Calendar

<< July 2026 >>
Sun	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thu	Fri	Sat
28 “The Great Art-Doors” Breakfast With The Race Team: Teddy Hodgdon Racing Newtown VFW Post 308 Pickleball Tournament	29 “The Great Art-Doors” “Through Our Lenses” LOF Adaptive Skiers Open Clinic Lunch & Learn: “The Money Game: Surviving Retirement" Newtown Bridge Club Open & Limited Games Nature’s Book Club	30 “The Great Art-Doors” “Through Our Lenses” (final day) American Red Cross Blood Drive “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Mommy & Me Workout Bubblemainia with Casey Carle Newtown Bridge Club Open & Limited Games Newtown Farmers Market Legislative Council Transportation Committee special meeting (agenda posted) Grateful Gatherings — Conversations with Purpose “The Founding Mothers” virtual lecture Community Center Commission special meeting (agenda posted)	1 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Computer Basics Workshop 30 Minute Flex & Balance with Sean Job Fair Newtown Bridge Club Open & Limited Games Computer Basics Workshop CANCELED Zoning Board of Appeals meeting CANCELED Legislative Council meeting	2 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh American Mahjong Open Play CANCELED Cultural Arts Commission meeting Planning & Zoning Commission hybrid meeting (agenda posted)	3 “The Great Art-Doors” CLOSED TODAY “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh ETH Drive-In: "Jaws" ETH Drive-In: "Twister"	4 “The Great Art-Doors” INDEPENDENCE DAY CLOSED TODAY “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh CANCELED NHS Band and Guard Monthly Bottle and Can Drive CANCELED Newtown Chess Club Nationwide Bell Ringing: A Semiquincentennial Event Light To Unite: A Semiquincentennial Event
5 “The Great Art-Doors” "The Great Art-Doors" opening reception (new date)	6 “The Great Art-Doors” LOF Open Event “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Magic Show Learn to Write like Thomas Jefferson Cookbook Club CANCELED Board of Selectmen meeting C.H. Booth Library Governance Committee meeting	7 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Tuesday Tunes: Ryan SanAngelo Western Council of Government Technical Advisory Group virtual meeting Western Council of Government Technical Advisory Group virtual meeting Newtown Farmers Market Board of Education Policy Committee meeting “Out of Rushmore’s Shadow” Lake Lillinonah Authority meeting	8 “The Great Art-Doors” American Red Cross Blood Drive “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Inland Wetlands Commission meeting Charter Revision Commission meeting	9 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Jim Cruise, aka The Spoon Man Western Council of Government Western Connecticut Economic Development District (WCEDD) Italian Conversation Group Board of Education Facilities Committee meeting “Newtown in the American Revolution,” a Semiquincentennial event Summer Concert Series: Keltic Kick C.H. Booth Library Buildings & Grounds Subcommittee meeting Water & Sewer Authority meeting	10 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Intro to Cricut Design Space & Sublimation Music Dynamics Friends of C.H. Booth Library 50th Book Sale	11 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Friends of C.H. Booth Library 50th Book Sale Medicare 101 (virtual program) The Biggest Playdate in the 28th District (Easton) Newtown Chess Club
12 “The Great Art-Doors” Friends of C.H. Booth Library 50th Book Sale	13 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Friends of C.H. Booth Library 50th Book Sale Second Monday Book Club Celebrate American History Through Folksong with Derek Piotr, a Semiquincentennial event (updated date) Lake Zoar Authority meeting Board of Finance meeting	14 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Friends of C.H. Booth Library 50th Book Sale (final day) Newtown Farmers Market Patriotic Crafternoon: A Semiquincentennial event Legislative Council Transportation Committee meeting Northern Fairfield Professionals meeting Board of Education CFF/CIP Subcommittee meeting C.H. Booth Library Development Committee meeting Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers meeting Parks & Recreation Commission meeting Board of Education meeting C.H. Booth Library Board of Trustees meeting Virtual Author Talk: “Small Towns and Big Secrets” Borough Board of Burgesses meeting Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Board of Trustees meeting SCAN Artist Demo: Justin Wiest	15 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Animal Care & Control Advisory Board meeting Town Building & Infrastructure Committee meeting Hearts of Hope Newtown painting event Bike & Trail Committee meeting Borough Zoning Committee meeting Legislative Council meeting	16 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Western Council of Government Housatonic Valley and South Western Regional Planning Organizations meeting Red, White & Boogie: a Semiquincentennial event Silent Book Club Summer Concert Series: Gerst Life Planning & Zoning Commission meeting Sustainable Energy Commission meeting Pension Committee meeting	17 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh	18 “The Great Art-Doors” Christmas in July: Salvation Army One-Day Bell Ringing Campaign LOF Open Event “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh The Biggest Playdate in the 28th District (Fairfield) Backyard Beekeeping — Summer Heat and Dearth Newtown Chess Club The Biggest Playdate in the 28th District (Fairfield)
19 “The Great Art-Doors”	20 “The Great Art-Doors” LOF Open Event “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh American Red Cross Blood Drive Commission on Aging meeting Board of Selectmen meeting	21 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Newtown Farmers Market C.H. Booth Library Finance Committee meeting Community Center Commission meeting Economic Development Commission meeting	22 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Borough Zoning Board of Appeals meeting Inland Wetlands Commission meeting	23 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Summer Concert Series: One Track Mind Borough Historic District meeting Board of Finance meeting	24 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh ETH Drive-In: "National Lampoon’s Vacation"	25 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Newtown Chess Club Screening of "The SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants"
26 “The Great Art-Doors”	27 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Board of Fire Commissioners meeting Fairfield Hills Authority meeting	28 “The Great Art-Doors” American Red Cross Blood Drive “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Newtown Farmers Market Legislative Council Transportation Committee meeting Conservation Commission meeting Public Building & Site Commission meeting	29 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Virtual Author Talk: “Make Protein Goals Easy (And Satisfying!)”	30 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh Summer Concert Series: Echoes of Sinatra Movie Night Under the Stars: "Miracle" — a Semiquincentennial event	31 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh	1 “The Great Art-Doors” “Small Things” by Lily Mac Hugh NHS Band and Guard Monthly Bottle and Can Drive Newtown Chess Club

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Snapshot: Debi Modzelewski

10U Baseball State Tourney Will Take Place At Glander Field Complex

Newtown Rail Trail Fundraising Goal Reached, Clearing Way For Construction

My Backyard Habitat: Pollen Distribution — How Plants Are Pollinated

FONS Holds Third Annual Membership Dinner

With the publication of installment No. 26, Trump’s Triumphs has now consumed enough broadsheet paper—approximately 3.6 miles—to stretch from the center of Newtown, past the dump, and nearly to Sand Hill Plaza. That is the amount of paper used to print these 26 installments alone. Do you think they will stop before we get to Monroe? If Trump becomes 48 in 28 then we would make the sound for sure!

Elections Have Consequences XXVI

Dave, you are right that only those in the Borough signed onto the law suits, as it was made clear during the Borough meetings that signers had to be residents of the Borough. However, as you know, there was a concerted effort by the Newtown Conservation Coalition to organize people (throughout town) and to orchestrate actions intended to foil the overall development. If one searches the Bee for “Newtown Conservation Coalition” one will find many articles and editorials that cite the coalition. More that 18 of those articles and editorials, from March 2024 through February 2025, are about the Castle Hill Development and include direct quotes from the NCC head/founder including, e.g.,: 1) Newtown Conservation Coalition founder Dave Ackert has sagely urged his fellow NCC members to “stick to the relevant regulations issues and concerns in your testimony,” as “general opinions and concerns will not be considered when making their decision." [https://www.newtownbee.com/08292024/borough-zoning-to-begin-20-60-castle-hill-public-hearing." [https://www.newtownbee.com/08292024/borough-zoning-to-begin-20-60-castle-hill-public-hearing] 2) “We’re being sold a lot of things,” said Ackert. “The developer said he is going above and beyond in preserving open space, but the only part [of the plan] that doesn’t have houses are the steep slopes. He’s not avoiding buildable land, he’s using every buildable inch.” [https://www.newtownbee.com/09272024/borough-zoning-hears-perspectives-on-castle-hill-development] In addition to the articles and editorials, you (Dave) also wrote over 8 letters related to the development, in essence speaking for the residents, e.g., saying “On behalf of hundreds of concerned residents living within 500 feet who signed protest petitions, and residents downstream who’s property and finances could also be negatively impacted, I ask the BOS to rescind the discontinuance decision now.” [https://www.newtownbee.com/07102025/discusses-rochambeau-trail-and-6-commerce-road] The main tools for the Newtown Conservation Coalition are FOI complaints and legal action. These actions have increased the amount both the Town and the Borough have had to pay for legal counsel over the last few years. The cost is shared by all households and businesses for Town actions. Unfortunately, it is shared by very few, relatively speaking, for Borough actions. This year’s Borough costs are $58,000 to date. There were FOIA/legal actions in 2024 and 2025 too. Eventually, we will all see if that was money well spent. My sense is that the answer is no.

What’s Going On In The Borough?

my concern is not limited to this single FOIA request or this one case. It is the broader pattern of obstructionism, fear-mongering, and personal nastiness reflected in your Facebook page and other public commentary. You routinely call people to action by presenting only one side of complicated issues, assigning the worst possible motives to those who disagree with you, and giving little consideration to the legitimate concerns or perspectives on the other side. That may generate outrage and attention, but it does not make you a constructive participant in Newtown’s civic affairs. You are entitled to question public officials and pursue whatever legal remedies are available to you. But you should not pretend that your own conduct, rhetoric, and repeated escalation of disputes have played no role in the hostility and expense surrounding these matters. Newtown would be a nicer and more productive community with less of this kind of divisive behavior.

My "actions" were a single request for audio recordings of public meetings. It would have cost the Borough ZERO dollars to turn those over, as required by law. Instead, the Chair of the Borough Zoning commission decided, unilaterally, without informing the rest of his commission, to fight that Freedom of Information request. Mr. Johnson attempt to deflect blame falls flat on its face here. Facts matter.

Can you name a single person involved in one of the lawsuits who does not reside in the Borough? I'll wait......

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