Features

Rotary Ticket Sales Benefit Community

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: Nov 20, 2016 12:00 AM

Twenty dollars not only buys residents a ticket and a chance to win one of three Visa gift cards through the Newtown Rotary Club's annual raffle, but also supports the organization's local and global ...

Lisa Unleashed: Patricia W. Laurans wins 2017 AKC Lifetime Achievement Award

By Lisa Peterson

Published: Nov 20, 2016 12:00 AM

Each year the American Kennel Club (AKC), as the governing body of canine sports in the Unites States, surveys its more than 600 member clubs to select the winners of its Lifetime Achievement Awards i...

Award-Winning Author Paul Meisel Releases New Children's Book

By Alissa Silber

Published: Nov 19, 2016 12:00 AM

Newtown resident Paul Meisel is the illustrator for more than 70 picture and early reader books. His newest children's book, Good Night, Bat! Good Morning, Squirrel! was released in September by Boyds...

Sawmill Ridge Road Brings A Piece Of 'Mayberry' To Newtown

By Alissa Silber

Published: Nov 19, 2016 12:00 AM

Wendy Leon-Gambetta and her husband, Ernesto, have recently moved into their third house on Sawmill Ridge Road in Newtown in less than 25 years. They came across their first home on the street when th...

From Pigskin To Cowhide: The Football's Flight Through History

By Andy Hutchison

Published: Nov 19, 2016 12:00 AM

With Thanksgiving just around the corner, gridiron battles may be on TV sets wherever your feast is unfolding. But while not everyone around the table will want to discuss the resurgence of the Dallas...

Health Officials Talk Turkey About Avoiding Foodborne Illness This Thanksgiving

By John Voket

Published: Nov 19, 2016 12:00 AM

Newtown Health District's own Food Service Inspector Suzette LeBlanc knows that her own Thanksgiving table might be a potential harbor for a foodborne illness. The Bee a week ahead of arguably America...

Dinner Fundraiser For Friends of Kakamega Orphan Care Centre

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: Nov 19, 2016 12:00 AM

A group of high school students and chaperones traveled this past summer to provide orphans in Kenya a summer camp experience, and some of the travelers spoke about their own experience at a dinner fu...

The Top Of The Mountain

Published: Nov 18, 2016 12:00 AM

Newtowns fire companies will conduct the annual Fill The Fire Truck campaign this weekend. On Saturday, November 19, from 9 am to 2 pm, firefighters will be accepting donations for FAITH Food Pantry. ...

The Top Of The Mountain

Published: Nov 18, 2016 12:00 AM

Newtowns fire companies will conduct the annual Fill The Fire Truck campaign this weekend. On Saturday, November 19, from 9 am to 2 pm, firefighters will be accepting donations for FAITH Food Pantry. ...

Snapshot: Katherine Scott

Published: Nov 18, 2016 12:00 AM

Occupation: I got a BS in environmental science from Binghamton University in New York. Basically, I learned about a lot of different aspects of nature. I love the outdoors - if I could live in th...

Invasive Insider: Protect Your Home Without Deadly Poisons

My Backyard Habitat: More Garden Pollinators With 3x3x3 Planting Method

15 For Life Fundraiser Games Scheduled For Lacrosse, Baseball, And Softball In May

No-Hitter! Piccuillo Silences Pomperaug Bats In 2-0 Victory

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

I am glad to see First Selectman Bruce Walczak engaging the electorate. Mark your calendars, folks — apparently, communication from Town Hall is possible after all. But where was Bruce two days ago, when Connecticut State Police requested assistance from Newtown Police after two individuals fled on foot from an I-84 crash? As a manhunt went through town, police were stationed at our schools, and many residents checked their car doors, deadbolted their houses, and armed themselves (Thank you James from Port Conway). That sounds like exactly the kind of situation where residents would expect timely communication from town leadership. Parents, neighbors, and residents in the affected area should not have to piece together information after the fact while police are actively searching the community. The issue is not whether our police did their job. They did. The issue is whether Town Hall is doing its job when it comes to keeping residents informed during real-time public safety situations. If the First Selectman can write to residents about the importance of showing up for the budget, he should also show up when residents are looking for clear, timely information during an active police incident. This kind of communication was promised during the campaign. Unfortunately, Bruce Walczzzzak is starting to look like just another politician: campaign on change, criticize the last guy, ask taxpayers for more staff, and then tell residents the job still cannot be done.

The First Selectman On The Budget

528 more feet of broadsheet paper ... we have passed the dump ... as for the details, it is worth pointing out that Merrimack's coal plant shifted to two (2) 4 oil generators. I wonder if this is why crude oil production hit record highs in July...

Elections Have Consequences XXV

Where was our CodeRED? For over 4 years Newtown has a CodeRED system. The town tells residents it exists for emergencies and points to things like missing persons, wildfires, and criminal activity as the kinds of incidents it is meant to address. Yet we had no CodeRED for Kateri Doty, no CodeRED for the brush fires, and no CodeRED for yesterday’s manhunt with police and tracking dogs moving through our backyards. That is not one oversight. That is a pattern. Under sleepy Bruce Walczak, the town has an emergency notification system that never seems to get used when actual emergencies happen. Whether or not Bruce physically sends the alert himself is beside the point. If the system is not being used, if residents are left hearing about dangerous situations from Facebook and the neighbors’ kids instead of from their own government, then that failure belongs to him. Newtown residents should not have to guess when there is a public safety issue unfolding around them. If Bruce Walcz"zzz"ak cannot make sure an emergency alert system is used for emergencies, then what exactly is he doing?

State Police Seeking Two Evading Responsibility For Incident

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