*Tomorrow will be a big day for the organizers of Newtown's long-hoped-for skate park. Donate To Skate 2008 has been planning a skateboard park fundraising festival, and it'll take place from 11 am to 6 pm on Saturday, July 26, over at Dickinson

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Jul 25, 2008 12:00 am

*Tomorrow will be a big day for the organizers of Newtownâs long-hoped-for skate park. Donate To Skate 2008 has been planning a skateboard park fundraising festival, and itâll take place from 11 am to 6 pm on Saturday, July 26, over at Dickinson park.

There will be ongoing skateboard demos, competition, vendors, food, and plenty of live music. The bands who were confirmed for the event as of last week were THE RISK, THE SCREW UPS, NEW URBAN SPRAWL, DARWIN ABRAMS, YES PLEASE, THE YELLOW TEAM and SAFE TO STAY.

Admission is by donation for anyone planning to attend as a spectator. There is a $20 competitorâs fee, and permission slips for all competitors age 18 and under will be mandatory (including a photocopy of one parentâs driverâs license and their signature if they arenât there to sign you in on Saturday; permission slips can be downloaded at DonateToSkate.com). Helmets are also a must.

The day will open with a one hour free skate, during which time members from Vertigo Skate Park in Brookfield will help determine the skill level of competitors. Rampage LLC, a skate park design and construction company out of Bridgeport, will be providing the ramps and rails, and there will be prizes and awards for the top three skaters at the end of the afternoon.

According to Laurie Capozziello, a parent and the organizer of the festival, there will also be face painting, temporary tattoos and art activities for the younger children thanks to volunteers from Newtown Youth & Family Services. Families and friends are welcome to bring blankets and chairs for seating, although there is also plenty of shady seating under the parkâs pavilion.

The proceeds of the day â collected through the donations and competitorsâ fees â will go into the skate park fund, which already has $11,000 but needs to reach at least $65,000 before construction of a permanent skate park can begin over at Fairfield Hills, where space has been designated for that use.

For more info about this weekendâs festival or the Donate To Skate folks who have been spearheading the campaign, visit DonateToSkate.com. For additional info or to see if there is a place for you to volunteer time, talent or financial treasures, contact Mrs Capozziello at lawribecap@aol.com or 364-9607.

*ARLO GUTHRIE will be hitting the road next month with son Abe and grandson Krishna along for the ride, and the three generations of Guthrie boys will be visiting Bridgeport. The trio will bring the Guthrie Boysâ Night Out Tour to Connecticutâs Beardsley Zoo for an 8 pm show on Friday, August 22.

Abe, of course, has been performing on the keyboards and often adding supporting vocals for the majority of his dadâs concerts over the past 20 years. Itâs been rare to see an Arlo show without Abe, in fact.

Krishna, who is 17 years old, is already an accomplished musician (how could he not be with that surname to live up to?), playing drums and guitar. He got his first drum set at the age of two, and within that year he had already made his first appearance onstage with his father and grandfather.

The August 22 show will run rain or shine in the zooâs picnic grove. Gates open at 7 pm, and general admission tickets are $45, with a $10 discount for Connecticut Zoological Society members. A limited number of VIP tickets will be available for $100, which will treat those fans to a private reception with Arlo prior to the concert (6 to 6:45) as well as preferred seating. Tickets are available online through BeardsleyZoo.org or by calling 203-332-4243.

The 2008 tour is a follow-up of sorts to a similar outing the Guthries did in 2006, when Arlo, Abe and Krishna toured Europe. The current outing is taking the musicians across America for only nine shows.

Proceeds from the Connecticut show will support construction of the zooâs new Andean bear exhibit.

*You probably have seen the TV ads by now, and if youâre a big fan of JANET JACKSON then you probably know all about this anyway, but tickets went on sale last weekend for a Saturday, October 11 stop by Ms Jackson at Mohegan Sun Arena. Sorry for the delayed notice; I didnât get the press release about this show and its onsale info until last Thursday, more than a day past deadline.

Tickets for the Uncasville stop of the 2008 Rock Witchu Tour, which will bring Jacksonâs biggest hits to the stage, range from $85 to $145 and are available through all TicketMaster outlets as well as the casinoâs box office at this point.

*Also on sale at Mohegan Sun, probably by the time you read this, will be the tickets for WILLIE NELSON AND FAMILY with special guest JAKOB DYLAN, who will be in Uncasville on Wednesday, September 24. The tickets for that show went on sale this morning (Friday, July 25) at 10 am, priced at $30 and $40.

*Friend and fellow Bee editor JOHN VOKET finally has a number of shows coming up again. Johnâs been busy with private gigs and other commitments lately, but the good news is he is back on the road. JV started the music last week when he serenaded shoppers at the Griffin Hospital Farmers Market in Derby.

This weekend John will be emcee for the Rock For Vets event at Firemanâs Field in Guilford (just behind Bishopâs Farm Market on Long Hill Road) on Saturday, July 26. This will be a benefit for VFW Post 7666, with tickets set at $10 for adults and $5 for students (free ages 12 and under), and proceeds to benefit the VFW Building Fund. John will be there representing WPLR and STAR 99.9 FM, and keeping things moving.

The fun starts at 11 am and will include childrenâs activities, massage therapy and blood pressure screenings, food (separate purchase), raffles (tickets are $10 each and prizes include a 1962 vintage Fender Hot Rod Series guitar and hard case, along with 20-plus additional prizes from local businesses).

He may not be performing at this one, but John always enjoys seeing friends and meeting listeners and readers.

Next up will be a performance during the Lions Club Annual Car Show at Woodland High School in Beacon Falls on Sunday, August 3, running 10 am to 4 pm; a return to emcee duties on Saturday, August 30, when he serves as the MC and entertainer during the Newtown Youth & Family Services Fun Run & 5K that morning; and then another show with Brendan, this one over at Rosy Tomorrowâs on Mill Plain Road in Danbury on Sunday, August 31, from 7 to 10 pm.

In addition to all of these shows John will be at The Brass House Restaurant & Lounge every Thursday in August. Those shows will run from 7:30 to 11 each week, and J-Vo promises âall sorts of great tunes and surprises.â The lounge is of course attached to the restaurantâs full kitchen, so food is available as well as the good music. Itâs located at 2620 South Main Street in Waterbury; use Exit 29 off Route 8).

*And finally this week a reminder that Gathering of the Vibes 2008 will be upon us by the time the next issue of The Bee is published.

Vibes 2008 is a weekend event that offers camping Thursday night through Sunday and music also running Thursday through Sunday. This yearâs big headliner is PHIL LESH & FRIENDS, who are scheduled to perform a three to four-hour show on the Main Stage at Seaside Park starting around 9 pm Saturday.

More than 40 bands will be in Bridgeport for this thing, including THE BLACK CROWES, TAJ MAHAL TRIO, UMPHREYâS McGEE, DEREK TRUCKS & SUSAN TEDESCHI SOUL STEW REVIVAL, JACKIE GREENE, DARK STAR ORCHESTRA, ASSEMBLY OF DUST, RYAN MONTBLEAU BAND, and plenty of others.

The Neville Brothers will close the Main Stage with a 6:30 show on Sunday.

I canât list everyone or every scheduled highlight here. I suggest instead that if you have any interest whatsoever in this festival you visit the website at GatheringOfTheVibes.com, where everything is covered in full.

Until next week Iâll be seeing you... on the road.

Questions and comments should be sent to Shannon Hicks c/o The Newtown Bee, 5 Church Hill Road, Newtown CT 06470, or shannon@thebee.com, or call the office at 426-3141. Shows listed at clubs are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

UPCOMING SHOWS

JULY 25 â Loudon Wainwright III at Fairfield Theatre Company, Fairfield; Starship with Mickey Thomas at Meadowbrook Park, Hamden (Hamden High School if rain);

July 26 â The Jonas Brothers and Avril Lavigne at Dodge Music Center; Sheryl Crow at Mohegan Sun, James Blunt opening;July 28 â Explorations at Toadâs Place, New Haven (also July 29);

July 29 â Poison at Mohegan Sun Arena, Dokken and Sebastian Bach opening; Explorations at Toadâs Place;

July 30 â Kingâs X at Toadâs Place (all ages); Sevendust at The Webster Theater, Alter Bridge opening;

July 31 â The Eagles at Mohegan Sun Arena.

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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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*Tomorrow will be a big day for the organizers of Newtown's long-hoped-for skate park. Donate To Skate 2008 has been planning a skateboard park fundraising festival, and it'll take place from 11 am to 6 pm on Saturday, July 26, over at Dickinson

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