News

Police Reports | September 29-October 12, 2021

Updated: March 07, 2022 8:06 am

Police reports from September 29 to October 12, 2021.

Newtown Officers Honored With Meritorious Service Award

By Jim Taylor

Published: October 16, 2021 7:00 am

Newtown Police officers Sergeant Scott Ruszcyk, and Lieutenant Richard Robinson, and retired Lieutenant William Keegan of the New York Port Authority (NYPA) Police, received the Police Commissioners Association of Connecticut Meritorious Service Award.

Grasso Festival Start Time Moved Ahead Of Weather

By Shannon Hicks

Updated: October 15, 2021 8:35 am

Due to expected inclement weather tomorrow night, Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard has made the decision, with US Bands, to start their home show early.

P&Z Unanimously Denies Mobil Station Drive-Through

By Alissa Silber

Updated: October 15, 2021 8:53 am

The Newtown Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) had its third consecutive public hearing for applications October 7 regarding adding a drive-through window to a Mobil gas station/convenience store on Church Hill Road near Exit 10.

Saturday: Public Safety Groups Hosting First #KeepKidsSafe Statewide Gun Buyback And Gun Safe Giveaway Day

Published: October 15, 2021 7:00 am

Newtown Action Alliance Foundation, Newtown Police Department, and multiple public safety groups on October 5 formally announced the first of what they plan will be an annual statewide gun buyback and gun safe giveaway day.

Road Work At Exit 11 Beginning On October 18

By Jim Taylor

Updated: August 10, 2022 10:47 am

Utility work in the area of Interstate 84's exit 11 on and off ramps will continue into a full realignment of the area expected to take two and a half years.

Reverie Brewing Celebrates Oktoberfest

Updated: October 13, 2021 9:11 am

Reverie Brewing celebrated an Oktoberfest event on September 25.

Joseph Grasso Memorial, Call For Submissions

By Alissa Silber

Updated: October 11, 2021 2:30 pm

The Newtown Bee has learned that Newtown resident and former long-time Newtown High School music educator Joseph Paul Grasso passed away on October 9.

New School Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion Coordinator ‘Ready To Go’

By Eliza Hallabeck

Updated: October 20, 2021 10:41 am

Diversity, equity, and inclusion was a main topic for the Board of Education during its October 5 meeting.

Fire Reports | September 28–October 5, 2021

Updated: October 11, 2021 10:25 am

Fire calls and their responders in Newtown, Conn., for the period of September 28 to October 5, 2021.

The Way We Were

Top Of The Mountain

My Brother’s Band Planning ‘Mixed Bag’ Set List For Summer Concert Series Gig

Theater Review: A Very Happy Homecoming For ‘All Shook Up’

Theater Review: ‘Camelot’ Given The Royal Treatment In Neighboring Brookfield

It’s important to clarify the tone and context of Derek Pisani’s remarks, particularly the satirical line about suing Newtown for "Gross Stupidity." This was clearly a tongue-in-cheek jab at the exhausting culture of legal threats that’s become a staple on the local Facebook Group forums. It was a reflection of frustration over endless regulatory hurdles and obstructionism, and the desire to avoid common sense solutions not an insult aimed at residents. Satire, is meant to provoke thought and highlight the absurdities. If we are unable to distinguish between satire and literal threats, perhaps the comment hit closer to the truth than we’d like to admit. Rather than focusing on Pisanis style, we should be discussing the substance of what he’s pointing out: that Newtown’s progress is being routinely blocked by a small but vocal contingent who seem intent on saying “no” at every turn. They are saying no to any development, no to common sense solutions to crowd control, etc. Newtown deserves leaders who are willing to call things as they see them, even if their language ruffles feathers. That doesn’t mean they lack respect for constituents—it means they care enough to challenge the Mob and push for solutions. Isn't that what we elect people to do? I applaud Pisani's dedication, he certainly has earned my vote. Regardless, let’s not reduce conversation to tone-policing and outrage. Let’s focus on the issues that matter.

Who is Calling Newtowners Stupid?

Thank you for pointing out the trail access provisions included in the BOS motion—it’s an important clarification that deserves more attention in this conversation. If the development is, in fact, required to provide permanent free public access and commit to ongoing maintenance of this section of the Rochambeau Trail, that is a remarkably beneficial outcome for the town. oIt’s not every day that a private project shoulders the long-term burden of preserving and caring for a public historical corridor at no taxpayer cost—especially one that previously had no formal access, upkeep, or visibility. Let’s be honest: the idea that the only way to protect history is by preventing any development nearby is a rigid and unworkable standard. What’s being proposed here appears to strike a rare balance—historic preservation, public access, and smart development all rolled into one. That’s not a loss its a win. So rather than allowing a handful of voices to derail progress under the banner of “historic purity,” maybe it’s time to acknowledge the reality: this trail is better off with structured stewardship and visibility than remaining an overgrown ghost on old maps. Let’s move forward. Bring in the easement, bring in the public access—and yes, bring in the bulldozers!!! Progress and preservation can coexist. Let’s not let the NIMBY use fear or nostalgia keep us stuck in the past.

Discusses Rochambeau Trail And 6 Commerce Road

I've heard that several people are under the impression that the public might be banned from the Rochambeau Trail. Points 2 and 3 from the BOS motion (included in full below) make it clear that public access to the trail is part of the requirements for the developer. From what I understand, it requires free public access to the trail in perpetuity. Technically, this could be argued to be a "payment-in-kind," that attempts to balance public good with overall town growth. We can argue about weather that balance is acceptable and how the trail may be affected, but with the understanding that the trail is expected to be maintained as a publicly accessible trail regardless. July 15, 2024 Board of Selectmen approved motion: Discontinuance of Reservoir Road: Selectman Cruson moved the resolution: Resolved, that the Newtown Board of Selectmen, in accordance with Section 2-115(d)(8) of the Town Charter and Conn. Gen. Stat. §13a-49, and subject to the conditions set forth below, hereby discontinues an unimproved portion of Reservoir Road described as “Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued “on that certain survey map which will be recorded on the Newtown Land Records titled “Map Showing Portion of Reservoir Road to be Discontinued” dated August, 2023 and revised September 15, 2023, and certified substantially correct by Gregory Szyszowski of SLR (the “Survey Map”), said discontinuance contingent and effective only upon the completion of the following: 1. The approval of an application for the development of land in the manner described in a letter from Attorney Thomas W. Beecher to First Selectman A. Jeffrey Capeci and Members of the Board of Selectmen dated May 30, 2024, pursuant to the “Residential Open Space Development” regulations of the Borough of Newtown by the Borough of Newtown Zoning Commission, and construction of that approval project within the timeframes required for special exception approval; 2. The inclusion of the discontinued portion of the road as part of the final Declaration of Conservation Restriction; 3. The conveyance of a mutually agreeable public easement to the Town of Newtown for pedestrian, bicycling, equestrian, and all other passive recreational uses (to exclude the use of motorized vehicles except as may be necessary by the Town or its designee to effectuate the purpose of the easement), and for municipal utility purposes; Be it further resolved, that Castle Hill Real Estate Holdings, LLC., its successors and assigns, shall not use any portion of the discontinued road as a vehicular road or access way to and from any developed portions of the property. Be it further finally resolved, that should any of the foregoing contingencies not occur, then the discontinuance contemplated herein shall not become effective and this resolution will become null and void. From: https://www.newtown-ct.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif12216/f/minutes/bos_7-15-24_min-_att_final.pdf

Is this paper road (roads that only exist on paper map but not in reality) even owned by the Town? Many roads that predate the Town's road standards are privately owned and were never accepted by the Town, such as many of the nonconforming roads around the lake communities where the property owners own right to the center line. That is something we had to deal with when working on the Roads Ordinance a few years back. We also had to deal with a private road to run the utilities to the new SHS.

For anyone who wants to know, I cant post a link here, but Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority has an entire website. Look up "HRRA whats in whats out"

I Get It!

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