The Matthew Curtiss House, home of Newtown Historical Society and one of the oldest buildings on Main Street, will host the historical society's spring open house on Sunday, April 28. Judith Barbour Osborne will be demonstrating and inviting guests to try the art of calligraphy during the free event, which will include docent led tours or the opportunity for guests to visit the house-museum on their own.
On Saturday, April 13, dozens of friends and family members of the Battle of the Books teams came out to show their support at the 15th annual Battle of the Books at the C.H. Booth Library.
After four...
Trinity Episcopal Church will host “Berstein @ 100,” the spring concert of Connecticut Choral Society, on Saturday, May 4. A performance of uplifting Broadway music to celebrate the musical genius of Leonard Bernstein will begin at 7 pm. The concert will also be performed Sunday, May 5, in Woodbury.
The Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance, with studios in Newtown and Danbury, was proud to send two solo qualifiers and a team to the World Irish Dance Championships last week.
To refer to singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist Beth Hart’s fan base as rabidly enthusiastic would really be putting it mildly. Hart, the Grammy-nominated powerhouse will arrive for a raw and unplugged set at the Playhouse on May 1.
Auditions have begun for the 35th season of Musicals at Richter. High school, college and adult performers are sought for two main station productions. Fairy Tale Theatrer, offering a theater experience for young people by young people, will also conduct auditions this weekend.
The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown will present its 49th Annual Juried Spring Art Show and Sale at a new location this year: Art & Frame, May 4-18. Regional artists are invited to submit works for consideration on Thursday, May 2.
AIR Gallery/Art With A Heart is planning its next exhibition to double as a benefit for Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps. “The Art of Living” will be on view at Avance Day Spa May 1-July 31. All are invited to a benefit champagne brunch reception planned for Sunday, May 5, from 11 am until 2 pm.
The Newtown High School classes of 1961, 1962, 1963, and 1964 have scheduled a multi-class reunion for June 28, from 6 to 10 pm, at Michael’s At The Grove, 42 Vail Road, Bethel.
The idea that a freshman Democrat would be able to stand up to the special interests and prioritization of urban districts that are the base of that caucus to deliver results for Newtown is laughable - especially someone who could not even build the "relationships, coalitions, and the support necessary" to garner the endorsements of her fellow Democrat Council members ahead of Newtown's local caucus this spring.
More likely Newtown would see something akin to Leeper in Fairfield, performative actions after vote counting, while privately advancing their party's interests over their community's.
Dear Alyssa, Kelela, and Brandon,
We send our sincere sympathy to you and your family. We will also keep you in our prayers asking our Lord to grant you comfort and peace.
With love,
Vince and Sandy Venitelli
Bruce, your advice that voters should “read, listen, and engage” would be much more persuasive if you practiced it yourself.
You campaigned on openness and responsiveness. You declared that “evasive answers or silence are unacceptable in government” and promised to answer constituent inquiries within two days. Yet you never answered my straightforward public question about Main Street demonstrations, traffic disruption, pedestrian safety, and the effects on local businesses.
After taking office, meaningful public engagement has largely been replaced by “Brews with Bruce” at the Senior Center—requiring reservations and, for some residents, a day pass. That is not accessible, townwide engagement. Previous first selectmen held open coffee hours and walk-and-talk sessions that any resident could attend.
Then came the failed storm communications, your apology, and another promise to communicate better—followed shortly afterward by more silence while multiple police agencies conducted a significant search near Saw Mill Road.
You now tell voters to examine what candidates say and “how they say it.” I would suggest going one step further: compare what politicians promise while seeking office with what they actually do after winning.
Your record presents a stark contrast. You told voters exactly what they wanted to hear to get the job, then failed to live by those promises. Whether that is dishonesty or simply indifference, it is the same familiar, two-faced politics you once claimed you would replace.
Nothing says “I care about Newtown homeowners” quite like lining Main Street with plywood campaign billboards—apparently built just inches below the size at which officials say they can take action. At this rate, we’ll need property-tax relief just to offset the loss in curb appeal.
