Newtown Congregational Church is welcoming light and nurturing hope in the new year by hosting a “Guns to Garden Tools” demonstration on Sunday, January 8.
It may be the first of the year, and less than a month into winter, but the Edmond Town Hall Board of Managers is definitely thinking spring and warmer weather thanks to some great news this week.
Readers are invited to support the annual Trees for Trout collection event co-hosted by Candlewood Valley Trout Unlimited and Pootatuck Watershed Association, one week from today.
The Newtown Bee is looking for the first child born to Newtown parents in 2023, continuing a tradition now in its 65th year. The newspaper is also continuing to seek students hoping to capture some cash if they are chosen as finalists in the "Why I LOVE Newtown Essay Project."
Newtown Hikers, an open group welcoming anyone interested in hiking, has announced its winter 2023 schedule. The first hike of the new season is planned for next Saturday morning.
Bringing hope to the new year, the Right Reverend James E. Curry and Reverend Matthew Crebbin will co-host a Swords To Plowshares transformational experience at Newtown Congregational Church next month.
Social media content creator and former Newtowner Brett Boles is continuing to expand his musical influence by launching The M Tea Songwriting Studio in spring 2023.
What is winter sowing, and what is the benefit of this form of gardening? C.H. Booth Library will host a 90-minute hands-on workshop covering that on Monday, January 9.
Open Letter to Dave Ackert.
Mr. Ackert, you are a very angry and mean-spirited person who, in my recent memory, has never done anything but complain and has never shown anything but a one-dimensional uncompromising way of thinking. Want to change Newtown in a way you feel would be better? Then why don’t you RUN FOR OFFICE and stop hiding behind your ranting posts and letters and stop thinking that world revolves around you. Hating Trump (or Trump derangement Syndrome) HAS NOTHING to do with Newtown! Zero! I have talked with Democrats and “Never Trumpers” while out campaigning and knocking on doors that think critically and feel the same way. The Democrats have raised the taxes in Newtown to an unsustainable level and plan on making Newtown even more unaffordable in the future if they retain the majority. If you are not happy with how low (sarcastic) your taxes are? Vote for the Democrats. They will be more than happy to remedy that situation. They just passed a generational tax increase that if you read between the lines, essentially means if you don’t agree with the way they are stealing the innocence and charm out of Newtown, then leave. They have shown no regard to all the people that are struggling to pay their current taxes or rely upon the food pantry to put food on their table. At least the Republicans here in Newtown are dealing with real local issues and quite honestly have shown more common sense in the way the taxpayer’s money is spent. I think some of your arguments are valid, but I would like to see you use the intelligence God gave you in a more constructive way than just criticize. I am serious about you running for office. It would force you to see the big picture and maybe wield your influence in a more productive way.
I appreciate your optimism about keeping national politics out of local government — we all want leaders who put Newtown first. But calling Paul a “centrist” just doesn’t match what we’ve seen. If you look at his comments online or watch the recent debate, Paul was the first to go negative and came across more like a national political candidate than a neighbor. That’s not the tone of someone trying to bring people together.
Now, Paul is another story entirely. He’s honest, articulate, and clearly knows what he’s doing. Frankly, I think local Democrats would have been better off putting him at the top of their ticket.
It "appears" to mandate affordable housing. This letter, pleading that we not “approve these changes in zoning,” shows just how disconnected from reality much of the town has become. Connecticut’s Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Procedure—commonly referred to as 8-30g—has been in effect since 1990. Thirty-five years is hardly new legislation.
What is new is that developers have finally chosen to exercise their legal right to use it, bypassing the NIMBY mob. Several neighboring towns have already learned that challenging this law only results in costly legal battles, consistently upheld by higher courts.
I implore our elected officials to read the actual text of the law—and to not be INTIMIDATED by the mob.
One of the things that really stood out to me during the debate was how often the candidates said, “I agree with Jeff.” Even Candidate Lundquist and Candidate Walzak mentioned agreeing with Jeff on several issues. Sounds like Jeff has their vote too! Considering how poorly Mr. Walzak handled both the hearing and directly answering the questions, I think our path forward is pretty clear. Bruce set a clear path, he is up for listening, but it doesn't sound like he is up for the responsibilities and rigors of office.
I appreciate hearing from my fellow unaffiliated voters, but I think it’s important to recognize that many of us are unaffiliated not because we are undecided, but because we’ve grown tired of being labeled, attacked, or “canceled” by whichever side disagrees with us.
Some of us choose to remain unaffiliated precisely because we value open dialogue and independent thinking — something that’s becoming harder to do in a climate where disagreement is met with outrage. Too often, “unaffiliated” letters like this one serve as a thinly veiled endorsement of one party, while dismissing or caricaturing anyone who holds a different view.
We should be able to discuss our local issues, values, and goals without fear of being shouted down or shamed for who we support. I would encourage all voters — unaffiliated, Democrat, Republican, or otherwise — to look beyond the labels and listen to their neighbors with respect.
