Another year going by doesn’t come without many changes, and Newtown is no exception. For as much as change can shake the balance of everyone’s daily routine, Newtown residents time and time again relentlessly pushed forward and found ways to embrace warmth, community, and love in 2024, no matter the challenges that came their way.

Education Budget Voted Down, District Role Changes

After the school budget was voted down for the first time since 2013, the Board of Education members worked through their proposed cuts and reductions for the 2024-25 education budget during their May 21 meeting.

The meeting came after the education budget failed during the initial budget referendum just the month before in late April, and later passed during the second referendum on May 14 with 2,075 Yes votes to 1,198 No votes.

The conversation was notably difficult for BOE members as stated by then Superintendent of Schools Christopher Melillo, who added that his administrative team worked hard to create a plan that maintained the strong instructional core of the school system while still trying to keep classroom sizes low.

Melillo later stepped down from his position as superintendent of schools on June 30. This came after Melillo announced in early April that he would be stepping down and taking a position as the next principal of Ox Ridge Elementary School in Darien.

While leaving Newtown Melillo said was bittersweet, he said that he looks back with pride on the accomplishments he and his team made during his tenure.

This left the BOE to start a search immediately to fill the superintendent position; they later appointed Anne Uberti as the new superintendent of schools in a 5-1 vote during a July 29 meeting.

Uberti was referred to in a district press release on the announcement as “no stranger to Newtown,” having served as the principal of Reed Intermediate School for six years starting in 2013. In 2019, Uberti was appointed as the district’s assistant superintendent of schools, and worked to oversee curriculum, instruction, and professional development across the district.

BOE members later appointed Frank Purcaro, a former employee of the Newtown school district, as the new assistant superintendent of schools in a unanimous vote at their October 1 meeting.

BOE member Donald Ramsey stepped down from the board after submitting a letter of resignation dated July 19 after two and a half years in the position. He was elected in the 2021 election, with his seat next up for the election in 2025. The letter of resignation was effective immediately.

The BOE appointed Deborra Zukowski to fill the vacancy in a 2-0 vote during its August 13 meeting. Zukowski previously served on the BOE both as a member and as chair. She was originally voted onto the board in November of 2019, and was later voted to become the board’s chair in December of 2021.

While she stepped down from the BOE in November of 2023, Zukowski expressed that she was more than happy to come back and continue supporting the community.

Support After The Storm

Newtown faced a severe storm on August 18, which brought record-breaking rain to the region. Public Works Director Fred Hurley said that the town received an overall average of 12 inches of rain from the storm.

Surging water and rainfall led to dozens of local roads getting washed out and needing repair, leaving around 40 roads partially or fully closed the following Monday morning.

Despite the damage and the historic amount of rainfall, that didn’t stop members of the Newtown community and beyond from helping each other in their time of need.

Numerous volunteers showed up on August 24 to help support Sticks and Stones Farm for a clean-up event to help the farm recover from flood damage. Volunteers helped move gravel back to where it belonged in the parking area, and level the muddy, uneven trails around the property still damaged by the storm.

Also on August 24, the Red Cross provided Flood Clean-Up Kits with items such as a mop, pail, trash bags, and more to people negatively impacted by the storm.

Many people also showed up to Newtown Visiting Nurse Association’s sale at its VNA Thrift Shop on August 24. The VNA Thrift Shop was planning to donate proceeds from a Saturday in September to Newtown Suicide Prevention Initiative, but several inches of standing water from the storm caused them to empty out the store.

While the sale had to be bumped up to late August, shoppers showed up and purchased shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, and more lined on top of several tables to support suicide awareness and prevention.

NFA Purchases Deep Brook Farm

Newtown Forest Association successfully purchased Deep Brook Farm on September 20 after more than a year-long campaign. They began their campaign in August of 2023, with the goal of purchasing and preserving the historic 60+ acre property in perpetuity. Over 430 individual contributors supported the campaign.

NFA Executive Director Trent McCann emphasized that the purchase would not have been possible if not for the generosity of the Newtown community, and their passion to preserve the land around them. NFA will take feedback from the public on creating multi-use trails on the property while still honoring the agricultural heritage of the land.

C.H. Booth Library Hosts NASA Exhibit

A special NASA exhibit titled “Discover Exoplanets: The Search for Alien Worlds” crash-landed at the C.H. Booth Library earlier this spring. C.H. Booth Library hosted the exhibit from March 23 until late May.

The national traveling exhibit showcased the beauty of space by highlighting exoplanets, which are planets beyond Earth’s solar system. Through interactive kiosks, a solar system floor puzzle, a green screen “planet weather reporting station” and other activities, visitors could learn about exoplanets and the many ways that NASA scientists are searching habitable worlds.

Not just any library could host the exhibit. C.H. Booth Library is only one of ten public libraries in the country chosen to host the traveling exhibit between its June 2023 to December 2025 duration. It is also only one of two pit stops for “Discover Exoplanets” located on the East Coast.

Library staff also worked with NASA and local organizations to hold different events from felting aliens to astrophotography to celebrate hosting the exhibit.

Residents Enjoy New Community Center Playscape

Newtown Community Center Director Matt Ariniello was joined by local officials and Newtown residents in celebrating the opening of the facility’s new outdoor playscape on October 10.

The playscape is open year-round and features fun and colorful equipment such as slides, swings, spinners, rope climbing structures, and more for children to have fun and play together. There is even a musical sensory corner where children can play musical instruments such as a large xylophone.

Right outside of the playscape are several picnic tables and a giant pit for children to use. As Ariniello said during the playscape’s grand opening, it was designed with inclusivity in mind, and it reflects the community center’s commitment to supporting active, healthy lifestyles through their programs.

Newtown High School Class of 2024 Graduates

Newtown High School’s Class of 2024 took the field of the school’s Blue and Gold Stadium and graduated on June 12.

They were joined by hundreds of family members and friends who packed the bleachers and the chairs on the field to support the graduates.

The commencement ceremony started with NHS Principal Kimberly Longobucco saying that they are here to celebrate the Class of 2024 with pride, but that they did so with sorrow knowing that 20 classmates who should be walking the stage that day lost their lives on December 14, 2012. Each of the students’ names was read out aloud, followed by a moment of silence.

Longobucco then shared words of encouragement for the graduating class, and encouraged students to spread kindness as they move out into the world. Several others took the stage after her, from students to faculty alike, with each extending their heartfelt congratulations to the seniors decked out in their white and blue caps and gowns.

While the audience was encouraged to hold their applause, many people could not contain their excitement and cheered, clapped, and screamed when their loved ones walked across the field to receive their diploma.

The Schools That Never Sleep

Schools throughout the district kept students, families, and faculty smiling all year-round with plenty of fun events and activities.

Hawley Elementary School students continued a relatively new tradition by planting daffodil bulbs outside the school from October 28 to October 30. Started last year, the daffodil bulb planting is actually part of a long-term effort by the Hawley community to beautify the school grounds and encourage the students to engage in acts of kindness.

Anyone passing by Hawley will be able to see the new daffodils blossom in bright and beautiful colors by the time spring rolls around in a few months.

Newtown Public Schools teamed up with Bridgeport Islanders for their Hockey Fights Cancer Night on November 23. The team honored and supported those affected by cancer during their game against the Charlotte Checkers, which they played at their home rink of Total Mortgage Arena in Bridgeport.

While the Islanders ultimately lost to the Checkers 2-3, the event raised a total of $1,936.90 between discounted ticket sales and the Chuck-A-Puck fundraiser. The proceeds were donated to Danbury-based organization Ann’s Place, which has provided support and resources to people living with cancer and their loved ones for over three decades.

Reed Intermediate School students enjoyed colorful competition in the school’s annual Color Games, held from November 11 through November 15. The games are a week-long event that have fifth and sixth graders bong and face off in friendly competitions that foster teamwork and community throughout the school.

Students earned points over the course of the week through activities in their classrooms. However, the Color Games culminated with two “grande finale” events that had students work in groups and rotate between different stations, with each having their own unique activity to play.

St Rose of Lima School kindergartners and first graders were excited to make another special Halloween visit to assisted living facility Church Hill Village. Students dressed up for the special occasion, with the kindergartners dressed as dalmatians and the first graders dressed as whatever they wanted to be.

Residents of Church Hill Village happily passed out candy to the young trick-or-treaters as they walked through the facility. Students even got to see the spooky pumpkins residents and staff made to celebrate the season.

Schools throughout the district once again honored veterans with their own celebrations and ceremonies on Veterans Day. Many schools, such as NHS and NMS, invited students to bring a veteran for a celebratory breakfast or luncheon, where everyone could enjoy each other’s company and help themselves to a wide variety of food and drinks.

Schools such as Head O’Meadow Elementary School and St Rose, along with the high school and middle school, also held their own assemblies or ceremonies to recognize and honor veterans for their service.

Reporter Jenna Visca can be reached at jenna@thebee.com.