Education

Boy Scout Gives Back To Wounded Warriors

By Andy Hutchison

Published: Apr 23, 2016 12:00 AM

Jason Lopardo came across the finish line of the Super Scout Challenge 5K race at Fairfield Hills on April 16 in the middle of the pack among nearly 100 other finishers on hand to support Newtown Boy ...

Local Girls Raise Money Over April Break

Published: Apr 22, 2016 12:00 AM

Reed Intermediate School student Lexi Amato-Checchia and Sandy Hook School student Hannah Busillo sold lemonade and baked goods on Friday, April 15, during the school district's April break. The girls...

Upcoming Newtown Public School Concerts

Published: Apr 22, 2016 12:00 AM

The Newtown Public Schools Music Department has released the dates for scheduled upcoming concerts. All concerts are free and open to the public. The Newtown High School Composers Concert kicked off t...

Newtown Continuing Education Courses Available

Published: Apr 22, 2016 12:00 AM

Newtown Continuing Education announced it has limited openings available in the following classes. Contact Newtown Continuing Education at 203-426-1787 for further information or to express interest i...

Fraser Woods Montessori School Celebrates The Earth

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Apr 22, 2016 12:00 AM

Fraser Woods Montessori School students began gathering outdoors after 2 pm on Thursday, April 21, for the school's annual Earth Day Ceremony. One class arrived early and students spread out across th...

Three Newtown Teams Advance To Attend Odyssey Of The Mind World Finals

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Apr 18, 2016 12:00 AM

Three Newtown Odyssey of the Mind teams will head to world finals near the end of May after competing in the state level of the competition April 2.gofundme.com/GetNewtownToWorlds, to raise money to t...

NHS Percussion Earns Second Place At MAC Championships

Published: Apr 16, 2016 12:00 AM

The Newtown High School Winter Percussion ensemble completed its 2016 season on April 9 by participating in the MAC Championship event held at Westhill High School in Stamford, and earning second plac...

Waldorf School Student Selling T-Shirts For His Eighth Grade Project

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Apr 16, 2016 12:00 AM

For his Housatonic Valley Waldorf School eighth grade project student Forrest Anderson created his own business.shop.spreadshirt.com/expectgreatthings. Prices range from $20 to $26. Forrest recently e...

Musicals At Richter To Kick Off 42nd Season Under The Stars With America’s Broadway Musical

‘Art Is Fun,’ Promises Carboni Ahead Of Planned Workshop

Three-Sport Competitors McLean And Gerace Are Newtown Bee NHS Athletes Of The Year

Lacrosse Champ Enjoys Triumph While Acclimating To Collegiate Game

The Way We Were

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.

Elections Have Consequences XXVI

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Boy Scout Gives Back To Wounded Warriors

Local Girls Raise Money Over April Break

Upcoming Newtown Public School Concerts

Newtown Continuing Education Courses Available

Fraser Woods Montessori School Celebrates The Earth

Three Newtown Teams Advance To Attend Odyssey Of The Mind World Finals

NHS Percussion Earns Second Place At MAC Championships

Waldorf School Student Selling T-Shirts For His Eighth Grade Project