Saturday, April 24

By ANDY GOROSKO

Published: Apr 23, 2010 12:00 am

Saturday, April 24

Third Annual Newtown Earth Day Festival, 10 amâ4 pm, Newtown Middle School, Queen Street, free, exhibitions, 40-plus vendors, sunrise service, Environmental Maze, Recycled Art Show, live music and more.

Town Players Diamond Cabaret, 7:30 pm (doors open 6:30), Edmond Town Hallâs Alexandria Room, 45 Main Street, $30, dessert and coffee, live music by The Bob Lasprogato Trio, comic sketches from 1930s, scenes from Noel Cowardâs Brief Encounters and sing-along will celebrate beginning of local theater groupâs 75th anniversary season, guests invited to bring their dinner to enjoy prior to performances, dessert provided; 203-270-9144.

Sunday, April 25

Book Donation Day, 12â5 pm, rain or shine, C.H. Booth Library rear parking lot, 25 Main Street, volunteers will be accepting donations of used books, DVDs, CDs, VHS tapes, and LPs for libraryâs annual book sale in July, tax receipts available; 203-270-4537.

âPersonal Encounters with The Death Penalty,â 1 pm, St Rose of Lima Gathering Hall, 46 Church Hill Road, free program by author and death row chaplain Dale Recinella, light lunch provided; 203-426-1014.

Monday, April 26

Newtown Youth & Family Services (NYFS) board of directors, 6:30 pm, NYFS offices, 17 Church Hill Road.

Board of Fire Commissioners, 8 pm, Botsford Firehouse, 315 South Main Street.

Tuesday, April 27

Public Referendum, 6 amâ8 pm, Newtown Middle School gymnasium, 11 Queen Street, public vote on the proposed $104,453,616 budget for the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Conservation Commission, 6 pm, Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.

Design Advisory Board, 7 pm, Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.

Public Building and Site Commission, 7 pm, Reed Intermediate School, 3 Trades Lane.

Wednesday, April 28

Housatonic Area Regional Transit (HART) Board of Directors, HART offices, 62 Federal Road, Danbury.

Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) program, 1:30 pm, Newtown Meeting House (lower level), 31 Main Street, free demo on working with pastels by Rae Smith; 203-426-6654.

GOP US Senatorial Forum, 7 pm, Newtown Senior Center, 14 Riverside Road, forum will feature Republican candidates for US Senate Race, including Vincent Forras, Linda McMahon, Peter Schiff, and Rob Simmons, Republican Town Committee meeting to follow; 203-470-2728.

Inland Wetlands Commission, 7:30 pm, Municipal Center, 3 Primrose Street.

Ad Hoc Tick-Borne Disease Action Committee, 8 pm, Booth Library, 25 Main Street.

Thursday, April 29

Board of Education Policy Subcommittee, 1 pm, Municipal Center, superintendentâs office, 3 Primrose Street.

American Red Cross blood drive, 1â6 pm, Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, appointments available, walk-ins also welcome; 800-GIVE-LIFE (800-448-3543).

Friday, April 30

Hope For Haiti: A Variety Show, 5â6:30 pm, The Blue Z Coffee House, 127 South Main Street, free (donations accepted), performances by Trinity Episcopal Church 5th & 6th Grade students, donations to benefit The Good Samaritan Rebuilding Fund; 203-426-9070.

Redstone Ridge in concert, 7:30 pm, Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, $10, free ages 12 and under, contemporary bluegrass, folk, and Americana music by local band, light refreshments to follow; 203-426-9024.

Saturday, May 1

NUMC Monthly Pasta Dinner, 5â7:30 pm, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road, $9 adults, $8 seniors, $3.50 children; 203-426-9998.

NUMC Coffee House, 7:45â10:30 pm, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road, admission $4 for those attending earlier pasta dinner (see listing above), $5 otherwise, bluegrass and folk music, refreshments; 203-426-9998.

Sunday, May 2

Spring Gala Concert, 2 pm, Newtown Meeting House, 31 Main Street, free performance of works ranging from opera and musical theater by celebrated regional musicians will celebrate building becoming handicapped accessible, reservations suggested; 203-270-8293.

High Tea with Sydney Eddison and Kim Proctor, 3â5 pm, The Dana-Holcombe House, 29 Main Street, $20, readings by Ms Eddison from her new book (Gardening For A Lifetime), original drawings by Ms Proctor that were used in her book, then tea served by The Garden Club of Newtown, reservations required; 203-994-4849.

The University Singers in concert, 4 pm, Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main Street, performance by 14-voice all-male a cappella singing ensemble from Central Connecticut State University will include chamber music, traditional folk and vocal jazz, donations accepted for Haiti relief; 203-426-9070 x11.

Monday, May 3

American Red Cross blood drive, 8:30 amâ6:15 pm, Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, appointments available, walk-ins also welcome; 800-GIVE-LIFE (800-448-3543).

SNAN Spring Lunch & Auction, noon, My Place Restaurant, 8 Queen Street, lunch (at attendeeâs expense) followed by auction of goods and services to benefit The Spay & Neuter Association of Newtown; 203-263-1933, 203-426-0253.

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It’s important to clarify the tone and context of Derek Pisani’s remarks, particularly the satirical line about suing Newtown for "Gross Stupidity." This was clearly a tongue-in-cheek jab at the exhausting culture of legal threats that’s become a staple on the local Facebook Group forums. It was a reflection of frustration over endless regulatory hurdles and obstructionism, and the desire to avoid common sense solutions not an insult aimed at residents. Satire, is meant to provoke thought and highlight the absurdities. If we are unable to distinguish between satire and literal threats, perhaps the comment hit closer to the truth than we’d like to admit. Rather than focusing on Pisanis style, we should be discussing the substance of what he’s pointing out: that Newtown’s progress is being routinely blocked by a small but vocal contingent who seem intent on saying “no” at every turn. They are saying no to any development, no to common sense solutions to crowd control, etc. Newtown deserves leaders who are willing to call things as they see them, even if their language ruffles feathers. That doesn’t mean they lack respect for constituents—it means they care enough to challenge the Mob and push for solutions. Isn't that what we elect people to do? I applaud Pisani's dedication, he certainly has earned my vote. Regardless, let’s not reduce conversation to tone-policing and outrage. Let’s focus on the issues that matter.

Who is Calling Newtowners Stupid?

Thank you for pointing out the trail access provisions included in the BOS motion—it’s an important clarification that deserves more attention in this conversation. If the development is, in fact, required to provide permanent free public access and commit to ongoing maintenance of this section of the Rochambeau Trail, that is a remarkably beneficial outcome for the town. oIt’s not every day that a private project shoulders the long-term burden of preserving and caring for a public historical corridor at no taxpayer cost—especially one that previously had no formal access, upkeep, or visibility. Let’s be honest: the idea that the only way to protect history is by preventing any development nearby is a rigid and unworkable standard. What’s being proposed here appears to strike a rare balance—historic preservation, public access, and smart development all rolled into one. That’s not a loss its a win. So rather than allowing a handful of voices to derail progress under the banner of “historic purity,” maybe it’s time to acknowledge the reality: this trail is better off with structured stewardship and visibility than remaining an overgrown ghost on old maps. Let’s move forward. Bring in the easement, bring in the public access—and yes, bring in the bulldozers!!! Progress and preservation can coexist. Let’s not let the NIMBY use fear or nostalgia keep us stuck in the past.

Discusses Rochambeau Trail And 6 Commerce Road

I've heard that several people are under the impression that the public might be banned from the Rochambeau Trail. Points 2 and 3 from the BOS motion (included in full below) make it clear that public access to the trail is part of the requirements for the developer. From what I understand, it requires free public access to the trail in perpetuity. Technically, this could be argued to be a "payment-in-kind," that attempts to balance public good with overall town growth. We can argue about weather that balance is acceptable and how the trail may be affected, but with the understanding that the trail is expected to be maintained as a publicly accessible trail regardless. July 15, 2024 Board of Selectmen approved motion: Discontinuance of Reservoir Road: Selectman Cruson moved the resolution: Resolved, that the Newtown Board of Selectmen, in accordance with Section 2-115(d)(8) of the Town Charter and Conn. Gen. Stat. §13a-49, and subject to the conditions set forth below, hereby discontinues an unimproved portion of Reservoir Road described as “Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued “on that certain survey map which will be recorded on the Newtown Land Records titled “Map Showing Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued” dated August, 2023 and revised September 15, 2023, and certified substantially correct by Gregory Szyszowski of SLR (the “Survey Map”), said discontinuance contingent and effective only upon the completion of the following: 1. The approval of an application for the development of land in the manner described in a letter from Attorney Thomas W. Beecher to First Selectman A. Jeffrey Capeci and Members of the Board of Selectmen dated May 30, 2024, pursuant to the “Residential Open Space Development” regulations of the Borough of Newtown by the Borough of Newtown Zoning Commission, and construction of that approval project within the timeframes required for special exception approval; 2. The inclusion of the discontinued portion of the road as part of the final Declaration of Conservation Restriction; 3. The conveyance of a mutually agreeable public easement to the Town of Newtown for pedestrian, bicycling, equestrian, and all other passive recreational uses (to exclude the use of motorized vehicles except as may be necessary by the Town or its designee to effectuate the purpose of the easement), and for municipal utility purposes; Be it further resolved, that Castle Hill Real Estate Holdings, LLC., its successors and assigns, shall not use any portion of the discontinued road as a vehicular road or access way to and from any developed portions of the property. Be it further finally resolved, that should any of the foregoing contingencies not occur, then the discontinuance contemplated herein shall not become effective and this resolution will become null and void. From: https://www.newtown-ct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif12216/f/minutes/bos_7-15-24_min-_att_final.pdf

Is this paper road (roads that only exist on paper map but not in reality) even owned by the Town? Many roads that predate the Town's road standards are privately owned and were never accepted by the Town, such as many of the nonconforming roads around the lake communities where the property owners own right to the center line. That is something we had to deal with when working on the Roads Ordinance a few years back. We also had to deal with a private road to run the utilities to the new SHS.

For anyone who wants to know, I cant post a link here, but Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority has an entire website. Look up "HRRA whats in whats out"

I Get It!

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