Education

Newtown Schools Celebrate International Education Week

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Feb 24, 2017 12:00 AM

The Newtown International Center for Education (NICE) oversaw celebrations for International Education Week, recognized nationally this year February 13 to 17, in all of Newtown's public schools. Refl...

Newtown Middle School Second Quarter Honor Roll Released

Published: Feb 24, 2017 12:00 AM

Newtown Middle School recently released its honor roll for the second quarter marking period of the 2016-17 school year. The following seventh and eighth grade students earned their place on the list....

Deep-Sea Lessons For Reed Intermediate School Students

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Feb 24, 2017 12:00 AM

Reed Intermediate School students glimpsed a portion of the world that is far from their classroom on Friday, February 17, through the eyes of Robert Ballard - director of the Center for Ocean Explora...

NHS Gold Band Performs At Berklee High School Jazz Festival

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Feb 18, 2017 12:00 AM

Members of the Newtown High School Gold Jazz Band attended the 49th Annual Berklee High School Jazz Festival at Berklee College of Music in Boston on Saturday, February 11. According to the college, m...

Newtown Middle School Planning Free Performance Of 'Into The Woods, Jr' For Seniors

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Feb 18, 2017 12:00 AM

The Newtown Middle School Drama Club has announced it has scheduled a free presentation, at the middle school, 11 Queen Street, of its Into The Woods, Jr, musical for local senior citizens for Thursda...

'Friends Of The Middle Gate Library' Mural Fundraiser Begins

Published: Feb 17, 2017 12:00 AM

Middle Gate Elementary School PTA President Debbie DeBlasi announced a new program called "Friends of the Middle Gate Library" that is working to raise money for the school library through a mural, wh...

Valentines For Troops Sent, With Goodies, From Newtown

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Feb 17, 2017 12:00 AM

Care packages and personalized notes and cards have been crafted and collected, and sent to servicemen and women overseas through the local Valentines For Troops effort. Each year the Valentines for T...

Two Hour Delay For Newtown Public Schools Monday

Published: Feb 13, 2017 12:00 AM

Newtown Public Schools will have a two hour delay Monday, February 13, due to the weather. The district made the announcement early Monday morning.

Fairfield Hills Leases Are Only Good For The Town

Elections Have Consequences XXVI

Historical Society Grateful For Success Of Fundraiser

Newtown Half Marathon

Discusses Kent And Shelton Houses

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......

You do realize President Trump was born on June 14, the same date the US Army was founded. The parade was to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. My uncle was a sergeant in the Army and was KIA 3 months before the war in Europe ended fighting the Germans. I'm happy there was an acknowledgement by the President for the brave men and women who are veterans of that branch. Too bad others don't honor them by insisting it was a "birthday parade". What an insult to our veterans! I'm not into cage fighting, but as far as being tacky or disgraceful, I would the UFC fight at the White House pales in comparison to Bill Clinton and an intern named Monica did during working hours.

<< Jun 2026 >>
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
31	1	2	3	4	5	6
7	8	9	10	11	12	13
14	15	16	17	18	19	20
21	22	23	24	25	26	27
28	29	30	1	2	3	4

Log In

Newtown Schools Celebrate International Education Week

Newtown Middle School Second Quarter Honor Roll Released

Deep-Sea Lessons For Reed Intermediate School Students

NHS Gold Band Performs At Berklee High School Jazz Festival

Newtown Middle School Planning Free Performance Of 'Into The Woods, Jr' For Seniors

'Friends Of The Middle Gate Library' Mural Fundraiser Begins

Valentines For Troops Sent, With Goodies, From Newtown

Two Hour Delay For Newtown Public Schools Monday