To the Editor:

Anyone who attended the public hearing held by Planning and Zoning Commission on Pete D’Amico’s Youth Academy heard Gary Davis state publicly his support for this project. Gary commended Mr D’Amico and his team for his wonderful gift to Newtown. In addition, the Independent Party of Newtown last week stated its support for the Newtown Youth Academy in its newsletter and several IPN candidates, including Gary Davis, sent a letter to the Fairfield Hills Authority supporting this project. They urged the authority to use funds from the original 2001 bond issue to take down the two dilapidated buildings that surround the academy during the academy’s construction so that when it is completed, the area surrounding the academy will be as attractive as the building itself.

Without Mr. D’Amico’s perseverance and generosity, I am not sure we would see recreational facilities at Fairfield Hills this quickly. I find it unfortunate that Anna Wiedemann decided to use Mr D’Amico’s name in her effort to disparage my husband and support Mr Rosenthal [Letter Hive, “No Grand Conspiracy,” September 28].

Since we have lived in Newtown for about 18 years, our three children have at one time or another been very active in basketball, recreational soccer, travel soccer, lacrosse, high school soccer and lacrosse, and girls premier soccer programs. Gary has spent a number of years coaching boys and girls soccer as well as girls basketball. My spare time is spent as a volunteer for a girls premier soccer program in Newtown as a manager, administrator, and board member.

We are very aware of the critical need for increased recreation facilities as well as improved athletic fields that would benefit the residents of Newtown. For two years, Gary has encouraged town boards to address these needs including approval of the improvements at Blue and Gold Stadium and upgrades to the antiquated high school gym as part of the high school expansion project. He has been outspoken about recreational needs and athletic fields as a community priority at Fairfield Hills rather than the new town hall.

It appears that we will not be receiving all those athletic fields we assumed would be built at Fairfield Hills when we approved the bond package in 2001. We will need more than the Newtown Youth Academy to adequately address the recreational needs of our community. Recreational improvements at the high school and at Tilson will also be necessary to begin to satisfy the space needs of all sports.

Gary has been a strong voice in support of better recreational facilities, amongst many other community issues. If this is the kind of behavior that would cause “track, basketball, soccer and lacrosse” parents not to vote for Gary, I am not sure what kind of behavior would garner a vote. Parents who know him and who care about recreation and other community issues will remember him at election time and I hope they will join me in voting for Gary Davis for Legislative Council, District II and other Independent Party of Newtown candidates who share his vision.

Sherri Davis

23 Charter Ridge Drive, Sandy Hook                         October 2, 2007