Friday, March 17

By SHANNON HICKS

Published: Mar 17, 2006 12:00 am

Friday, March 17

ST PATRICKâS DAY

Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority, 10:30 am, Brookfield Town Hall.

Housatonic Valley Council of Elected Officials, 12:30 pm, Brookfield Town Hall.

Spuds âN Duds, 6 pm, Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street, donation $10, potatoes with favorites fixings and soft drinks/coffee, followed by fashion show of new spring styles; 426-9024.

Saturday, March 18

A Night of Tastes and Talents: The 7th Annual NYS Dinner-Dance & Auction, 7â11 pm, The Fireside Inn, 123 Main Street South, tickets $45, event sponsored by Newtown Youth Services will offer dinner, dancing, silent auction, and showcased talent; 270-4335, 426-9637.

St Rose Irish Cabaret, 7:30 pm, St Rose Parish Hall, 42 Church Hill Road, tickets $15, live entertainment by Keltic Kick, also coffee and Irish soda bread, BYOB & other snacks; 270-1838, 426-1696.

Sunday, March 19

Lenten organ recital by Fiona Smith Sutherland, 3 pm, Trinity Episcopal Church, 36 Main Street, free performance on churchâs Austin pipe organ will include works of J.S. Bach, Barber, Tallis, Albinoni and other meditative pieces for the evening, freewill donations accepted at door; 426-9070.

Monday, March 20

FIRST DAY OF SPRING

Commission on Aging, 5 pm, Multipurpose Building, 15 Riverside Road.

Board of Selectmen, 5:30 pm, Booth Library, 25 Main Street.

Newtown Pension Committee, 7:30 pm, Town Hall South, 3 Main Street.

Tuesday, March 21

Blood pressure screenings, 10 amânoon, Lockwood Lodge Wellness Center at Ashlar of Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Road, free screenings will be conducted by licensed nurse, related information also available, walk-ins welcome; 426-5847.

Lunch & Learn: The Spirituality of Aging â Embracing Lifeâs Journey, 12â1:30 pm, Lockwood Lodge at Ashlar of Newtown, 139 Toddy Hill Road, free program and lunch (reservations required), discussion led by spiritual director Joseph N. Tobin will concern how the landscape of each personâs spiritual journey can change with age; 364-3127.

Board of Education, 7:30 pm, Reed Intermediate School, Trades Lane.

Economic Development Commission, 7:30 pm, Multipurpose Center, 15 Riverside Road.

Fairfield Hills Authority, 7:30 pm, Town Hall South, 3 Main Street.

Wednesday, March 22

Conservation Commission, 7:30 pm, town offices, Peckâs Lane.

Thursday, March 23

Cholesterol screenings, 9 amânoon (appointments needed), Newtown Senior Center, Riverside Road, free screenings, information also available; 270-4310.

Auditions for 19th Annual NYS Talent Show, 3â6 pm, Edmond Town Hallâs Alexandria Room, 45 Main Street, open auditions for event that will be presented at Newtown Middle School on March 25, auditions also being held morning of March 25; 270-4335.

Board of Finance, 7:30 pm, Town Hall South, 3 Main Street.

Â âThe Creation of The Sibley Guide,â 8 pm (refreshments 7:30), C.H. Booth Library lower meeting room, 25 Main Street, free program by Dr Chris Elphick, co-editor of Sibley Guide to Bird Life And Behavior, about creating the guide, also bird-related anecdotes; 426-4533.

Thursday, March 30

BNI-Newtown chapter meeting, 7-8:30 am, Newtown United Methodist Church, 92 Church Hill Road, free and open to all businesspeople, presentation by Andrew Chapin on âMarketing Companiesâ ; 798-1234, 770-8466.

Friday, March 24

Second Annual Friday Night Fish Fry, 5â8 pm, St Rose Parish Hall, 46 Church Hill Road, adults $8, children 4$ (families $25 max), fresh cooked haddock filets, coleslaw, french fries and soft drinks, takeout orders available; 512-1474.

Saturday, March 25

Auditions for 19th Annual NYS Talent Show, 9â11 am, Edmond Town Hallâs Alexandria Room, 45 Main Street, open auditions for Newtown Youth Services event that will be presented at Newtown Middle School that evening; 270-4335.

3rd Annual Newtown Womanâs Club Bountiful Basket-Beautiful Things Silent Auction, C.H. Booth Library lower meeting room, 25 Main Street, admission $5, 24 baskets and special items up, plus ongoing wine tastings, champagne bar, juice bar, auction area for children, door prizes, and more; 426-2226.

The Way We Were

Top Of The Mountain

My Brother’s Band Planning ‘Mixed Bag’ Set List For Summer Concert Series Gig

Theater Review: A Very Happy Homecoming For ‘All Shook Up’

Theater Review: ‘Camelot’ Given The Royal Treatment In Neighboring Brookfield

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

Friday, March 17

Leave a Reply Cancel reply