A tribute band made up of some of the area’s best musicians paying tribute to The Zac Brown Band will headline a September 20 concert on the grounds of Fairfield Hills that will mark the beginning of the 2024 Newtown Arts Festival.
The World Heritage Cultural Center this week announced the winners of the 2024 inaugural EmpowHer Newtown Awards. The awards will be presented Saturday, August 24, at HillTop Kitchen in Sandy Hook.
Ben’s Lighthouse has announced a major fundraising event this autumn: "A Very Special Evening of Music and Song with Rosanne Cash, John Leventhal, and Joe Henry."
The EmpowHer Newtown Award Committee, presented by the World Heritage Cultural Center, reminds readers that the inaugural awards will be celebrated during a public event this month.
Panacea & Friends will be combining talents with the Willie-Portera Trio for their annual Labor Day Weekend concert/dance at the pavilion of Dickinson Memorial Park.
Newtown Cultural Arts Commission will award two or more project grants with a total of $2,500 in two categories, individual artists and groups that bring the arts to Newtown.
I agree with your point, Tom.
However, the sheer volume of Trump's false statements and claims -- vs. anyone else -- is astonishing and noteworthy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/False_or_misleading_statements_by_Donald_Trump
President Biden, too, has claimed “inflation was 0%,” when in fact prices remained elevated. He told us his Afghanistan withdrawal was a “success,” even though Americans and allies were left behind and 13 service members lost their lives. He promised not to build another foot of border wall, but later quietly restarted construction. These examples matter just as much as Trump’s because they show that political dishonesty isn’t unique to one side.
The point is not to excuse Trump or Biden—it’s to recognize that truth matters, and voters deserve accountability from all leaders. Singling out one politician while giving others a free pass only fuels division.
It’s important to put the 8-30g application into context. The reason developers in our town resort to Connecticut’s 8-30g affordable housing statute is precisely because obstructionist voices, led by Mr. Ackert, have repeatedly opposed reasonable housing proposals through local zoning channels. When projects are delayed or denied outright under the guise of “protecting character,” developers have little choice but to pursue the state-level remedy.
Mr. Ackert portrays 8-30g as a loophole being abused, when in fact it exists because communities that resist creating diverse housing options need accountability. If our town had a stronger record of working collaboratively to meet housing needs, developers wouldn’t feel compelled to bypass local boards in the first place.
Regarding wetlands and Inland Wetlands Commission review, it’s worth remembering that these processes are not ignored or hidden from the public. Applications that impact wetlands must comply with environmental regulations, and developers are subject to oversight. Suggesting otherwise unfairly discredits both the staff and the commission, who follow established procedures.
The public certainly deserves transparency, but it is misleading to imply that this project was pushed through in secret. The broader issue is that continued “Not In My Back Yard” obstructionism drives applicants to use 8-30g, ensuring that local zoning boards lose the very control residents claim to want preserved.
If we truly want more local say in how projects are shaped, then we need to stop reflexively opposing housing and start working constructively with applicants. Mr. Ackert’s campaign of resistance has only created the exact conditions he now complains about.
It's certainly good news that a temporary patch to rationed water in Newtown is in effect. But taking a year to come up with a patch is concerning. Where is the sense of urgency to get this permanently fixed?
