Newtown Hikers Announce Fall Schedule

By DOROTHY EVANS

Published: Jul 22, 2005 12:00 am

Newtown Hikers

Announce Fall Schedule

Newtown Hikers, an open group welcoming anyone interested in hiking and the outdoors, has announced its fall schedule. Unless stated otherwise, all hikes will start at 9 am Saturday from the lower rear parking lot of Edmond Town Hall at 25 Main Street. Always check with the listed leader of each hike for weather cancellations and or schedule changes.

September 3, Ward Poundridge Reservoir, Cross River, N.Y.; Entrance fee is $8 per car; leader is Dave Wesley, 203-438-1459.

September 10, Chaioala Park, Patterson, N.Y.; OK to bring dogs, moderate hike; leader is Liz Cowan, 845-878-6104.

September 17, Gay City, Hebron; leader is Pat Callan, 264-2153.

September 24, Kettletown Trail, Southbury; leader is Dale Rupert, 794-9350.

October 1, Copake Falls, N.Y.; leader is Ildiko Gramling, 263-0086.

October 8, Minnewaska State Park, N.Y.; ten-mile all-day hike, dinner in local restaurant; leader is Tim Hanbury, 888-3025.

October 15, Squantz Pond Trail, New Fairfield; leader is Betty Horton, 860-354-7526.

October 22, Topsmead State Park; includes a tour of the old homestead, Litchfield area; leader is Mary Jo Zemitis, 263-3683.

October 29, Saugatuck Reservoir New Trail, Redding; leader is Jack Donlon, 203-966-8421.

November 5, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City; full day, depart Newtown at 10:30 am, bring lunch to eat on train. Arrive 12:35 pm and walk Fifth Avenue and Central Park to museum (five miles round trip). Estimated cost for train, admission, and dinner is $55 for adults and $43 for seniors; leader is Molly Schleis, 748-7347.

November 12, Camp Smith Trail, Bear Mountain, N.Y.; leader is Evelyn Schonberg, 426-0425.

November 19, White Memorial Park, Litchfield; hike through park; leader is Claire Sivacek, 744-0086.

November 26, Alâs Trail, Newtown; leader is Sawsan Ali, 426-8911.

December 3, Sherwood Island State Park, Westport, beach walk; leader is Jacob Baker, 748-5907.

December 10, End-of-Year Pot Luck Luncheon and short hike hosted by Maureen Markelon, 888-3113. Call her for directions and food coordination.

There is no membership fee for Newtown Hikers, but to receive the mailing of hiking schedules all year, send $3 with your name and address to: Claire Sivacek, 114 Stadley Rough Road, Danbury CT, 06811 or email request to Ester at pilgrim555@sbcglobal.net.

Hikers participate at their own risk and must sign a release for the Newtown Parks and Recreation Department. If you want to meet the group at a different point, please call the listed leader. Also, call the leader if the weather is doubtful.

All hikes are moderate unless otherwise stated and last three to five hours plus driving time.

Children are welcome accompanied by adults. Bring lunch and beverages. Sturdy shoes or boots are recommended and dress for the weather.

For further information, call Ester Nichols at 788-1398 or email pilgrim555@sbcglobal.net, or call the Parks and Recreation Department of Newtown at 270-4340.

Patricia Anzellotti

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It seems a lot of the discussion around the flagpole focuses on vilifying drivers who pass on the right, but the real issue is being overlooked. If Chapter 248 Section 14-251 were enforced, we wouldn’t see this problem to begin with. That statute prohibits stopping in the middle of a roadway to yield to cross traffic—as so often happens with cars waiting to turn from Church Hill. When vehicles stop illegally in the travel lane, they effectively create a blockage. Other drivers then either sit through unnecessary delays or carefully pass around them on the right, which is fully permitted when the vehicle ahead is “illegally parked” in the roadway. Instead of punishing drivers reacting to the obstruction, enforcement should focus on the cause: vehicles unlawfully stopping and backing up traffic in the first place. If that behavior were addressed, the need to “go around” would largely disappear.

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John, you raise an important point — these situations are tragic, complicated, and often far less clear-cut than the headlines make them seem. In the Fredericksburg case, the full facts still aren’t publicly known, and like so many of these stories, there’s conflicting information. It was apparently the back door at 3 a.m. — was it justified to use deadly force? We don’t know yet. What we do know is that the homeowner has been charged, and as you rightly noted, that is very serious. But this is also where perspective matters. These cases are quickly sensationalized in the news and on social media, yet when the dust settles, the outcomes are rarely publicized. People forget that in our system, you are innocent until proven guilty. Try to find much coverage of the convication in the case of the Fairfield Realtor vehicle homicide, or updates on the woman who shot her husband a couple of Christmases ago, or even the pedestrian death in Sandy Hook a year or so back. The follow-through simply isn’t there, and public opinion is often shaped only by the first round of headlines. At the end of the day, these situations remind us how split-second decisions in the middle of the night can change lives forever — which is exactly why the right to protect one’s property, home and family is so fiercely debated, and lucky constitutionally protected.

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First the low hanging fruit. Dave; it was a joke, please get over it. You are the only person in Newtown that thought I really wanted to build a stadium on 6 Commence Rd. Now on to Alex. You might not appreciate my writing style or my selection of words, but let's not loose sight of the fact that by responding to my letter in the manner that you did, you have removed any doubt whatsoever that you have no idea of the quantifiable benefits you are dismissing not only for the town, but also for protesters. Either you stopped listening at the word "ordinance" or you never started.. Your constitutional rights to assemble were never in question and would actually be strengthened and there would be literally no impediments. We could even title it "The Alex Villamil Ordinance" if you want. It could be your legacy and actually show Newtown your willingness to work in a bipartisan way for the betterment of the town. Businesses would be protected. Traffic wouldn't be interrupted. The town would save hundreds of thousands of dollars in police overtime. And maybe most importantly, the town could prevent another tragedy while mitigating legal risk in the event something terrible happens at a protest. Nothing bad could never happen in Newtown right? All that could be accomplished by a simple, non-intrusive ordinance unless all the detriments to our town are intentional in order to bring more attention to your cause. Alex, this was not me throwing a temper tantrum. Believe me, you will know it if that happens. I am just putting Newtown first. From that perspective, if you think critically, the regulation is necessary. It makes sense logically, rationally, and is reasonable. There is absolutely no down side. None. I would be willing to sit down with you to see if we could come to some type of compromise if you want. Let me know. You would be amazed how much you can accomplish when there is dialogue amongst neighbors.

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A popular prank circulating on TikTok is “ding-dong-ditch” where a group of young people violently bang or kick someone’s door late at night and then “ditch” or run. On May 3 three high schoolers here in Fredericksburg Va. were participating in such a prank. One homeowner assumed, as in this case, an attempted break in and also took measures to defend his family and property. As the youths were running away he fired, striking an 18 year old graduating senior in the back killing him and seriously injuring a second youth. A wasted life, a family shattered, and the homeowner charged with murder.

You’re absolutely right — no one should ever feel unsafe in their own home. Being startled awake by violent banging at your door late at night is no joke, and it’s a stark reminder that danger can come without warning. That’s why I’m thankful for the right to protect ourselves, our families, and our property. In a moment like that, you don’t get a second chance to call for help before you act — you have to be prepared. Our homes should be a place of peace, not fear, and the ability to defend them is a right worth safeguarding.

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Newtown Hikers Announce Fall Schedule

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