Cancellations, Postponements & Other Changes: March 28-29, 2020 & Beyond
What's open? What's closed? What's canceled? What has been postponed? What is operating on abbreviated hours? In one collection, we offer answers to all of those questions.
Business owners, managers, event organizers, et al are encouraged to contact Associate Editor Shannon Hicks at shannon@thebee.com to be added to this list.
Organizations, businesses and general announcements are listed first, following by special events by date.
NEW THIS MORNING (Monday, March 30, 2020): FISH of Newtown, Inc, the volunteer medical transportation service, regrets that they must cancel service until further notice, for the protection of clients and drivers.
Big Y World Class Market, at 6 Queen Street, is opening at 7 am for senior citizens, 8 am for everyone else, and remaining open until 8 pm daily, until further notice.
Read more here: Supermarkets Curtail Hours, Offer Early Shopping For Some Groups
C.H. Booth Library is closed. The latest indication, from its website, is that the library may reopen on Thursday, April 23.
Materials that were borrowed from the library should be kept at home, according to Library Director Douglas Lord.
"There will be no fines or overdues, and the library has a massive amount of digital and streaming materials available for free," Lord told The Newtown Bee on March 16. Visit chboothlibrary.org for details.
CHB Head of Reference Amy Schumann expanded on that announcement on March 27, adding that all items in good status have automatically been renewed until May 1. Those with items that were already overdue prior to the library’s closing earlier this month should contact the library to have those fines waived.
“If you had an item that was already overdue several weeks, we were not able to [clear overdue fines] remotely and in a batch,” Schumann said. “Please contact us so we can renew those items individually and allow you to use your card for our digital resources.”
Also, library cards that were due to expire have been renewed until June 1, also according to Schumann. If a card had already expired, the card holder should email the library and it will be renewed.
The library has also created a new email address for the current closure. Notes should be sent to help@chboothlibrary.org.
Friends of Booth Library have announced they cannot accept donations of books, CDs, DVDs, or any other materials until the library reopens. An April 26 Book Donation Day has been canceled, according to Friends President Kathryn Hanson.
Caraluzzi's Newtown Market, 5 Queen Street, is open from 6:30 until 7:30 am daily for shoppers age 65 and over, and then from 7:30 until 8 pm for all, until further notice.
Read more here: Supermarkets Curtail Hours, Offer Early Shopping For Some Groups
Cornerstone Ministry at Newtown Congregational Church is closed until further notice.
Edmond Town Hall is closed until at least April 20, its Board of Managers announced March 25. Building staff will continue to work on cleaning and special projects throughout the building, and administrative staff continues to work including answering calls (203-270-4285) and emails (manager@edmondtownhall.org).
EverWonder Children’s Museum is closed until further notice.
FAITH Food Pantry is operating by appointment only. Call 203-426-5604 or 203-837-0816 to make an appointment to pick up food, toiletries, pet supplies, etc.
Those who wish to donate to the pantry also need to call for an appointment.
Read more here: Effective Immediately: FAITH Food Pantry Operating By Appointment Only
Girl Scouts of Connecticut including Girl Scouts of Newtown suspended all activity and meetings as of March 16.
The Newtown Bee offices, 5 Church Hill Road, are currently open by appointment only. Staff is working Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm (earlier and later by chance).
Connect over the phone (203-426-3141) or through emails. When the weather cooperates, copies of the print edition will be sold on a cart outside the front door, alleviating the need for person-to-person contact. Papers are $1 each, and an honor box is on the cart. If it's raining and you'd like a copy of The Newtown Bee, call the office and someone will walk one outside.
Newtown Bridge Club activities, initially canceled until April 2, will be canceled until at least April 20, the new date Edmond Town Hall hopes to reopen.
Newtown Community Center is closed until further notice.
Community Center staff will be available to answer the phones (203-270-4349) between 8 am and 4:30 pm.
Newtown Continuing Education programs have been postponed. In a note to The Newtown Bee, NCE Director Jennifer Arnold said "We hope to offer make ups and to reschedule classes. Registrants will be advised via email/phone about their classes when make up dates become available, or if a class is cancelled. Please feel free to contact continuinged@newtown.k12.ct.us with questions."
Newtown Municipal Center is open by appointment only.
Residents and other potential visitors should contact a department they wish to do business with before going to 3 Primrose Street. Contact information for each department is available at the Town website (newtown-ct.gov).
In addition to those based at 3 Primrose Street, Town offices include Newtown Community Center, Parks & Recreation and Newtown Senior Center, at 8 Simpson Street; and Newtown Police Department, at 3 Main Street (see additional PD notes below). None of these locations are available to walk-in visitors at this time.
Newtown Public Works & Engineering departments, at 4 Turkey Hill Road, are also open by appointment only. Call 203-270-4300 to schedule an appointment, including arrangements for compost bags or recycling bins.
Newtown Parent Connection is following guidelines announced by President Trump, Governor Lamont and First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, and has suspended its Hope & Support, Bereavement, and Friends in Recovery meetings until further notice. Those who need individual assistance should call 203-270-1600.
Newtown Police Department has adopted its own social distancing protocols, including asking residents and others to not visit 3 Main Street unless it is an emergency. Call 911 in the event of an emergency, but use the department’s routine phone line (203-426-5841) for all other calls.
Those who do go to the station will be directed to an internal phone in the lobby, from which they will be connected to an officer.
The Records Window is closed until further notice; requests can be done over the phone, via email, and via USPS. Fingerprinting and Car Seat Installation services are suspended until further notice.
The department is also asking that the public hold off on visiting with gifts and/or treats until further notice.
Read more here: Police Adopt New Protocols In Response To Panddemic
Newtown Public Schools are closed until further notice.
Newtown Senior Center has also closed until further notice.
Through CW Resources, the senior center’s meal provider, prepackaged lunches for senior citizens are available Monday through Thursday, with advance registration. Suggested donation is $3, cash only.
Those who are not yet registered for the congregate meal program at Newtown Senior Center, which is required by CW Resources, can do so at the same time they pick up their first meal.
Contact the senior center, 203-270-4310, to place an order for a lunch.
Newtown Youth & Family Services has closed its offices, but staff remains available for non-emergency calls. Contact NYFS's answering service at 203-791-7332. Call 911 in the event of an emergency.
NYFS has begun offering virtual and tele-health appointments, NYFS Executive Director Candice Bohr recently told The Newtown Bee.
NYA Sports & Fitness Center is closed until further notice, according to its website.
Parks & Recreation Activities & Events
Newtown Parks & Recreation programs and activities have been canceled until further notice.
All organized sporting activities are postponed indefinitely. Scheduled field use will resume when schools reopen.
Parks, including their playgrounds, are closed. Pavilion rentals are suspended.
Newtown Park & Bark is also closed.
The only exception to the above notice is Pole Bridge and Orchard Hill preserves, which remain open for hiking.
In his update with The Newtown Bee on March 21, First Selectman Dan Rosenthal addressed a concern of his: seeing large groups still congregating at fields around town.
"We don't need to be walking in a big mass, or playing soccer in a large group — that really conflicts with guidance we're getting from virtually all health officials," the first selectman said. He also reminds residents that local parks, playgrounds and facilities like the skate park are closed and being patrolled, and those seen in those facilities are trespassing and may be subject to police intervention.
"If a few friends take a walk together spaced six feet away, that's fine — or doing some soccer drills," he said. "But we have seen the police respond to several parks facilities asking people to leave."
The Resiliency Center of Newtown is open by appointment only; call 203-364-9750.
Stop & Shop stores, including the one in Sand Hill Plaza, 228 South Main Street, have special and curtailed hours.
The store is open from Stores are open 7:30 am until 8 pm. Online pick-up will also be suspended.
Customers age 60 and older are welcome between 6 and 7:30 am.
Read more here: Supermarkets Curtail Hours, Offer Early Shopping For Some Groups
Trinity Day School is closed until further notice.
The VNA Thrift Shop at Edmond Town Hall is closed until further notice.
SATURDAY, MARCH 28
The Newtown Middle School production of Willy Wonka Jr, scheduled for the weekend of March 27-29, has been postponed to the weekend of April 24-26.
The Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers on March 11 announced the Brothers Revival concert has been postponed. A new date will be scheduled, according to the release issued by the board, but those who have purchased tickets can receive a full refund.
Today's Newtown Hikers hike has been canceled.
The 50th Annual SCAN Spring Juried Show & Sale, including tonight's opening reception and award ceremony, has been postponed. Planned for March 28-May 15, new dates will be announced.
SUNDAY, MARCH 29
Read more here: Faith Communities Respond To COVID-19 With Streaming Service, Expanded Online Presence; Some Still Meeting
and here: Worship Notes, for the weekend of March 28-29, 2020
Two Newtown Community Center events — Bunny Breakfast and Egg Dive — have been canceled.
MONDAY, MARCH 30
Senior Indoor Drop-In Pickleball at Edmond Town Hall has been canceled.
Newtown Bridge Club games have been canceled.
“Conversation with Storyteller & Author Carl Wilkens,” an NHS PTSA event, has been canceled.
TUESDAY, MARCH 31
The March 31 Newtown Youth Football & Cheer Open House has been canceled. Organizers are also delaying the opening of registration for the upcoming season until further notice.
Newtown Bridge Club games have been canceled.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1
Newtown Bridge Club games have been canceled.
THURSDAY, APRIL 2
Newtown Bridge Club games have been canceled.
FRIDAY, APRIL 3
The Parks & Recreation Flashlight Egg Hunt has been canceled.
Tonight’s Rocking Rooster Square Dance Club dance has been canceled.
SATURDAY, APRIL 4
The Parks & Rec Spring Egg Hunt has been canceled, “for the first time ever,” Parks & Rec Assistant Director-Recreation RoseAnn Reggiano confirmed this week.
The SCAN Spring Workshop: Pastels with Karen Israel has been canceled.
This month’s Families United in Newtown (FUN) Gathering has been canceled. Watch next week’s Newtown Bee for details on what the group will be doing in honor of Autism Awareness Month, however.
The NUMC Pasta Dinner and NUMC Coffee House have both been canceled.
MONDAY, APRIL 6
Senior Indoor Drop-In Pickleball at Edmond Town Hall has been canceled.
Newtown Bridge Club games have been canceled.
The Girl Scouts of Newtown All-Girl Meeting scheduled for today has been postponed.
TUESDAY, APRIL 7
Newtown Bridge Club games have been canceled.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8
Newtown Bridge Club games have been canceled.
THURSDAY, APRIL 9
Newtown Bridge Club games have been canceled.
This month’s Horticulture Club of Newtown meeting has been canceled.
SATURDAY, APRIL 11
The Annual Egg Scramble at EverWonder Children’s Museum will be rescheduled to a later date.
MONDAY, APRIL 13
Newtown Bridge Club games have been canceled.
“The Building of The Stevenson Dam,” a presentation by John Babina, hosted by Newtown Historical Society at C.H. Booth Library, has been postponed; new date TBA.
TUESDAY, APRIL 14
Newtown Bridge Club games have been canceled.
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15
The deadline for filing state and federal taxes has been extended this year, to July 15.
Newtown Bridge Club games have been canceled.
THURSDAY, APRIL 16
Newtown Bridge Club games have been canceled.
SUNDAY, APRIL 19
The April 19 Newtown Music Series: Linda Ronstadt Retrospective concert at Edmond Town Hall has been postponed; new date TBA.
SATURDAY, APRIL 25
The 13th Annual Newtown Earth Day Festival on Saturday, April 25, has been canceled.
SUNDAY, APRIL 19
The Newtown Historical Society Open House & Living History Demonstration: Spinning Wheel program has been canceled.
SUNDAY, APRIL 26
A Friends of C.H. Booth Library Book Donation Day has been canceled.
SUNDAY, MAY 3
The return performance by The Imagination Movers, scheduled for today at Edmond Town Hall, has been rescheduled for Sunday, October 18. Tickets from the original date will be honored.
SATURDAY, MAY 10
The 3rd Annual Run4Hunger, originally planned for May 10, has been postponed to September 12.
SUNDAY, MAY 17
The Newtown Historical Society Open House & Living History Demonstration: Blacksmithing program has been canceled.