Children's Programs

By CURT CLARK

Published: May 29, 2001 12:00 am

Childrenâs Programs

Origami 2: Another origami worshop is being offered for ages 6 and up on Saturday, June 2, 11 am to noon in the childrenâs program room. The project for this free workshop will be jumping frogs. Space is limited to 15 participants. Pre-registration is required.

Holes Book Discussion: Multiple copies of the popular young adult novel Holes are available for checkout. The book will be discussed on Friday, May 25, from 3:30-5 pm. Liz Arneth will lead the discussion; refreshments will be served.

Library Volunteers: Young adults interested in volunteering for the library summer reading program should plan to attend one of the brief training sessions on June 8, 4-5 pm, or Saturday, June 9, 10:30-11:30 am, in the childrenâs program room. Volunteers must be entering 6th grade in the fall. Your volunteer time at the library is spent listening to children talk about the books they are reading for the summer reading program. A typical shift lasts no longer than two hours. The number of volunteer hours available will depend on the number who sign up to work. For more information call the childrenâs department: 426-3851.

Author Visit: Caldecott Medal winning childrenâs book illustrator Paul O. Zelinsky will visit the library on Sunday, June 10, at 2 pm in the library meeting room. Copies of some of his award-winning books will be available for purchase on the day of the program. Mr Zelinsky will sign books immediately following his presentation. This is a unique opportunity for aspiring artists to learn firsthand what it is like to be a professional book illustrator. The program is free and open to the public.

Bring Your Dad to Story Time: In honor of Fatherâs Day, we invite children ages 3-7 to bring their dads to the library for an evening story time. Stories, songs, and action rhymes will make up the 45-minute program on June 11, 6:30-7:15 pm in the library meeting room. No registration is necessary.

Book Donations: Spring is officially here, time to clean out those cellars and attics and bring those unwanted books to the library. Volunteers are hard at work organizing for our Labor Day Book Sale.

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Adult Programs

Summer Concerts in the Libraryâs Backyard: The libraryâs summer music series will be kicking off on Friday, June 15, with an outdoor folk concert by our state troubadour, Kevin Briody. So grab a picnic dinner and some friends and join us under the stars for a great evening of music and fun in the Booth backyard. Erik Bagger of Newtown will be opening for Mr Briody at 6 pm. Mr Briody will follow around 7 pm. The concert is free and open to the public.

Daytime Book Group: For all of you unable to make the evening book discussion please consider joining us at the library for a new daytime group. On June 18 at 1 pm the group will be discussing Stern Men by Elizabeth Gilbert. The group will also be putting together a list of books to read in future months, so if you have a recommendation weâd love your input.

Â Evening Book Group: On Thursday, June 21, the evening book group will discuss Slaves in the Family by Edward Ball. The group will meet at 7:30 pm in the Special Collections room on the third floor. New members are always welcome. We are putting together a list of books to read for next year, and weâd love your input as to what we should read next.

Free Blood Pressure Screening: The screening is available from 10 am to noon the fourth Wednesday of every month in the genealogy room. This service is provided free of charge and is sponsored by Ashlar of Newtown

The Way We Were

Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

Top Of The Mountain

Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Saturday

Full Slate Of May Programs Planned By Flagpole Photographers

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Children's Programs

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