Services for Newtown seniors are sponsored by the Commission on Aging and are available at the Multi-Purpose Building on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook. For more information about programs offered at the Senior Center call 270-4310.

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Dec 12, 2003 12:00 am

For information on federal, state and community resources available to seniors, call 270-4330 or 270-4315.

You may drop in at the Senior Center on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook weekdays between 10 am and 4 pm. A hot meal is served at noon for which you must reserve three days in advance.

Newtown has daily door-to-door mini-bus service Monday through Friday. Buses also run all day from the senior center to Sand Hill Plaza. On Fridays, the bus alternates between rides to Danbury Fair Mall and Berkshire Plaza in Danbury (to the new Wal*Mart store on Route 6). Cost is 60Â¢ each way for the Sand Hill Plaza trip, 75Â¢ each way for out of town. Call 748-2511 TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE to book a ride and get the out-of-town Friday schedule.

News For Week of December 15-19

*Massage therapist ANITA MOTT has begun visiting on the first Monday of each month to offer massage for a fee, by appointment only. Her next visit will be on January 5, and she will be here between 10 am and noon. Call the senior center for details on the cost of a massage and to make an appointment.

*NEW HORIZONS, a support group for widows and widowers, usually meets at the senior center on the first Tuesday of each month. The next meeting will be on January 6 at 3 pm.

This Weekâs Programs

*On Tuesday, December 16, a 1 pm, join us for A COOKIE SWAP. Patricia Harkin from Mass Mutual will be joining us for this festive event. A cookie swap is where everyone exchanges favorite cookies and recipes, so bring plenty of both.

If youâd like to participate youâll need to bake at least two dozen cookies and bring them, along with a copy of your recipe, to the senior center. Weâll make copies here for you to share, and we will also compile a cookie swap cookie book. Call 270-4310.

*****************

REMINDERS: Has it been a while since youâve played Bridge? Would you like to learn how? Stop by the senior center any Monday at 10 am for MARY MATERNâS BRIDGE GROUP.

*Marilynâs at it again â Grab your walking shoes and catch up with her for WEEKLY WALKS AT FAIRFIELD HILLS each Monday at 10 am. She starts each week from Newtown House.

*CHAIR EXERCISE: Debbieâs chair exercise class is now being offered on two occasions each week. Join us at the senior center Monday afternoons at 1 pm and Wednesday mornings at 10.

This is a low-level chair exercise class. We target the seniors who havenât exercised in a while and those who would like additional upper body stretching.

*Our SEWING CLASS is currently working on chemo caps, totes for cancer patients, and trach bibs. If you are interested in helping with this project, please join us on Mondays at 1 pm.

*HATHA YOGA CLASSES will now be offered Monday and Thursday mornings at 10. Bring a mat or towel to lie on and wear loose clothing (no belts; sweats are perfect).

*ART CLASSES are now being offered on Monday afternoons at 1.

*Join Debbie Kenyon for EXERCISE CLASSES on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 10 am that are vigorous yet gentle, with lots of stretches. The class incorporates resistance band work with some low-impact cardio and lots of stretches. Participants are encouraged to go at their own rate and finish feeling refreshed, invigorated and with more energy.

*Join Marilyn on Tuesdays at 1:30 for AFTERNOON CRAFTS.

*Join us at BROOKFIELD LANES each Tuesday and Thursday for a great time bowling. We meet at noon and the cost is only $1.25 per game.

*Join us at the senior center each Thursday afternoon for CHORUS GROUP at 1 pm. Join us, too, if you play the piano.

*MAH JONGG players have two opportunities on Fridays. The advanced group plays at 9 am, and a beginnerâs group plays at 1.

*QUILTING CLASS meets on Fridays at 10 am.

*Thinking about doing some TRAVELING IN 2004? Trips are being scheduled to Beijing in February, Philadelphia in March, Nantucket and Pennsylvania in April (separate trips), Santa Fe in May, and a special âAmericaâs Rockies By Railâ package in August. Stop by the senior center for more details.

Menu For Week of December 15-19

Reservations must be made

one or two days in advance.

Meals are subject to change.

Monday: Sliced steak with onions, mashed potatoes, diced carrots, dinner roll, pistachio pudding with topping;

Tuesday: Lentil soup, unsalted crackers, stuffed salmon with lemon-rosemary sauce, broiled tomato, brown rice, whole wheat dinner roll, mandarin orange sections;

Wednesday: Baked potato boat (baked potato with broccoli, cheese, chicken and diced carrots), tossed salad with vinaigrette dressing, soft bread stick, fruit cocktail;

Thursday: Meatballs, spaghetti with sauce, fresh zucchini, parmesean cheese, Italian bread, birthday cake;

Friday: Lemon-pepper chicken quarter, Spanish rice and beans, vegetable medley, corn bread, blended juice, fresh fruit.

Activities Schedule, December 15-19

Monday: AM Bridge, hatha yoga class, walking group (at Newtown House, Fairfield Hills);PM chair exercise class, art class;

Tuesday: AM exercise; PM bowling (at Brookfield Lanes);

Wednesday: AM chair exercise class; PM Bingo;

Thursday: AM exercise, hatha yoga class; PM bowling (at Brookfield Lanes), chorus/sing-along group;

Friday: AM advanced mah jongg, sewing, quilting; PM beginnerâs mah jongg.

Â Remember, you must call three days in advance to book a meal or a ride, 270-4310; the Senior Bus, 748-2511.

St Rose Parish Welcomes New Parochial Vicar

Youth Cheerleaders And Basketball Players Get Pointers From High School Athletes

Andersen Tale To Continue Richter Summer Season

Future Nighthawks And Current Varsity Players Alike Benefit From Summer Soccer Camp

When Life Gives You A Lemonade Stand ... Play Basketball

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!

<< 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

Services for Newtown seniors are sponsored by the Commission on Aging and are available at the Multi-Purpose Building on Riverside Road in Sandy Hook. For more information about programs offered at the Senior Center call 270-4310.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply