By Kim J. Harmon

The Newtown Youth Basketball Association has taken hold of the wheel and is now flying solo.

Once under the auspices of the Parks and Recreation Department, the Newtown Youth Basketball Association will now be an entity unto itself, but for the average ballplayer and his or her family, things will scarcely be different at all.

The change was made at a recent Parks and Recreation Commission meeting.

The Board of Directors, which had been effectively running the program for several years, insists that nothing will change and ensures all participants – all 1,200 players and their families – that its focus on youth and the recreational aspect of the program will remain.

But, like always, the association is looking for help – be it in the form of referees, coaches, or volunteers on the Board of Directors.

“We have a lot of new people who are involved,” said Jack Shpunt, “but we could always use more.”

A meeting of the Board of Directors will be held on Monday, August 23, at 8 pm, at Walt Pachniuk’s office in the SCB Office Park at 153 South Main Street (the former Heise Manufacturing building). Anyone interested in volunteering his or her time and helping the program develop is encouraged to attend (call Mr Shpunt at 426-1935 or Keith Kling at 426-0519 if you need further information).

Now, one minor change this year will be a bit of a jump (a $10 jump) in registration fees, but that is reflected by recent increases in surcharges for using the athletic fields in town. More information on fees will follow in upcoming issues of The Newtown Bee.

And with the summer on the wane the newly independent Newtown Youth Basketball Association (NYBA) is preparing for 2004-05 winter season registrations.

Registrations will be held on Saturdays, September 11, 18 and 25 (all from 9 am to 1 pm) and on Wednesday, September 22 (from 6 to 9 pm) at the Newtown High School cafeteria. The first registration date, September 11, is for Biddie ballplayers only (that’s players in kindergarten through second grade).

Mail-in registrations will be accepted this year. Grab a registration form, which will be available in the schools or at the Newtown Parks and Recreation Department, and mail to Newtown Youth Basketball, P.O. Box 196, Newtown, CT, 06470.

Meanwhile, prospective coaches and high school kids interested in refereeing for the 2004-05 season are encouraged to call Mr Shpunt at 426-1935.