The Newtown Bee is looking for the first child born to Newtown parents in 2024. This will continue a tradition now in its 66th year.

The winning parents will be the ones who send the earliest birthdate (and time, if necessary, to break a tie) to The Newtown Bee by noon Tuesday, January 2. Parents must be Newtown residents and will need to submit the exact time and date of the child’s birth; their name and address; and the place of birth, gender, weight, and name of the newborn. Friends, family, and neighbors of newborns, you can help too: Make sure the parents of any Newtown newborns know about this honorary title and all the prizes that come with it. Parents and friends should contact Newtown Bee Managing Editor Shannon Hicks at 203-426-3141 or shannon@thebee.com with this information.

The winners will be notified the evening of January 2 and will hopefully be available for an interview in time for the January 5, 2023, issue of The Newtown Bee.

As has been done in recent years, a virtual interview between Shannon and the winning family can be scheduled, to continue social distancing measures for all parties if anyone feels more comfortable going that route.

Rosalina Kritzman was the 2023 First Baby of Newtown. The first child of Alyssa and John Kritzman of Sandy Hook was born mid-afternoon Tuesday, January 2, becoming the 65th annual First Baby and winning the love and affection of her parents as well as a boatload of prize certificates.

Two dozen local businesses have promised prizes for this year’s First Baby of Newtown. We can’t wait to meet them and share the prize package — and honorary title.