Cultural Events

From Beards To Bathtubs: A Look At America's Presidents

Published: February 07, 2014 12:00 am

Although he was not the first President to have a bathtub in The White House, many people are aware that the 300-plus pound William Howard Taft was the first who needed to be extricated from the tub. ...

Solarize Newtown Deadline Extended To February 28; Open House Planned For Saturday

Published: February 06, 2014 12:00 am

An opportunity to see a working home solar panel installation will be offered to Newtown residents on Saturday, February 8, at a Solar Open House. The event will take place at 9 Grand Place from 1 to ...

Newtown Genealogy Club Going On The Road This Month

Published: February 06, 2014 12:00 am

RIDGEFIELD — The Genealogy Club of Newtown invites anyone interested in genealogy to join its members for a short road trip this month. Due to the temporary closing of Newtown’s town library, the club...

Workshops At HealingNewtown Restructured

Published: February 05, 2014 12:00 am

Responding to the needs of the community, HealingNewtown Director Valerie Culbertson has unveiled new schedules as well as a new pricing structure for a number of workshops that had previously been an...

Milford Sandy Ground 5K Fundraiser Planned

By Shannon Hicks

Published: February 05, 2014 12:00 am

MILFORD — The Sandy Ground Project was established by the New Jersey Fireman’s Benevolent Association last year. Its mission is to build 26 playgrounds along the coast of New Jersey, New York and Conn...

'Newtown Landmarks' To Benefit C.H. Booth Library

Published: February 05, 2014 12:00 am

Ice Skating Party Moved

Published: February 05, 2014 12:00 am

A family ice skating party sponsored by Newtown Parks & Recreation for Friday night has been relocated. Instead of the temporary rink at Fairfield Hills, the February 7 event has been moved to the Dic...

McCreery Named National Goodwill Ambassador For 12.14 Foundation

Published: February 05, 2014 12:00 am

Joining the charitable efforts emanating from Newtown to employ the performing arts as a healing mechanism in the wake of 12/14, The 12.14 Foundation announced this week the selection of platinum-sell...

Town Players Raise The Curtain On 2014 Mainstage Season Plans

Published: February 04, 2014 12:00 am

It may be chilly and snowy right now, but spring will be here before you know it, and Town Players of Newtown are ready with plans for their 2014 season. The community theater’s mainstage season wil...

'From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook' Being Released As DVD, Blu-Ray & Double-CD Set

Published: February 04, 2014 12:00 am

CLARIFICATION (February 10, 2014): Broadway Records will donate 100% of its profits from the sales of From Broadway With Love in all formats. The company is not making any money from the sales th...

In Loving Memory of Joyce N. Webster

Start Your Labor Day With Breakfast & Parking At Newtown Congregational Church

Angelica Ortega Joins Newtown Savings Bank As Customer Experience Manager

Slate Of SCORE Webinars Coming To C.H. Booth Library

Affinity Esports Group Acquires CT Esports Academy, Expands Wilton Family YMCA Partnership For Fall

I have to say, I don’t understand how this project could be considered “morally wrong.” That kind of language feels more like obstruction than constructive dialogue. What is morally wrong is leaving seniors in our community without enough housing options. Right now, Newtown does not have adequate senior housing, and the few developments that exist, like Naunawag Meadows, already have waiting lists. As for the comment that “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” that simply isn’t accurate. The system is broken when residents who’ve lived here their whole lives cannot find an affordable and appropriate place to age in town. Responsible development that balances environmental concerns, safety improvements (such as traffic calming measures and sidewalks), and the needs of our seniors is exactly the kind of planning Newtown should be doing. This isn’t about wanting or not wanting something in one’s backyard—it’s about building a community that takes care of its people. Please don't get scared away by the nimby mob.

Planning & Zoning Continues Discussion Of 12 Cold Spring Road

It seems a lot of the discussion around the flagpole focuses on vilifying drivers who pass on the right, but the real issue is being overlooked. If Chapter 248 Section 14-251 were enforced, we wouldn’t see this problem to begin with. That statute prohibits stopping in the middle of a roadway to yield to cross traffic—as so often happens with cars waiting to turn from Church Hill. When vehicles stop illegally in the travel lane, they effectively create a blockage. Other drivers then either sit through unnecessary delays or carefully pass around them on the right, which is fully permitted when the vehicle ahead is “illegally parked” in the roadway. Instead of punishing drivers reacting to the obstruction, enforcement should focus on the cause: vehicles unlawfully stopping and backing up traffic in the first place. If that behavior were addressed, the need to “go around” would largely disappear.

Borough Board of Burgesses Continues Traffic Safety Discussion

John, you raise an important point — these situations are tragic, complicated, and often far less clear-cut than the headlines make them seem. In the Fredericksburg case, the full facts still aren’t publicly known, and like so many of these stories, there’s conflicting information. It was apparently the back door at 3 a.m. — was it justified to use deadly force? We don’t know yet. What we do know is that the homeowner has been charged, and as you rightly noted, that is very serious. But this is also where perspective matters. These cases are quickly sensationalized in the news and on social media, yet when the dust settles, the outcomes are rarely publicized. People forget that in our system, you are innocent until proven guilty. Try to find much coverage of the convication in the case of the Fairfield Realtor vehicle homicide, or updates on the woman who shot her husband a couple of Christmases ago, or even the pedestrian death in Sandy Hook a year or so back. The follow-through simply isn’t there, and public opinion is often shaped only by the first round of headlines. At the end of the day, these situations remind us how split-second decisions in the middle of the night can change lives forever — which is exactly why the right to protect one’s property, home and family is so fiercely debated, and lucky constitutionally protected.

Late Night Prank Gone Wrong

First the low hanging fruit. Dave; it was a joke, please get over it. You are the only person in Newtown that thought I really wanted to build a stadium on 6 Commence Rd. Now on to Alex. You might not appreciate my writing style or my selection of words, but let's not loose sight of the fact that by responding to my letter in the manner that you did, you have removed any doubt whatsoever that you have no idea of the quantifiable benefits you are dismissing not only for the town, but also for protesters. Either you stopped listening at the word "ordinance" or you never started.. Your constitutional rights to assemble were never in question and would actually be strengthened and there would be literally no impediments. We could even title it "The Alex Villamil Ordinance" if you want. It could be your legacy and actually show Newtown your willingness to work in a bipartisan way for the betterment of the town. Businesses would be protected. Traffic wouldn't be interrupted. The town would save hundreds of thousands of dollars in police overtime. And maybe most importantly, the town could prevent another tragedy while mitigating legal risk in the event something terrible happens at a protest. Nothing bad could never happen in Newtown right? All that could be accomplished by a simple, non-intrusive ordinance unless all the detriments to our town are intentional in order to bring more attention to your cause. Alex, this was not me throwing a temper tantrum. Believe me, you will know it if that happens. I am just putting Newtown first. From that perspective, if you think critically, the regulation is necessary. It makes sense logically, rationally, and is reasonable. There is absolutely no down side. None. I would be willing to sit down with you to see if we could come to some type of compromise if you want. Let me know. You would be amazed how much you can accomplish when there is dialogue amongst neighbors.

It’s About Dialogue Amongst Neighbors — Not Regulation

A popular prank circulating on TikTok is “ding-dong-ditch” where a group of young people violently bang or kick someone’s door late at night and then “ditch” or run. On May 3 three high schoolers here in Fredericksburg Va. were participating in such a prank. One homeowner assumed, as in this case, an attempted break in and also took measures to defend his family and property. As the youths were running away he fired, striking an 18 year old graduating senior in the back killing him and seriously injuring a second youth. A wasted life, a family shattered, and the homeowner charged with murder.

Late Night Prank Gone Wrong

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