The Newtown Bee is looking for the first child born to Newtown parents in 2023, continuing a tradition now in its 65th year. The newspaper is also continuing to seek students hoping to capture some cash if they are chosen as finalists in the "Why I LOVE Newtown Essay Project."

The First Baby of Newtown 2023 will win for their family everything from dining opportunities and champagne to savings bonds, salon visits, and even fitness and home services, all courtesy of local businesses.

The winning parents will be the ones who send the earliest birthdate (and time, if necessary, to break a tie) to The Newtown Bee by noon Tuesday, January 3. Parents must be Newtown residents and will need to submit the exact time and date of the child’s birth; their name and address; and the place of birth, gender, weight, and name of the newborn.

Friends, family, and neighbors of newborns, you can help too: Make sure the parents of any Newtown newborns know about this honorary title and all the prizes that come with it.

Parents and friends should contact Newtown Bee Managing Editor Shannon Hicks at 203-426-3141 or shannon@thebee.com with this information. The winners will be notified the evening of January 3 and will hopefully be available for an interview in time for the January 6, 2022, issue of The Newtown Bee.

As has been done in recent years, a virtual interview between Hicks and the winning family can be scheduled, to continue social distancing measures for all parties.

Melia Hus was one of the earliest First Baby title winners in many years when she earned the honorary title for 2022. The second child born to Megan and Jeremy Hus of Newtown, Melia was born just 18 minutes into the new year when she joined older brother Grayson.

Essay Project

As previously announced, The Newtown Bee is coordinating the community-building "Why I LOVE Newtown" Essay Project, and is now accepting entries from local young adults.

The idea for the project was inspired after a Bee Letter Hive contributor motivated a local benefactor to suggest collecting essays sharing the feelings of Newtown’s younger citizens with the entire community about why they love their hometown. The original offer of providing $1,000 in awards has since been matched by another anonymous community member.

Any middle school or high school age Newtown resident is invited to participate. All they need to do is create an essay — 500 word maximum limit — that reveals why they love Newtown.

After submissions are reviewed by judges, among whom are First Selectman Dan Rosenthal and Newtown Bee Editor John Voket, each essay will be ranked and the top three contributors of middle school age (11-13) and the top three of high school age (14-18) will receive cash awards: $500 for first place, $300 for second place, and $200 for third place.

Interested participants can submit their essays by e-mail to editor@thebee.com, with “Why I LOVE Newtown” in the subject line.

There is no minimum word count. Participants are simply encouraged to be honest, thoughtful, and creative in their reflections.

Only written word content, including poetry, will be accepted. Entries featuring songs, videos, visual artwork, or other electronic media will not be considered. All entries must be submitted by e-mail.

Each entry must include the full name of the contributor, their age, home address, the name of their school (or home schooled, if appropriate), and a contact phone number in the event there are any questions, or to be notified if they are among the finalists.

Participants are encouraged to utilize time during the holiday period to reflect and develop their entries. The deadline to submit essays is January 27.