Featured Event

The 3rd Annual Newtown Road Race and Dental Associates Kid’s Fun Run will kick off at 9 am on Saturday, August 30, at Dickinson Town Park on Elm Drive. Runners of all ages from the northern Fairfield County area and beyond are expected to participate in this 5K, which annually supports Newtown Youth & Family Services. Walkers, joggers and stroller pushers are welcome.

The fast, flat scenic course is officially certified by the US Track and Field Association. Pre-registration is available online at NewtownRoadRace.com or in person at the New Balance store on Stony Hill Road in Bethel. Day-of registration will open at 7:30 am. Please note that if you are planning to mail in your registration, it needs to be postmarked by August 23.

Entry fee for the full race is $20 per participant for advance registration, or $25 on the day of the race. For the Kids’ Fun Run the entry fee is $5 per child or $10 maximum for families.

Following the 3.1 mile race, there will be a post-race celebration with announcements, a raffle, and awards for male and female division winners, plus all Kids’ Fun Run participants, at the park pavilion. Refreshments will be served before and after the race.

For directions to the park, a map of the race course (which will begin and end at the park, covering Elm Street to Sugar Street, to Baldwin Road, back to Sugar Street, to Juniper Road, to Birch Rise, back to Elm Drive, onto Deep Brook Road, to Point O’Rocks, to Brushy Hill, to the finish line outside the park), along with last year’s results, parking information, registration information, and more, runners and parents can visit NewtownRoadRace.com.

Anyone interested in getting involved as a race volunteer should call Steve Meeker at 426-6183.

Youth Programs

 & Activities

*Newtown Rocks The Vote: The best way to empower youth is teach them how to change the future. Join us on Sunday, August 17, from 11 am to 1 pm, in the park at 5 Glen Road (behind Mocha Coffee House), for Newtown Rocks The Vote.

Newtown Youth & Family Services has teamed with Rock the Vote to engage young people in controlled community change through the act of voting. Join us as we register young people to vote and listen to some awesome music, in]cluding a headlining performance by a New Orleans native son bringing a Cajun flavor to Newtown and three local bands (to be selected by NYFS) to play one set each during Newtown Rocks the Vote. Please call Jessi at NYFS for more information.

The headliner that day will be Renard “Nardy Boy” Boissiere, who also performs with Mystic Bowie and The Pall Bearers. Renard has also played bass for The Neville Brothers. This should be a very good show.

*Job Bank is accepting applications from qualified 13- to 17-year olds who want employment babysitting, pet sitting, or performing other household chores. Call between 10 am and noon weekdays for an application.

Support Groups

*Alateen meetings are Tuesdays from 7 to 9 pm. The program is for youth affected by somebody else’s alcoholism. At meetings members share their personal experiences, and learn to find personal happiness, whether or not the alcoholic in their lives is still drinking.

*NAMI is America’s largest grassroots organization dedicated to improving the lives of persons with serious mental illness. The next chapter meeting is Monday, August 18, from 9:30 am until noon.

All programs take place at NYFS, 17 Church Hill Road, unless otherwise noted. For more information or to register call 270-4335.