Celebrating Newtown

To the Editor:

I would like to extend my thanks to those who worked so hard in planning and executing yesterday’s tercentennial events. Our family enjoyed the food, the inflatables, the Revolutionary war encampment, and the bands, and I was thrilled to see the deed for the town displayed — what a remarkable piece of history. The shuttle buses were efficient, the campus grounds were set up well (if a little too spread out) and the spirit of small town well-being was evident in the number of smiles and relaxed atmosphere.

And then there were the fireworks...Wow, what a display! We watched from the Queen Street meadow area and felt like we had front row seats. It was a thrill to see the explosions of color lighting up the rolling hills around us. Again, the pleasure of living in a small town was evident in the excited chatter of children and the buzz of conversation in the hay-scented dusk as 9 approached.

The sentiment shared by many, as we walked back to our cars, was that Newtown should do this every year, maybe in the form of a summer festival at Fairfield Hills combined with the Labor Day parade (whether or not it is actually held on Labor Day weekend) and an annual fireworks finale to the summer. I’d even feel good about my tax dollars going to something that celebrates what Newtown has to offer and unifies our community in a family friendly way.

Thanks again to all the volunteers, the organizers, the sponsors, our local fire and rescue squads, and to all who came out to support the event.

Jennifer St Jean

16 Cross Brook Road, Newtown                                  August 8, 2005