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Newtown Holiday Festival Activities Were On Point!

Published: Dec 13, 2023 10:00 AM

Residents and visitors spent time in the center of town on Sunday, December 3, when Newtown Youth & Family Services presented its annual Newtown Holiday Festival. Despite rain and chilly temperatures, attendees seemed to make the best of the day.

General admission tickets granted access includes one performance of The Nutcracker Suite by Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet & Voice (NCCB), shopping at the outdoor market, Festival of Trees viewing, photo opportunities with festive characters, children’s activities including arts & crafts, gingerbread house viewing and voting, a pair of family magic shows by Matt Matthews, silent auction bidding, cookie decorating with Mrs Claus, and one ride on the Historic Trolley Tour.

NCCB offered two performances of the holiday classic on the stage of Edmond Town Hall.

The Festival of Trees, presented at Trinity Church, was a raffle to win decorated trees, centerpieces, and other decorated items.

New this year was Historic House Tours & Holiday Tea Package. Visitors were invited to view the first floor of four beautifully decorated houses along Main Street and learn about the history of each home. Tea and treats were then available at C.H. Booth Library for those who purchase a ticket for this activity.

Continuing Events

While the focus of Newtown Holiday Festival was December 3, a few events started early while others continued into this week.

A Family Scavenger Hunt took place December 2, and an online silent auction was conducted November 27-December 9.

Letters to Santa are still being accepted at The Toy Tree, 32 Church Hill Road, until December 14.

Elf Chats continue to December 15. Children can talk with EverGreen the Elf, live from the North Pole, during a 10-minute Zoom call. During their scheduled visit, children receive a personalized experience and can ask questions, see what EverGreen is working on, read a story, sing songs, etc.

Cost is $15 for up to two children, $20 for three children, and $25 for four children, and registration is required. As of this morning openings are still available for tonight between 5 and 7 pm; and Friday, December 15, between 5 and 5:30 pm.

Visit newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org to register and for additional information.

Newtown Centre of Classical Ballet & Voice dancers gracefully move about the stage of Edmond Town Hall Theatre during one of two performances offered on December 3 George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker ballet. The ballet was again part of the annual Newtown Holiday Festival, an event that stretched along Main Street, indoors and outside, to celebrate the season and raise funds for Newtown Youth & Family Services. While most festival events took place on December 3, some began a day early while others, including a silent auction and Elf Chats, continue to December 15. —Bee Photos, Glass

The Vocal Rewind Acapella singers prepare to perform.

Joining the guest of honor during a session of Cookies with Mrs Claus were, from left, Kristy Jeauvil, Lisa Laduca, Callan Clark (front), Sarah and Carson Clark, and Nick DeBlasi.

Children’s crafts were among the Holiday Festival events presented at C.H. Booth Library.

One of the vendors from Colossal Kielbasa serving customers, including some who pulled up in vehicles to purchase items off the menu.

Magician Matt Matthews charms a willing participant in one of his magic tricks.

Children and parents being entertained by Magician Matt Matthews.

Gingerbread houses that had been entered into the competition were staged at Trinity Church, including this entry by Sage Sonsini.

Students from Newtown High School Band between performances of Christmas carols on Main Street.

Snapshot: Alex Villamil

Work Week Opened With Fundraiser At The Country Club

Barbara Edwards

John Landolfi

Mark M. Passero, Sr

They clearly didn't get the message ! CUT THE BUDGET by 20% , not raise it ! Newtown spends $2,500,000.00 every week now ! It will be $2.6m if you approve it ! Who are these people not paying attention to the cost of living? Throwing money at the school administration will not make your kids any smarter ! We are at $22K per kid per year, that is insane ! CUT THE BUDGET ! Go show up and VOTE, because 1200 people who voted yes will show up again, and it's the 1200 people who decide your cost of living for years to come. 51% voters turnout should be mandated to approve the budget, not pathetic 15% of voters. Stop these nonsensical referendums and send everyone a card in the mail so we have a true outcome what people actually want.

Council Cuts $1.4 Million From School Budget

The town cuts down the Sandy Hook Christmas tree and now trashes this bridge. What next?

Sandy Hook Pedestrian Bridge Removed

All due respect, the headline to this article is misleading. The budget presented was a proposed budget that did not pass public referendum. There are no cuts to anything, rather a reduction in the Board of Education original asking dollars. As matter of fact, the current recommendation from the LC is an increase of 2.3M more than the previous budget from 2023/24.

Some background on the Bus comment Mr Knapp made on not following policy. From ther Bee may 2023. Following a Request for Proposal (RFP), the school board learned at its March 15 meeting that only one bid came back for the school district’s transportation contract. The current contract with All-Star Transportation, which oversees the majority of bus routes for the district, is set to end at the end of this school year. At the May 3 meeting, district Director of Business & Finance Tanja Vadas said — reacting to Public Participation speaker Ryan Knapp who, among other things concerning the transportation contract, questioned the school district’s RFP process — she stands by the district’s RFP process “but other companies just didn’t bid.”

Concerns With Adherence To School District Policies

Additionally, they also anticipate over a $300,000 surplus for this fiscal year.

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Newtown Holiday Festival Activities Were On Point!

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