by Alissa Silber, published April 12. As the landscape in Newtown and surrounding towns continues to change, wild animals are being impacted and trying to adapt to their new environment as best they can. Find out more about coexisting with opossums at newtownbee.com/04122021/coexisting-in-harmony-with-wildlife-opossums.“Hwang Taps Into COVID Challenges Facing Brewery, Diner,” by John Voket, published April 16. Learn why State Senator Tony Hwang spent the morning of April 13 enjoying a late breakfast at Sandy Hook Diner and a pre-lunch sample of freshly brewed suds at the Reverie Brewing Company at newtownbee.com/04162021/hwang-taps-into-covid-challenges-facing-brewery-diner.Top Five NewtownBee.com Stories For April 11 To 17 Eliza Hallabeck
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Get to Know: Pole Bridge Preserve
The Newtown Bee’s “Get To Know” series looks at local buildings and properties. This week we look at Pole Bridge Preserve.The Newtown Bee’s “Get To Know” series looks at local buildings and properties. Is there a building or property you would like to “get to know?” E-mail eliza@thebee.com with suggestions.This week, we focus on Pole Bridge Preserve, off Pole Bridge Road. Newtown Parks and Recreation Director Amy Mangold contributed the answers below.In what year was it purchased or established? Purchased in 2002, Pole Bridge was a prioritized parcel obtained under Newtown’s Open Space Acquisition Program. The preserve now consists of 78 acres.The preserve’s dedication was held on May 31, 2003. It includes: 34 Pole Bridge Road, which was purchased with help of a 50% matching grant from the state. The purchase was supported by the town, the Open Space Task Force, and the Trust for Public Lands. Additional acreage at 52 Pole Bridge Road was obtained by the town as part of the Fox Hollow Lane development in 1979. Smaller parcels at 15 Bristle Lane and off Jeremiah Road were obtained by the town as part of the Feather Meadow subdivision in 1987/1989.Who or what entity owns or oversees the property? The Town of NewtownHow large is the property? The full preserve includes 34 Pole Bridge Road (20.9 acres), purchased from the Aragones family by the town with help of the 50% matching grant; 52 Pole Bridge Road (22 acres); 15 Bristle Lane (4.8 acres); and the 3.8-acre parcel off Jeremiah Road.Are there notable sights? If so, where? Wildlife found at Pole Bridge include fox, coyote, whitetail deer, skunks, and rabbits. Red-shouldered hawks and other raptors, short-eared owls, savannah sparrow, chickadee, cardinal, tufted titmouse, northern flicker, and junco have been observed; as well as eastern box turtle, salamanders, and native brook trout. It has a very healthy hemlock forest, which is rare to these areas.Geological features include glacial till soils, rock outcroppings, wetlands, streams, vernal pools, charcoal mounds, forests, and meadows.Trees and vegetation consisting of a variety of hardwood and softwood forests are noted in this preserve (hemlock; black, red and white oak; black birch; white ash; hickory; sugar maple; red maple; bigtooth aspen,;and black cherry). The diverse understory includes tree seedlings, hay-scented ferns, arrow wood, green briar, and several invasive species.How long is the trail/are the trails? As marked at the kiosk on the site, the main trail is about half a mile and there are more trails.What is one interesting fact about the trail/land? During the 2003 ribbon cutting ceremony, Rob Sibley, then ad hoc Open Space Task Force chair, noted that with the acquisition of 21 acres, a 115-acre preserve had been created because the Aragones property was linked to other town-owned parcels already set aside as open space.What should visitors know? This land has a history of multiple uses such as agriculture, poultry and cattle farming, mineral and fossil prospecting, charcoal production, and firewood harvesting. It sits within the Housatonic River Watershed and is located less than one mile from Lake Zoar. More than 80 percent of the property drains directly into Pole Bridge Brook, a Class “A” rated watercourse.What is the most common question you are asked about the property and the answer? Where is it and where should I park? 34 Pole Bridge Road. The best way to access the preserve is to walk up the old woods road off Pole Bridge Road. There is also access from neighborhoods: a marked narrow right-of-way easement off Fox Hollow and Bristle Lane cul-de-sacs and a pedestrian easement off Brandywine Lane.Get To Know: Pole Bridge Preserve Story Get to Know: Pole Bridge PreserveGet To Know: Pole Bridge PreserveFeatured Slider, FeaturesNone
Snapshot: Sherita McPhersonOccupation: I am a Newtown emergency telecommunicator and have been working in Newtown for two years.Family: I have two sisters and one brother. I am the aunt of three nephews and two nieces. I am engaged to be married this May to my amazing fiancé of five-plus years.What do you like to do in your free time? During my free time, I spend most of my time now planning my upcoming wedding. I also enjoy doing crafts and creating things that I like. The last thing I have created are the centerpieces that will be used during the reception.What is your favorite book? Currently, I am reading a book by Banning Liebscher, Rooted. I really don’t have a favorite book, but this is a good read.What is your favorite travel destination? My favorite travel destination right now is Las Vegas! I have traveled there twice and loved it each time. I cannot wait for life to get back to normal so I can start to travel again. I also love taking cruises, because it allows one to see different areas and islands in one trip.What is the best part about Newtown? The small town eateries.Who has been the greatest influence in your life? The greatest influence in my life was my high school music teacher and cheerleading coach. She taught us how to live outside the labels that others and life may put on you. She taught us that we do not have to be who or what society feels as though we should be.If you could spend the day with one person, who would you choose and why? I would want to spend the day with the celebrity Tyler Perry. To know his story and see where life has taken him, it would be amazing just to sit before him and have some of his wisdom and knowledge shared with me firsthand.Who is your favorite musical artist? This is a tough one, because there are so many amazing musical artist out there. I would say my favorite of all time would be Whitney Houston. Her musicality is beyond this world.What is the greatest piece of advice you have ever been given? Don’t ever expect what you do for others to be done in return. This advice has helped with limiting the amount of heartaches I could have had over the years.What is something you cannot live without? I cannot live without food. I am selective with what I eat; however, I love to eat. My favorite food is lasagna!What is your proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment was honestly getting a job for a municipality. I have been a go-getter all my life, and to now work a job that I have desired for so long is everything. I remember many years ago driving by the old Newtown Police station as an EMT for a commercial company and [saying] to myself, “I wonder what it would be like to work inside there,” and almost ten years later, that thought became a reality.Snapshot Sherita McPherson Story Snapshot: Sherita McPhersonSnapshot Sherita McPhersonFeaturesNone
From Pencil To Print: Crash And Fire On Rochambeau Bridge, Hours Of Subsequent GridlockOur occasional series “From Pencil To Print” shares how a recent story went from conception to bylined feature for our print edition and website.Our occasional series “From Pencil To Print” shares how a recent story went from conception to bylined feature for our print edition and website.The rollover of a truck and subsequent fire, followed by eight hours of what Police Chief James Viadero described during a Board of Police Commissioners meeting as “gridlocked roads in Newtown,” was covered from start to finish in the print edition of April 2, 2021, and online as it happened.Work on the story (“Rochambeau Bridge Temporarily Closed Following Truck Rollover, Fire In Construction Zone”) covering the March 30 truck crash and fire that closed the bridge that carries I-84 over Lake Zoar for hours began when Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue and Newtown Hook & Ladder Co. #1 were dispatched to the crash scene, shortly after 7 am that morning.I was still home, but have scanners in my home, and heard the call go out. Before I could even leave the house, the call had been upgraded: The truck was on fire, fully engulfed. Fortunately, the driver was safely out almost immediately.To get photos of the scene, I used the back route to Southbury — which tens of thousands of people were going to be doing for the better part of that weekday, we now know — heading over the Glen Road Silver Bridge in Sandy Hook and over River Road in Southbury. I took my first few photos from the bridge near the Southbury Town Beach (opposite Berkshire Road), then went to the bridge over the highway and used my second camera, with a zoom lens, to get closer views of the scene.Once the fire was out, it was time to get to the office, where I continued monitoring scanners for updates.Because this event was affecting thousands of people in real time, posts went up on The Newtown Bee Facebook and Twitter as soon as the crash happened, allowing followers to try to avoid any backup in the immediate area.As the incident continued, updates were posted to those feeds, letting readers know not only when firefighters and EMS personnel had cleared from the scene, but also to alert them that both lanes of the bridge would remain closed for quite some time.Within a few hours I was able to put together a story about the crash and fire, which we posted to our website. The closure of the eastern span was having ramifications not only on that bridge, but also in surrounding towns. Every vehicle traveling in either direction on I-84 was being detoured off the highway, and traveling through Newtown and parts of Southbury.It was determined that we should do not only social media posts, but also a full story online to let people who went to our website know why traffic on the interstate was at a standstill as far west as Danbury and as far east as the Southbury-Middlebury line.The following morning, I contacted Connecticut State Police (CSP) for their report. With this being something that happened on the highway, Connecticut State Police troopers were the law enforcement personnel to respond to the scene and file a report.CSP’s Public Information Officers provided that report, allowing us to update the story with details about the driver (name, age, hometown), the truck (make and model), and their narrative of what happened out there.Contact was also made with the project manager of the Rochambeau Bridge Renovation Project, who was able to provide the number of vehicles that regularly use the spans over Lake Zoar. He also confirmed that an inspection of the bridge had been done after the crash, before it was reopened for public use.All of the information was collated by Wednesday afternoon, March 31, and then filed for the print edition of Friday, April 2.from pencil to print: Rochambeau Bridge crash, fire & gridlock Story From Pencil To Print: Crash And Fire On Rochambeau Bridge, Hours Of Subsequent Gridlockfrom pencil to print: Rochambeau Bridge crash, fire & gridlockFeatured Slider, FeaturesNone
Jennifer Nash Joins C.H. Booth Library
Sandy Hook resident Jennifer Nash is the new assistant director at C.H. Booth Library.Sandy Hook resident Jennifer Nash is the new assistant director at C.H. Booth Library.“I love it. The people are so nice and I am really enjoying learning about the history of the library, meeting my colleagues and patrons,” Nash said in a recent phone interview.She officially began her tenure at C.H. Booth Library on March 22. Nash was serving as the head of teen services at Wallingford Public Library.While she misses her coworkers “who were like a second family” and the patrons at the Wallingford Public Library, Nash sounded excited when describing all the things she is looking forward to as a staff member of C.H. Booth, her hometown library.Her excitement for the new chapter in her career was echoed by C.H. Booth Library Director Douglas Lord. With Nash joining the staff, Lord noted in an April 13 phone interview that the library is poised to “go from a trot to a gallop in terms of responsiveness and providing the services we are able to provide during COVID times and forever.”Lord cited Nash’s administrative experience and “masterful” ability to help serve patrons as some of the top reasons he is excited for her to join the library.The position of assistant director was left open following longtime library staff member Beryl Harrison’s retirement last summer.In a release, previously published in The Newtown Bee, from the management and trustees of C.H. Booth Library, President Amy Dent said, “After a deliberate process with many strong candidates, the search committee agreed that Jennifer was the right individual to join the administrative team.”The hiring search committee, according to the release, included members of the library’s staff — Meg Savarese, Alana Bennison, and Lord — and of the Board of Trustees — Rose Marie Zaharek, Betsy Litt, and Beth Hamilton.Lord said Nash was chosen from a “competitive” field of applicants, and the first sentence of her cover letter started with the words, “I am thrilled to...” That stood out.Nash has lived in Sandy Hook with her husband, Jerry, daughter, Amelia (10), and son, Trey (7), for about four years.She is looking forward to being “part of the community I live in.” When she learned of the open position at C.H. Booth Library she said she “took a chance and applied for it. I was so thrilled when I found out I had [been chosen].”According to the release, Nash is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in library science from Southern Connecticut State University. She held a professional position at the Milford Public Library prior to her time in Wallingford.Nash described her love of working with teens for her job at Wallingford Public Library.“I love to help people,” Nash noted, adding that she loved when patrons would come back to the library to visit her as adults to share the library had been a supportive space for them as teens. “...That made me feel like I had done something right.”She is approachable and she is an avid reader.“I love to talk about books, so if [patrons] need suggestions, I’m always happy to give them,” Nash said.As of April 9 Nash was reading and “really enjoying” The Salt Pass by Raynor Winn. It is a nonfiction about a couple who lose everything and decide to embark on a hiking journey when the husband received a terminal diagnosis.Nash said she also loves “the whole philosophy of the library” as a place people can go where they do not have to pay for access to information.There are many things Nash is looking forward to, like the work of transforming the library to reflect current trends, expanding services, and focusing on the library as a learning institution. Some of the upcoming events she noted as things to be excited for include programs that focus on re-entering the job market and programs on diversity, equity, and inclusion.According to the release, Nash will be helping to coordinate library services in support of a mission to promote the joy of lifelong learning, stimulate curiosity, support the exchange of ideas, and build a welcoming gathering place for the Newtown community. She will lead a dedicated staff of 11 full-time and nine full-time equivalents who are focused on meeting community needs through services that position the library as a connector, partner, community hub, and a place for collaborative learning.Lord summed up the news of Nash’s joining the library quickest with what could be a chapter title: “She’s wonderful.”Jennifer Nash Joins CHB Eliza Hallabeck
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Girls’ Lacrosse Team Defeats Bunnell 16-4 Girls pile up 16 goals in lacrosse action.Newtown High School’s girls’ lacrosse team went on the road and defeated Bunnell of Stratford 16-4 on April 20.Gia Corso had three goals, and Izzy Butler, Julia Gerace, Ellie Meyer, and Ava Mitchell all had two goals. Butler added two assists.Elena Sughrue, Shea Murphy, Erin Phaneuf, Summer Harrell, and Jules Battaglia each hit the back of the net once.Gerace and Harrell each scooped six ground balls to lead the Nighthawks.NHS Girls Lacrosse Story Girls’ Lacrosse Team Defeats Bunnell 16-4NHS Girls Lacrosse_31SportsNone
Boys’ Lacrosse Team Falls To Rebels In Rain, Bounces Back Versus Bobcats And Bulldogs Nighthawk laxmen battle Rebels in rain and topple two foes.Newtown High School’s boys’ lacrosse team went to the fourth quarter knotted up at 4-4 with the visiting New Fairfield Rebels on a rainy April 15 night. The rain fell hard, but the Rebels poured it on even more in the final stanza on the way to a 9-4 triumph.The Nighthawks trailed 4-3 midway through the third until getting even, before the Rebels seized control.Recognizing that New Fairfield is one of the top teams around and that a majority of his team was in quarantine throughout preseason because of coronavirus protocol, Newtown Coach Scott Bulkley was still as upset with his players as they were wet following this one.“You can’t beat anybody unless you sacrifice your own ego and play team lacrosse,” Bulkley said. “In the fourth quarter, we just made really bad mental errors.”Turnovers and penalties contributed to New Fairfield’s late-game dominance.Brandon Manka scored twice, Colin Breslin and Mark Sokk each scored once, Tanner Trede assisted two goals, and Manka added an assist.The Rebels were winners of two straight Class M state titles and three consecutive South-West Conference championships before last spring’s coronavirus-caused season hiatus. Any such matchup is a potentially beneficial one for a team looking to tune up for the postseason; the Nighthawks have another meeting scheduled against the Rebels on May 8, but Bulkley is not looking that far ahead.“I’m looking forward to getting back to practice tomorrow,” the coach said.Newtown bounced back with an 8-1 win over the host Brookfield Bobcats on April 19. Jake Bulkley had two goals, picked up nine ground balls, and caused five loose balls. Connor Breslin had two goals and an assist, Manka had a goal and two assists, Trede notched a goal and an assist, and Ryan Ruddy netted a goal. Shaine Luzietti logged a goal, five ground balls, and five loose balls caused. Goaltender Jake Dandrea made nine saves.The Nighthawks blanked the visiting Bunnell of Stratford Bulldogs 19-0 on April 20. Manka had six goals and an assist, Bulkley scored three goals and had two assists, and Trede scored four goals. Connor Breslin netted two goals and two assists, Ruddy logged a goal and trio of assists, Colin Breslin had a goal and three assists, Sokk had a goal and one assist, and Austin Cameron, Matt Jacobs, and Luzietti each had one goal. Dandrea made nine saves.“We are getting better each day and slowly finding an identity. The more days we get under our belt, the better I think we will become,” Bulkley said.NHS Boys Lacrosse Andy Hutchison
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Danbury Music Centre Holds Virtual 5K, Running Through April 25 There is still time to participate in the Danbury Music Centre 5K.The Danbury Music Centre’s (DMC) annual 5K will take place in a new coronavirus-safe format for 2021. There is no official starting line and this year, as participants will select their own 5K (3.1 mile) course. The virtual race got started April 17 and runs through April 25.Participants may walk, run, bike, or dance to complete the event. As the event is virtual, there is an option to dance for 30 minutes, a close approximation to running a 5K.The goal is to have fun while supporting Danbury Music Centre programs. Once they’ve completed their chosen 5K, entrants can send a picture from their “finish line” and be entered into a raffle for prizes.Proceeds will go to DMC’s mission of bringing concerts and music appreciation to the people of the greater Danbury community and benefit programs such as the annual Nutcracker Ballet, Danbury Symphony Orchestra, Danbury Community Orchestra, Danbury Concert Chorus, Danbury Centre Strings, Summer Strings, Summer Bands, Summer Orchestra, Chamber Music Intensive, and more.Additional information about registration and the Danbury Music Centre may be found at danburymusiccentre.org or by calling 203-748-1716.Danbury Music Center 5K Story Danbury Music Centre Holds Virtual 5K, Running Through April 25Danbury Music Center 5KSportsNone
Ben Mason Optimistic About Chances In National Football League Draft Ben Mason has come a long way in his football career. And now the former Newtown High School standout and Michigan player has his sights set on advancing to the next level on the gridiron — the National Football League.Ben Mason has come a long way in his football career. And now the former Newtown High School standout and Michigan player has his sights set on advancing to the next level on the gridiron — the National Football League.The NFL draft will be held at the end of April and Mason, a 2017 graduate of NHS who will graduate from Michigan this spring, is optimistic he will be selected by one of the 32 teams at football’s highest level.Some of Mason’s success, no doubt, may be attributed to his coaches and teammates, but off-the-field and offseason training that included workouts under the direction Kevin Cleary, a certified strength and conditioning specialist with distinction by NCSA (Next College Student Athlete) has also been a key factor.Mason, a business administration major, was back in town early this spring, and working out with Cleary, owner of Athlete Factory, 77 South Main Street. Mason had trained under the guidance of Cleary, who at the time worked out of NYA Sports & Fitness, throughout his high school career. These days, Clearly is helping keep Mason in the best possible shape during his offseason.“I’m thinking it’s giving me a huge edge. Not a lot of people train the way he trains,” Mason said of working out under the direction of Cleary, who has 30 years of exprience in the health and fitness field and is a national speaker and consultant on dynamic flexibility, strength & speed training and fitness.Rather than push it to the limit and lift what could be too much weight at once, Cleary has his athletes build up strength with more repetitions. Cleary said the philosophy that is followed is that technique is more important than maxes with weights.“What we work on is proper movement patterns with an emphasis on Olympic lifts rather than bench, squat, and dead lift” which can provide athletes with three to five times the power, which athletes need, Cleary said. “If we want an athlete to be more explosive, our feeling is that these lifts are a must.”Mason has spent a bulk of his days in Michigan throughout the past four years, but gets pointers from Cleary from afar as the two keep in touch and Cleary checks up on how Mason is doing.Once a touchdown-scoring and tackling machine for the Nighthawks, when he used his big frame to bulldoze his way through opposing defenses, or bring down ball carriers at Blue & Gold Stadium as well as on the road, Mason went on to play fullback for Michigan and scored nine touchdowns in two seasons before changing positions to accommodate team needs.Mason was a defensive tackle his junior year. He got back to playing more as a fullback in his senior year and logged a receiving TD. Mason also logged seven solo tackles and assisted on seven more. He did a bulk of his work blocking for teammates and contributing where needed on special teams.“No matter what is asked of you, you’ve got to be able to do it,” said Mason, who is listed at 6-foot-3 and 254 pounds.“He’s very coachable. It’s 100 percent effort,” Cleary said of Mason. “His strength is his focus. He knows what he wants and he goes after it.”If Mason gets what he is after now — a spot on an NFL team — he will be Cleary’s sixth athlete to go professional, and third in the NFL.“I can see him playing in the NFL for a long time,” said Cleary, adding that Mason will help a team however he is needed due to his work ethic.The NFL combine was held virtually this year, and Mason and other NFL hopefuls showed their strengths to NFL teams from their respective colleges. Mason was invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl, and went to Mobile, Ala., to compete with other top college players. He has spoken with representatives of every NFL team.Mason, although versatile, considers himself a fullback all the way and is entering into the draft as one. Fullbacks had been in decline in the NFL over the past decade-plus. Cleary said there are maybe nine NFL teams to use a fullback but that the use of the position seems to be on the rise again, and there could be 15 or so teams implementing fullbacks next season.“We all knew how special Ben was the moment we met him as a freshmen. He was always locked in with tremendous focus and an unmatched physical mentality,” said Bobby Pattison, head coach of the NHS football team, who was defensive coordinator under then-head coach Steve George when Mason played for the Nighthawks.“He basically was all-everything from his sophomore year on,” said Pattison, referring to Mason achieving all-conference and all-state accolades.“And the best part about it, he is a phenomenal person and teammate. Ben has a lot of things going for him that will help him succeed at the next level. I think his character will carry him to continued success at the next level. Everywhere he has gone, he has left it a better place. What else could you ask for? The coaches at Newtown are rooting hard for him,” Pattison added.Mason does not have a top choice for an NFL team or city. He just wants to be on the gridiron next fall.“I’m really excited about the draft,” said Mason, adding that he has known since he was about 6 years old that he wanted to pursue a career in the NFL. “It’s not the end destination. The work doesn’t end here. I still have a lot of work ahead of me.“At the end of the day it’s not a guarantee,” Mason said of potentially being drafted. “But I feel really good about what I’ve done to this point — and what I’ll do in the future.”Ben Mason NFL Draft Andy Hutchison
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Girls’ Golfers Aim To Contend For SWC Championship Again It may be that the only thing that prevented Newtown High School’s girls’ golf team from either winning a championship or finishing runner-up in the South-West Conference a year ago was the fact the season was canceled due to the coronavirus.It may be that the only thing that prevented Newtown High School’s girls’ golf team from either winning a championship or finishing runner-up in the South-West Conference a year ago was the fact the season was canceled due to the coronavirus.After winning three titles and earning a pair of second-place finishes in five consecutive seasons, culminating with a 2019 runner-up finish to Masuk of Monroe, the Nighthawks are again looking to contend for a championship.“Extremely excited to have the season this year. Proud of all the kids did virtually last season,” Coach Jeremy O’Connell said. “We will miss [graduate Gigi Marino] tremendously, but we hope to compete for an SWC title.”Senior captains are Nidhi Mukka, Abby Watson, Summer Wilmot, and Bradyn Smith.Other returners are juniors Kendall Reed, Christina Savo, Norah Kolb, Catherine Murray, Naiya Amin, and Maggie Breault.Newcomers are sophomores Caitlin Briggs, Aidan Herbstman, and Madison McGoldrick, along with freshmen Emma Early, Izzy Caron, Sofia Verdi, and Madalynn Watson.Tough competition stands to come from Joel Barlow of Redding and Masuk, O’Connell said.NHS Girls Golf Preview Andy Hutchison
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Daytime hours (NOTE: campus closes for outdoor activities at sunset)
Fairfield Hills campus, Mile Hill Road South
Free
Start from parking lot of former Cochran House (near ballfields), follow storyboard signs featuring pages Good Dogs, Great Listeners: The Story of Charlotte, Lily, and the Litter along paved path that ends at cul-de-sac at end of Keating Farms Avenue, go-at-your-own-pace event suitable for all ages, daily during daylight hours until April 18, extended to April 25; charlottehelenbaconfoundation.org.
Nonperishable food, cleaning products, and personal hygiene items being collected through May 15, to be forwarded to FAITH Food Pantry and other local pantries.
Newtown Municipal Center Showcase (within main corridor), 3 Primrose Street
Works in clay, in myriad forms, by Roberta Ahuja, Ros Liljengren, and Karen Pinto, on view weekdays until May 28, hosted by Newtown Cultural Arts Commission.
Works in various mediums and styles by members of The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown, most available for purchase, on view weekdays to April 30; 203-744-7690, SCANart.org.
Newtown Congregational Church (Great Room, easiest access through upper rear entrance), 14 West Street
Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds, be at least 17 years old, and in generally good health, COVID-19 protocols being followed, all donations will be tested for COVID-19 antibodies.
Appointments strongly encouraged, blood drive also scheduled for April 23 (8:30 am-1:30 pm); 800-733-2767, redcrossblood.org.
C.H. Booth Library (second floor hallway), 25 Main Street
Exhibition of works by the celebrated National Watercolor Society signature artist and longtime Newtown resident on view through April 23; 203-426-4533.
Fairfield Hills (between Newtown Hall and Woodbury Hall), off Keating Farms Avenue
Public invited to join Rotary Club of Newtown members for outdoor spring cleaning efforts in honor of Earth Day, BYO gloves and hand tools if possible, light refreshments to be served, rescheduled from April 19; 203-223-3524.
Livestreamed program will have members of local photography club competing with themes of “All In The Details” and “Sunrises & Sunsets,” also Open Color and Open Monochrome, public welcome for viewing and critique of images, visit website for program link; flagpolephotographers.com.
NOTE: Due to continued COVID-19 concerns, this meeting will be conducted remotely, with a call-in participation option. Click through the agenda below for details.
What would you call the suggestions, of the current House Committee to "Means Test" Social Security recipients if not reducing benefits. We paid into the system, we are due our benefits back.
I fail to see the Newtown connection in this nonconstructive partisan letter which apparently seeks to scare local seniors. Mr. Epstein's letter does nothing to further the conversation around a legitimate policy issue in the future of Social Security which according to SSA.gov "if trust fund assets are exhausted without reform, benefits will necessarily be lowered," citing lower birth rates. This is an area where we need an open and objective, multi generational, national dialogue, not fear based political propaganda.
I agree, thank you Richard. The example given by Ms. Murray illustrates that this is a state issue, not a town issue. If the same case occurred in Connecticut the plaintiff would have sued the state of Connecticut, not the town of Newtown.
What fun to have stumbled across this write up. As a friend of one of the daughters I was fortunate to have visited with them many times in the early 80s in various locations. A wonderful, adventuresome family!
