Church Women United Plan May Friendship Day

By SUE EVANUSKA

Published: Apr 18, 2000 12:00 am

Church Women United

Plan May Friendship Day

Debbie Richardson, director of Newtown Youth Services, will be guest speaker at the annual May Friendship Day of the Bethel-Newtown Unit of Church Women United (CWU) Friday, May 5, at 5:30 pm at Nunnawauk Meadows Community Building. Tickets are available through local CWU members for $4 to cover the worship service, a light dinner, and the speaker. Reservations must be made by May 1.

The theme for the worship service that will be celebrated around the world on that day is âValiant Women of the Early Church: Models for Today.â The American Christian women who wrote the ceremony reached back into history to find some early Valiant Church Women who lived during the time of the Roman Empire. Among those remembered during the service will be local Valiant Women and local valiant faith-based actions such as the intergenerational project of the Newtown Youth Services.

Mr Richardson will speak of the Youth Services project to bring seniors and youths together in teams to perform simple chores or safety checks in older peopleâs homes as a part of âConnecting Helping Hands Across Connecticutâ on May 6.

The project is a joint venture with AARPâs Independent Living Week 2000 from May 1 to 7. AARP has sponsored the event once a year, but this is the first year that young people have been involved. Connecticut is the first state in the country to have intergenerational teams.

Offerings received on may Friendship Day support the local unitâs ecumenical projects toward making the world safer for women and children, while the Fellowship of the Least Coin Offerings will help support global projects benefiting women and children.

Local members to contact for tickets are Barbara Gates (426-3446) or Rev Sue Klein (426-8386) from Newtown United Methodist church; Pat Stroud (426-5270) or Marge Osterman (426-0530) from St Rose Roman Catholic Church; Shirley Roman (426-0638) from Christ the King Lutheran Church; Barbara Gorham (426-2110) from Walnut Hill Community Church in Bethel; Doris Schoonmaker (270-0311) of St Johnâs Episcopal Church; Althea Benedict (748-7966) of St Thomas Episcopal church in Bethel; Linda Taylor (426-7966), Betty Williams (270-9931), Peg Forbell (426-3454), or Jeane Roberts (426-9707) from Newtown Congregational Church.

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The voters certainly spoke — and I respect the outcome — but let’s not forget that a “majority” doesn’t mean everyone agreed. Many of us are deeply concerned about the rising cost of living here. Supporting schools and services is important, but so is ensuring that residents can afford to stay in the town they love. We all want Newtown to be a great place to live, but lately, it’s starting to feel less like “Nicer in Newtown” and more like “More Expensive in Newtown.” That’s not sustainable, and it’s not a criticism of the town itself — it’s a call for responsible budgeting and long-term planning that doesn’t rely on tax increases year after year. I hope future decisions will reflect not just the desire to maintain services, but also the need to ease the financial burden on residents.

Budget, Capital Projects Pass: Officials Respond

I appreciate the passion behind this message, and I absolutely understand the desire to invest in our town. That said, I voted no — not because I don't care about Newtown, but because I do. Fiscal responsibility is not about ignoring problems, it’s about making sure we address them in a sustainable and transparent way. It’s frustrating to feel like every year there’s a new “urgent” reason to raise taxes, with little serious effort to curb spending or prioritize needs. I worry this just sets the stage for another round of increases next year. That doesn't mean I’m against education, safety, or our town’s future — it means I believe in accountability and in asking tough questions about how our money is managed. Voting no wasn't a rejection of Newtown — it was a call for more thoughtful, balanced leadership. I hope future conversations can include all perspectives, not just those willing to write a bigger check.

The Voters Chose Newtown

The voters spoke, loud and clear that they support our schools and municipal services. The majority vote was a mandate to keep delivering well rated education services and keep it" Nicer in Newtown."

Great effort by the those who attended to shine a light on the attacks on Democracy. Thanks for the article so all can understand whats happening.

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Thank you LeReine, for speaking out about this. The list of public servants who are unfairly targeted for abuse just for doing their jobs has been growing. It is a testament to the power of propaganda that otherwise good and well-meaning people can get so emotional as to act out in this way.

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Church Women United Plan May Friendship Day

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