News

Eligibility Expanded Beginning April 1; Improved Outreach Critical

By Nancy K. Crevier

Published: March 26, 2021 11:00 am

New vaccine eligibility set, millions of dollars for increased access to COVID-19 vaccine in news of the March 25 governor's update.

Good Friday Holiday Closings

Updated: March 26, 2021 10:31 am

All town offices and agencies will be closed Friday, April 2, for Good Friday. The Newtown Senior Center will be closed Friday. The transfer station on Ethan Allen Road will be closed on Friday but wi...

‘Great Cooperative Effort’ Leads To Weekend Rescue Of Boaters

By Shannon Hicks

Published: March 26, 2021 7:30 am

Multiple first responder agencies were dispatched late Saturday evening after two men were reported missing after they went for a canoe ride on Lake Lillinonah.

Fire Of Unknown Cause Damages King Street Home

By Shannon Hicks

Published: March 26, 2021 7:00 am

Firefighters from all five Newtown fire companies and Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps were sent to a King Street home early Sunday afternoon following multiple calls for a fire.

You’ll Be The First To Know!

Published: March 25, 2021 2:30 pm

There is plenty to read at newtownbee.com, but so much more information to be found in print.

Mobile Vaccination Vans Improve Outreach; Governor Advises ‘Maintain Diligence’

By Nancy K. Crevier

Updated: March 25, 2021 5:16 pm

Our recent COVID-19 update.

Flags To Be Lowered For Boulder Shooting Victims

By Shannon Hicks

Updated: March 23, 2021 2:46 pm

For the second time in less than a week, the president is ordering flags lowered to memorialize Americans killed in a mass shooting incident. President Joseph Biden on Tuesday issued a proclamation “a...

Newtown Emergency Communications Center Moves Into Its Brand-New Home

By Shannon Hicks

Published: March 23, 2021 8:00 am

Maureen Will made the final emergency communications center transmission out of 3 Main Street last week, formally closing the dispatch center’s original location.

What’s In The Works?

Published: March 22, 2021 1:00 pm

The Newtown Bee is working for you and with you, to bring you the news you want.

Rosenthal Calls For ‘Fines, Penalties’ Following PURA Eversource Ruling

By John Voket

Published: March 22, 2021 10:44 am

PURA has issued a draft decision regarding the poor Eversource response after last August's tropical storm.

Rudolph Albert Edwards

American Legion Post 202 Officers Sworn In For 2026-27

Booth Book Sale Turns 50: 500-Year-Old Book, A P.T. Barnum Signature, And So Much More At 2026 Friends Of The C.H. Booth Library Annual Book Sale

Lockwood Celebrates 61 Years Of Service For SHVFR Ladies Auxiliary

Local Semiquincentennial Events Planned

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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Eligibility Expanded Beginning April 1; Improved Outreach Critical

Good Friday Holiday Closings

‘Great Cooperative Effort’ Leads To Weekend Rescue Of Boaters

Fire Of Unknown Cause Damages King Street Home

You’ll Be The First To Know!

Mobile Vaccination Vans Improve Outreach; Governor Advises ‘Maintain Diligence’

Flags To Be Lowered For Boulder Shooting Victims

Newtown Emergency Communications Center Moves Into Its Brand-New Home

What’s In The Works?

Rosenthal Calls For ‘Fines, Penalties’ Following PURA Eversource Ruling