Thanks to a grant from CT Humanities, a new series of eight book discussions featuring local authors was curated by Friends of Newtown Seniors and C.H. Booth Library. The Newtown Authors Reading Series launched in February with a program by retired Newtown Bee Editor and twice-published author Nancy K. Crevier.

Within weeks of the announcement of that grant, six additional local organizations learned they too would be receiving CT Humanities Operating Support Grant Awards for 2023. Edmond Town Hall, EverWonder Children’s Museum, Newtown Arts Festival, Newtown Historical Society, The Town Players of Newtown, and World Heritage Cultural Center also received awards.

Newtown resident Mark E. Greene saw his latest novel, Lobster Wars, released January 17 by Koëhler Books. Newtown Woman’s Club welcomed Newtown resident LaVerne Blackwell as its featured guest during its 2023 Author/Booksigning Luncheon in March.

Shirley Ferris released a memoir that shares life stories and stories of life. The Silver Bridge is Silver Again (But Somebody Tore Down Bill’s Hot Dog Stand) is one-part autobiographical recollections and one-part a career retrospective thanks to the republication of some of her favorite columns, released by the Sandy Hook native and longtime Newtown resident in September. All proceeds from the sale of her book are benefitting FAITH Food Pantry.

Edmond Town Hall hosted its first Big Lebowski Fest in February, when 20 men and women filled the theater’s stage for a pageant ahead of a screening of the evening’s featured film. “Dude van Deen” was crowed the inaugural winner, and presented with a unique hand crafted trophy that incorporated a bowling pin and bowling show.

Members of The Garden Club of Newtown celebrated multiple honors during the 41st Annual Flower & Garden Show in February. Judges granted honors to seven entries from Newtown entered into “Gateway to Springtime,” the Federated Garden Clubs of Connecticut standard flower show within the Convention Center.

Readers in mid-April were introduced to Haley Kean, a Newtown resident and candidate for a master’s of fine arts in printing at Ohio University who presented “Passive Forms” as her culminating work. The exhibition was composed of artistic expressions of abandoned interiors of the Fairfield Hills campus, described in her accompanying artist statement as striving to “visually describe the intricate and nuanced relationship between locational attachment and trauma.”

Newtown Stage Co presented its inaugural production in July, staging two performances of Disney’s The Little Mermaid Jr. The first performance, on July 21, was officially sold out and Saturday’s show, if not a full house, was very close. A cast and crew of local and regional performers and technicians presented the shows on the stage of Edmond Town Hall.

The new theater company presented a second production in December, three performances of Elf the Musical Jr.

Connecticut Choral Society in June performed “The Mass of the Children” at Trinity Episcopal Church. The special performance raised over $2,000 for Newtown Youth & Family Services. Organizers are hoping the concert will become an annual event.

A Panacea reunion took place on September 3 at Dickinson Park pavilion. Sounds of greetings between Newtown High School class members of the late 60s and 70s filled the pavilion at the town park, which served as a cool shelter from the heat of the afternoon sun. The smell of summer barbecue favorites from Weenie Lynn’s food truck added to the summer atmosphere for the final reunion of the band formed during the early 1970s by Newtown High School students.

After a long hiatus brought on by the global pandemic, The Flagpole Radio Café returned to the stage in September for a full show. The popular music and comedy event welcomed the Grammy Award-winning Loudon Wainwright III for a September 23 presentation. It was not only a welcome return for the popular variety show styled after A Prairie Home Companion, it was also the first time Flagpole Radio Café was presented under the Newtown Arts Festival banner.

Unfortunately, despite the best plans, the arts festival itself did not happen this year. A Friday night concert by Red Matter took place under tents at Fairfield Hills, but the strong threat of dangerous weather led to the cancellation of remaining outdoor events September 23-24.

Flagpole Radio Café returned to Edmond Town Hall in December, this time welcoming Emmy Award-winning performer Fred Newman as its special guest.

A trio of girls from town with some serious tap dancing talent got to put their moves and skills on display on the world stage last summer, competing at the annual World Tap Championships in Riesa, Germany. Kathryn Kavovit, Ava Warner, and Alyssa Wright represented the United States, doing so with flair as they combined efforts with the rest of their dance team members to place seventh in the world with their Junior Formation. The three Newtown tap dancers are part of the American Dance Collaborative, itself a member of the United States Dance Sport Competition Federation; they train year-round through The Station Dance Academy. The trio advanced to the semifinals in late September.

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Managing Editor Shannon Hicks can be reached at shannon@thebee.com.