Cultural Events

Newtown Lions Bringing Another Blood Drive To Town

Published: Jun 26, 2026 7:45 am

American Red Cross is making an urgent call for blood and platelet donors to book an appointment to give now to ensure hospitals stay ready to help patients without delay.

As people get ready for summer adventures and big national festivities, the Red Cross and Warner Bros Discovery Global Consumer Products are partnering to remind everyone of something important: the need for blood never goes on vacation. Individuals can join the squad to honor the country’s 250th anniversary and America’s spirit of service by giving blood. All who come to give June 29-July 12 will receive a classic Red Cross x Looney Tunes T-shirt, while supplies last.

See RedCrossBlood.org/LooneyTunes for details.

Celebrate stars, stripes, and saving lives. Book a time to donate blood or platelets now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org, downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Summer Pressures Rise

This Independence Day, along with the Looney Tunes characters, Red Cross is inspiring a new generation of heroes — with a cartoon twist — at a time when every donation is critical to keeping the blood supply strong amid growing hurdles. Aside from summer travel and packed calendars, severe summer weather can also rapidly impact the ability to collect lifesaving blood products. Additionally, scheduled donations, which account for 90% of all Red Cross blood donations, have continued to drop sharply in recent weeks, highlighting just how essential it is to make and keep donation appointments all summer long.

How To Donate Blood

Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enable the Blood Donor skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds, and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.

Local Blood Drives

Newtown Lions and American Red Cross are teaming up again to bring another blood drive to town. The drive is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, 9 am-5 pm at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street.

Other local drives are scheduled throughout summer and fall. Wednesday, July 8, Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue will host a drive at its main station, 18-20 Riverside Road, from 8 am-1 pm. SHVFR will host another on Saturday, September 12, 8 am-1 pm.

The Cascades at Stone Bridge, 139 Toddy Hill Road, will host a drive on Monday, July 20, 1-6 pm.

American Red Cross will be back at Newtown Congregational Church on Tuesday, July 28, 9 am-5 pm, again on Tuesday, August 25 9 am-5 pm, and Tuesday, September 22, 9 am-5 pm.

More blood drives can be found by visiting RedCrossBlood.org and searching by zip code or city.

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Dave, you are right that only those in the Borough signed onto the law suits, as it was made clear during the Borough meetings that signers had to be residents of the Borough. However, as you know, there was a concerted effort by the Newtown Conservation Coalition to organize people (throughout town) and to orchestrate actions intended to foil the overall development. If one searches the Bee for “Newtown Conservation Coalition” one will find many articles and editorials that cite the coalition. More that 18 of those articles and editorials, from March 2024 through February 2025, are about the Castle Hill Development and include direct quotes from the NCC head/founder including, e.g.,: 1) Newtown Conservation Coalition founder Dave Ackert has sagely urged his fellow NCC members to “stick to the relevant regulations issues and concerns in your testimony,” as “general opinions and concerns will not be considered when making their decision." [https://www.newtownbee.com/08292024/borough-zoning-to-begin-20-60-castle-hill-public-hearing." [https://www.newtownbee.com/08292024/borough-zoning-to-begin-20-60-castle-hill-public-hearing] 2) “We’re being sold a lot of things,” said Ackert. “The developer said he is going above and beyond in preserving open space, but the only part [of the plan] that doesn’t have houses are the steep slopes. He’s not avoiding buildable land, he’s using every buildable inch.” [https://www.newtownbee.com/09272024/borough-zoning-hears-perspectives-on-castle-hill-development] In addition to the articles and editorials, you (Dave) also wrote over 8 letters related to the development, in essence speaking for the residents, e.g., saying “On behalf of hundreds of concerned residents living within 500 feet who signed protest petitions, and residents downstream who’s property and finances could also be negatively impacted, I ask the BOS to rescind the discontinuance decision now.” [https://www.newtownbee.com/07102025/discusses-rochambeau-trail-and-6-commerce-road] The main tools for the Newtown Conservation Coalition are FOI complaints and legal action. These actions have increased the amount both the Town and the Borough have had to pay for legal counsel over the last few years. The cost is shared by all households and businesses for Town actions. Unfortunately, it is shared by very few, relatively speaking, for Borough actions. This year’s Borough costs are $58,000 to date. There were FOIA/legal actions in 2024 and 2025 too. Eventually, we will all see if that was money well spent. My sense is that the answer is no.

What’s Going On In The Borough?

my concern is not limited to this single FOIA request or this one case. It is the broader pattern of obstructionism, fear-mongering, and personal nastiness reflected in your Facebook page and other public commentary. You routinely call people to action by presenting only one side of complicated issues, assigning the worst possible motives to those who disagree with you, and giving little consideration to the legitimate concerns or perspectives on the other side. That may generate outrage and attention, but it does not make you a constructive participant in Newtown’s civic affairs. You are entitled to question public officials and pursue whatever legal remedies are available to you. But you should not pretend that your own conduct, rhetoric, and repeated escalation of disputes have played no role in the hostility and expense surrounding these matters. Newtown would be a nicer and more productive community with less of this kind of divisive behavior.

My "actions" were a single request for audio recordings of public meetings. It would have cost the Borough ZERO dollars to turn those over, as required by law. Instead, the Chair of the Borough Zoning commission decided, unilaterally, without informing the rest of his commission, to fight that Freedom of Information request. Mr. Johnson attempt to deflect blame falls flat on its face here. Facts matter.

Can you name a single person involved in one of the lawsuits who does not reside in the Borough? I'll wait......

You do realize President Trump was born on June 14, the same date the US Army was founded. The parade was to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. My uncle was a sergeant in the Army and was KIA 3 months before the war in Europe ended fighting the Germans. I'm happy there was an acknowledgement by the President for the brave men and women who are veterans of that branch. Too bad others don't honor them by insisting it was a "birthday parade". What an insult to our veterans! I'm not into cage fighting, but as far as being tacky or disgraceful, I would the UFC fight at the White House pales in comparison to Bill Clinton and an intern named Monica did during working hours.

Elections Have Consequences XXVI

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Newtown Lions Bringing Another Blood Drive To Town

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