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Time For Scarecrow Contest Voting

Published: Oct 24, 2025 8:00 am

All scarecrows for Newtown Parks & Recreation’s 6th Annual Scarecrow contest are complete and are decorating lampposts across the Fairfield Hills campus.

Parks & Rec is now asking residents to vote for their favorite scarecrows. Voting opens on Friday, October 24. The three categories to vote for include Newtown Pride, Most Original, and People’s Choice.

Voting opens online at Newtown Parks & Recreation’s website, newtown-ct.gov/parks-recreation; and through its Facebook page, facebook.com/newtownparksandrecreation. Emails with the link for online voting will be sent to those in Parks & Rec’s system.

Voting closes at noon on Halloween Friday, October 31, as confirmed this week by Connor Negri, assistant director of Parks & Rec.

Once the vote closes, Parks & Rec will announce the winners on its website and Facebook page. Many prizes are up for grabs, with the big-ticket item being a Summer 2026 Family Pool & Beach Membership Pass. Other prizes include four private lessons from Ridge Equestrian Center, six tickets to the corn maze at Castle Hill Farm, two free personal training sessions or four 30-minute training sessions from Joanne’s Fitness Studio, a 30-minute private lesson for two at Vitti’s Dance Studio, a birthday party for up to 15 kids from Mad Science, a gift basket from UK Gourmet, a $25 gift card to Boost Bowls, a $50 gift card to Cosmic Cafe + Smoothie Bar, a gift basket from NewSylum Brewing Co, and a free one-year Newtown Forest Association membership.

For more information, visit newtown-ct.gov/parks-recreation.

The winner for Most Original in 2024’s Newtown Parks & Recreation Scarecrow Contest was the Dunne family’s “Babies in Pajamas.” This year’s collection of scarecrows is in place and visitors to Fairfield Hills are again being invited to vote for their favorites in three categories. —Bee file photo

Newtown’s Future Deserves Proven Leadership

After The Debate, I’m With Bruce

Two Years And $200k Ago

Capeci & Gardner Best for Newtown

Endorses Schwarz

I appreciate your optimism about keeping national politics out of local government — we all want leaders who put Newtown first. But calling Paul a “centrist” just doesn’t match what we’ve seen. If you look at his comments online or watch the recent debate, Paul was the first to go negative and came across more like a national political candidate than a neighbor. That’s not the tone of someone trying to bring people together. Now, Paul is another story entirely. He’s honest, articulate, and clearly knows what he’s doing. Frankly, I think local Democrats would have been better off putting him at the top of their ticket.

I’m With Bruce And Paul

It "appears" to mandate affordable housing. This letter, pleading that we not “approve these changes in zoning,” shows just how disconnected from reality much of the town has become. Connecticut’s Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Procedure—commonly referred to as 8-30g—has been in effect since 1990. Thirty-five years is hardly new legislation. What is new is that developers have finally chosen to exercise their legal right to use it, bypassing the NIMBY mob. Several neighboring towns have already learned that challenging this law only results in costly legal battles, consistently upheld by higher courts. I implore our elected officials to read the actual text of the law—and to not be INTIMIDATED by the mob.

Says Zoning Board Facing ‘Big Challenges’

One of the things that really stood out to me during the debate was how often the candidates said, “I agree with Jeff.” Even Candidate Lundquist and Candidate Walzak mentioned agreeing with Jeff on several issues. Sounds like Jeff has their vote too! Considering how poorly Mr. Walzak handled both the hearing and directly answering the questions, I think our path forward is pretty clear. Bruce set a clear path, he is up for listening, but it doesn't sound like he is up for the responsibilities and rigors of office.

Supports Capeci After Debate

I appreciate hearing from my fellow unaffiliated voters, but I think it’s important to recognize that many of us are unaffiliated not because we are undecided, but because we’ve grown tired of being labeled, attacked, or “canceled” by whichever side disagrees with us. Some of us choose to remain unaffiliated precisely because we value open dialogue and independent thinking — something that’s becoming harder to do in a climate where disagreement is met with outrage. Too often, “unaffiliated” letters like this one serve as a thinly veiled endorsement of one party, while dismissing or caricaturing anyone who holds a different view. We should be able to discuss our local issues, values, and goals without fear of being shouted down or shamed for who we support. I would encourage all voters — unaffiliated, Democrat, Republican, or otherwise — to look beyond the labels and listen to their neighbors with respect.

Open Letter to Newtown’s Voting Majority

If Bruce Walczak wasn’t considered qualified enough to serve on the Board of Education the last time he ran, how does that suddenly make him fit to lead the entire town as First Selectman? Newtown deserves proven competence, not political recycling. We should expect more from our leaders than recycled campaigns and empty slogans about “listening.” The First Selectman’s job demands results, judgment, and the respect of those he hopes to lead — not another round of excuses. Do we really elect failure as a qualification now?

Reasons To Support Walczak

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Time For Scarecrow Contest Voting

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