Most weeks we try to concentrate an editorial around one (or at most two) themes or topics, but occasionally an editorial is allowed to meander a bit and cover multiple topics, such as The Bee’s previous “Standing O’s and Oh No’s” and this week’s “Bits And Pieces.”

First off, we want to commend our letter writers, for the most part, keeping things civil and clean while still engaging in highly partisan conversations. We have yet to reject a letter for being overly nasty this election cycle, and while things have certainly been contentious, they’ve definitely been within the bounds where we feel comfortable printing them.

On that note, we remind readers that next week’s issue of October 25 is the last issue before the election where letters critical of candidates or political parties will be allowed. In the issue of November 1, the only political letters that will be accepted for print will be letters of endorsement and rebuttals to prior letters of criticism (that in turn do not include any new criticism of political opponents). This is to encourage the best in civil discourse and is common practice at newspapers across the nation — if a letter critical of a political entity is published, there should be an opportunity to respond to the criticism, and in the final issue before an election, such rebuttal is no longer possible. That is why only positive letters are accepted.

The changeover on The Bee’s website to requiring real names has hit its share of snags and technical difficulties, and though we were hoping to have it implemented well before the political season began, that opportunity has come and gone (long gone, really); we are now eying January 1, 2025, as when we should implement it. While it could be rolled out now, it’s looking best to keep things on even terms through the remainder of the election season, and that gives our commenters plenty of time to prepare and even add in their names if they wish to do so early. We will be posting a how-to article in the next few weeks.

The Board of Selectmen’s recent decision to request the removal of a requirement for economic development from the deed of 6 Commerce Road is a commendable one. The decision does not, in fact, commit the town to any one path forward, but rather, opens options up. Just because the property is no longer required to be used for economic development does not mean that it can’t be used for economic development.

And the opportunity to open the property up for other uses, particularly open space, which has seen broad support from the public beyond just the vocal members of the Newtown Conservation Coalition, can only be seen as a good thing. Its location on the Deep Brook watershed suggests that keeping it in its natural state could be a positive for the town and its water supply. Its location near the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary means the property as open space offers an opportunity for a large contiguous parcel of relatively undisturbed woodland. It’s certainly worth considering, and the residents of the town should certainly be given ample say in the final disposition.

Speaking of open space, Newtown Forest Association’s purchase of Deep Brook Farm is good news for preservation in Newtown.

The Deep Brook Farm Preserve will protect 60+ acres of farmland and upland forest, meadows, and wetlands in perpetuity with public access to hiking trails and other passive recreation. The property is surrounded on two sides by bucolic dirt roads and is less than a mile away from the flagpole. In addition to the preservation of the land itself, NFA has taken ownership of the stone barns on the property, the foundations of which date back to the mid 1700s.

In the coming months NFA will be sharing more information about the construction of trails, parking, and other public amenities that will make this property one of the crown jewels of Newtown’s open spaces.

Kudos to new Finance Director Glenys Salas for her work with the Board of Selectmen, Board of Finance, and Legislative Council bringing up and plugging a number of shortfalls in the budget, particularly around health insurance. The town’s finances continue to be in good hands. The town and Water & Sewer Authority are also working hard to get water and sewage costs back on track, unfortunately necessitating a large increase in fees of 9%.