*Middlesex County based RYAN HARTT & THE BLUE HEARTS won the Final Round of the Connecticut Blues Society's 11th Annual CT Band Blues Challenge at Hannon-Hatch VFW in West Hartford on September 9.

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Sep 22, 2006 12:00 am

*Middlesex County based RYAN HARTT & THE BLUE HEARTS won the Final Round of the Connecticut Blues Societyâs 11th Annual CT Band Blues Challenge at Hannon-Hatch VFW in West Hartford on September 9.

This is the second time the band has won the Blues Challenge, the last time being in 2003. Ryan Hartt & The Blue Hearts (with Hartt on vocals and harmonica, Eric Ducoff on guitar, Jeff Berg on bass, and Nick Toscano on drums), together six years, played a mostly original set of Chicago, Texas, and Jump Blues numbers. This the same band that won Connecticut Blues Societyâs âBest Self-Produced Blues CDâ competition in 2005 for their CD Yeah Man! released that year on Far Tone Records.

The band will serve as Connecticutâs representative to participate in the Band Division of the 23rd International Blues Challenge (IBC) in Memphis on February 1-3, 2007.

In winning the state-level competition, the band also won $1,700 prize money to offset some travel costs to compete in Memphis, as well as gigs at the 2007 Berlin Blues Festival, Black-Eyed & Blue Festival in Hartford, and the âCookinâ at McCooksâ Blues Festival in Niantic. The Blues Challenge competition, which included 30 Connecticut blues bands, had taken place over a six week period during June and July.Â

*The bluegrass band HOE will be performing next weekend during Easton Lions Clubâs 39th Fall Antiques Show. The sale itself will run from 10 am until 4 pm at Helen Keller Middle School, and admission is $5 per person. The band will be performing from 11 am to 2 pm.

*Music at Mocha this weekend will begin with MARCO LaVARBERA on Friday night, and then the much-anticipated return by JOHN VOKET, who headlines at the Glen Road coffeehouse on Saturday night.

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 club locations are for ages 21 and over unless specified.

UPCOMING SHOWS

SEPTEMBER 22 â Marco LaVarbera at Mocha Coffee House, Sandy Hook; Santana at The Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford, with the Salvador Santana Band and Los Lonely Boys; The John Hickey Band at The Bitter End, Bridgeport; Nick Lachey at Foxwoods Casinoâs Fox Theatre (SOLD OUT);

September 23 â John Voket at Mocha Coffee House; American Idols Live at The Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport; Widespread Panic at the Chevrolet Theatre;

September 24 â The Black Eyed Peas at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville; Jonathan Edwards at FTC Stage One, Fairfield, featuring Lisa McCormick;

September 26 â The Family Stone at Foxwoods Casinoâs Fox Theatre (also September 27, free shows); Buckethead at Toadâs Place, New Haven, That 1 Guy opening (all ages);

September 27 â Blue Man Group at Mohegan Sun Arena; The Family Stone at Foxwoods Casinoâs Fox Theatre (also Sept 26, free shows);

September 28 â Hal Ketchum at FTC Stage One, Cinnamon Sky opening;

September 29 â Shawn Taylor at Mocha Coffee House; Blue Man Group at The Chevrolet Theatre; The Doug Wahlberg Band at The Georgetown Saloon; Tower Of Power at Toadâs Place; The Alternate Routes at FTC Stage One, Sons of William opening;

September 30 â John Fazio & Aaron Cerrick at Mocha Coffee House; Greg Piccolo & Heavy Juice at FTC Stage One, The Johnny Boots Band opening; Aimee Mann at Fairfield Universityâs Quick Center, David Ford opening.

OCTOBER 1 â Steel Pulse at Toadâs Place, New Haven;

October 3 â Quiet Riot at Foxwoods Casinoâs Fox Theatre, Ledyard (also Oct 4, free shows);

October 4 â The Orchestral Jethro Tull featuring Ian Anderson at The Warner Theater, Torrington; Iron Maiden at Dodge Music Center (indoor show, reserved seating only), Bullet for My Valentine opening; Quiet Riot at Foxwoods Casinoâs Fox Theatre (also Oct 3, free); Iron Maiden at Dodge Music Center, Hartford; Umphreyâs McGee at Toadâs Place (all ages); Less Than Jake at The Webster Theater, Hartford, Catch 22, The Loved Ones and Mew Mexican Disaster Fund opening;

October 5 â Tool at Hartford Civic Center, Isis opening; Big & Rich at Mohegan Sun Arena, Uncasville, Cowboy Troy opening; 3, Pure Reason Revolution and Adair at The Webster Underground, Hartford (all ages).

October 6 â The Orchestral Jethro Tull featuring Ian Anderson at Foxwoods Casinoâs Fox Theatre; Eric Clapton at Mohegan Sun Arena, Robert Cray Band opening (also October 7);

October 7 â Eric Clapton at Mohegan Sun Arena, Robert Cray Band opening (also Oct 6); New Found Glory at Toadâs Place, Early November, Cartel and Limbeck opening (all ages);

October 8 â Vanilla Fudge at Toadâs Place;

October 9 â James Blunt at The Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford;

October 13 â Average White Band at Toadâs Place; Robin Trower at The Webster Theater, Hartford;

October 14 â Violent Femmes at Mohegan Sunâs Wolf Den;

October 16 â Aaron Neville & His Quintet featuring Charles Neville at Mohegan Sunâs Cabaret Theatre (also Oct 17);

October 17 â Little Stevenâs Underground Garage Band at Foxwoods Casinoâs Fox Theatre; Aaron Neville & His Quintet featuring Charles Neville at Mohegan Sunâs Cabaret Theatre;

October 18 â The Cheetah Girls at Hartford Civic Center, Vanessa Anne Hudgens opening;

October 19 â Godsmack at Mohegan Sun Arena, Breaking Benjamin opening;

October 20 â Keith Urban at Mohegan Sun Arena; The Kevin Costner Band at Mohegan Sunâs Wolf Den;

October 21 â Barenaked Ladies at Mohegan Sunâs Wolf Den;

Comments

Comments are open. Be civil.

0 comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

‘Timeless Newtown’ Series Updated With ‘Ageism Unmasked’ Book Talks

Longest Day Fundraiser Continues Raising Funds For Alzheimer’s Research

Borough Continued Traffic Safety Discussion, New Cultural District

‘The Isle of Skoo’ Premieres New Assembly Show

PD Open House Planned

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

Discusses Rochambeau Trail And 6 Commerce Road

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.

Discusses Rochambeau Trail And 6 Commerce Road

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!

It’s important to clarify that while public process matters, so does the right of a property owner to reasonably develop land they legally own—especially when they follow the rules and engage with the town in good faith. The Board of Selectmen (BOS), whether one agrees with their decision or not, did not “give away” anything. The land in question was part of a road that had been unused and undeveloped for generations. There was no public access, no signage, and no infrastructure—just an overgrown path most residents never knew existed. Mr. Ackert calls the discontinuance “illegal,” but state law grants municipalities the authority to discontinue roads, subject to procedural requirements. The fact that this matter is in litigation shows that questions of law are being properly addressed in court—not in letters to the editor. If the court finds procedural flaws, they’ll be corrected. That’s how the legal system works. Real solutions are found through public process and the courts, not through social media outrage. What’s missing from this conversation is a recognition that towns need to balance many interests: history, environment, public access, private property rights, and economic development. And while the newly championed Revolutionary War heritage is important, there are also pressing modern realities: towns need housing, economic vitality, and responsible development. These things don’t happen in a vacuum—they require compromise, planning, and often, yes, change. If residents truly wish to preserve this trail as public space, the appropriate path is through purchase, conservation easement, or formal designation—not by expecting private landowners to bear the burden of public sentiment. If the writer believes so strongly in its value, perhaps they might consider investing in its preservation themselves. We can honor our history without freezing our town in time. Development and preservation aren’t mutually exclusive—but vilifying one side of the conversation only deepens division. Let’s focus on solutions that balance respect for the past with the rights and needs of those who live here now.

Discusses Rochambeau Trail And 6 Commerce Road

<< Jul 2025 >>
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
29	30	1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30	31	1	2

Log In

*Middlesex County based RYAN HARTT & THE BLUE HEARTS won the Final Round of the Connecticut Blues Society's 11th Annual CT Band Blues Challenge at Hannon-Hatch VFW in West Hartford on September 9.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply