Cultural Events

‘Plant Medicine For A Calm Mind And Resilient Body,’ October 28 With Garden Club

Updated: Oct 15, 2025 11:04 AM

Readers are invited to join The Garden Club of Newtown and Alyssa Mancini, founder of Herbs Love and Yoga, for an engaging and restorative event.

Veterans Invited To Register For Special Event

Published: Oct 14, 2025 07:00 AM

First Selectman Jeff Capeci, in coordination with Lt Governor Susan Bysiewicz and Connecticut Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Ronald P. Welch, is pleased to announce that on Monday, Novemb...

SCAN To Host Bivenne Staiger Demonstrating Watercolor

Published: Oct 13, 2025 07:00 AM

The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown (SCAN) will host Bivenne Staiger demonstrating watercolor.

Historical Society Planning October Open House

Published: Oct 12, 2025 08:00 AM

Newtown Historical Society invites the community to its monthly Open House on Sunday, October 26.

Newtown Scholarship Association Planning Inaugural Fall Chili And Cheer Fundraiser

Published: Oct 10, 2025 08:00 AM

On Sunday, October 19, Newtown Scholarship Association host the first of what it hopes will become a new annual event.

League Of Women Voters To Host Newtown Selectmen Candidate Debate

Published: Oct 10, 2025 07:00 AM

The League of Women Voters of Northern Fairfield County (LWVNFC), in collaboration with Newtown Democrat and Republican Town Committees, will host a debate between candidates for the Board of Selectmen, including first selectmen.

Northern Fairfield Professionals Meeting Scheduled For October 14

Published: Oct 10, 2025 07:00 AM

Norhtern Fairfield Professionals will have its next meeting on Tuesday, October 14.

Fairfield County Residents, Including Former Newtown Resident, Are Finalists For National Podcast Awards

Published: Oct 06, 2025 07:00 AM

A podcast and radio show co-hosted by former Newtown resident Martin Blanco and lower Fairfield County resident Sandra Radosh is a finalist for a Signal Award in the Individual Episodes-Best Guest category and the Listener’s Choice award in that category.

Fall Book Donation Day Set For October 19

Published: Oct 05, 2025 08:00 AM

Friends of the C.H. Booth Library announced its Fall Book Donation Day will be on Sunday, October 19, rain or shine from noon to 2 pm, at the Friends of CHB Blue Building, the Friends’ temporary donat...

2025 NUMC Fall Craft Fair Will Celebrate Its 20th Year Later This Month

Published: Oct 04, 2025 08:00 AM

Newtown United Methodist Church is thrilled to announce its 20th annual NUMC Fall Craft Fair, scheduled for Saturday, October 18.

House of Harrison To Host Relaunch Celebration, Embrace New Chapter

Snapshot: Jeff Shpunt

Three-Peat! NHS Boys' Golfers Win Another South-West Conference Championship

St Rose Students Commemorate The Season With Fall Field Day

Mr. Walczak, I read it multiple times before submitting my letter and again afterward. Nowhere in your letter do you mention Legislative Council. Regardless, you should know that the Board of Education has the greatest influence on budgets that ultimately come before Board of Finance and LC. In addition, I noted that you didn't respond to the more substantive issue highlighted in my letter -- school funding and impact on our residents. Your initial letter seemed to indicate that "Republicans" were misguided in challenging budget requests. Regardless of whether you were talking about LC or BOE, is it your position that 64.8% of every tax dollar is not enough to adequately fund our schools? Are you advocating to spend more money? It feels like your Letter to the Editor is at odds with your campaign pitch of affordability.

Responds To Walczak

It sounds like I hit a nerve! So let’s set the record straight, shall we… True - I did vote in favor of the municipal budget, which was a very reasonable 2.75%. Regarding not opening the BOE budget book in 2024, again, true. But what Chris & Eric failed to point out is that while I listened to all the predictable line items followed by predictable questions followed by predictable answers, and the Democrats predictably voting to give the BOE everything they asked for, I was the only LC member that concentrated on the side of the equation where 700 people in Newtown can’t pay their taxes, 400 rely upon the food pantry to put food on their table, and there are 115 homes that are in foreclosure. And while I am not on the BOE subcommittee, unlike my democratic friends, I made it a point to meet with the superintendent(s) both budget seasons face to face. So, to accuse me of “blindly” cutting the BOE budget is a blatant and despicable lie. What else did they lie about? Twenty-eight school positions were removed; the positions were never filled and the world survived. What else did they lie about? BOE passed in a bipartisan fashion? Half-lie: in 2024 they again tried to jam a 5% BOE tax increase through only to have it rejected at referendum. I proposed a 2.75% compromise that ultimately passed. What else did they lie about? My failure to mention the reduction in state aid and the increase in insurance premiums? Newtown needs to be run like an efficient company to be successful. I am not against education; I just want the school administration to make the most out of every dollar. Right now, $.66 out of every tax collected goes towards the BOE budget. And finally, my failure to offer solutions to raise revenue? I proposed a “Tanglewood model” compromise for 6 Commerce Road that could potentially generate in millions of dollars in revenue for the town. I proposed and am still in favor of an ordinance for peaceful protesting that would save the town potentially $225k in police overtime. My Democratic friends didn’t even want to consider that. And what solutions have C&E offered? Eric wanted to ADD $300K to the BOE budget for a kindergarten class that had no impact on learning Spanish! And Chis wanted the parents to pick up the tab for extracurricular activities THAT THEY ALREADY pay for. Don’t throw rocks if you live in glass houses. One of our main responsibilities on the Legislative Council is advocating taxpayers’ dollars in the best interests of the Town and trying to make it more affordable without degrading services. Unfortunately, the Democrats can’t run on “affordability” since they already jammed the residents of Newtown with a huge tax increase last year, but I still can. I am humbly asking for your support on or before Nov 4th. Thanks to C&E to giving me the opportunity to respond and clear everything up.

Democratic Response To Political Attack Letter

Not one question about the cost of implementing this system. Yes, there is a donation with strings attached. We've been there before and now we're bonding new monies regularly to maintain or repair those 'donations' like the community center. I think Deb is right to say she doesn't have enough information to make an informed decision. I'd like to know what it costs taxpayers to maintain & upgrade this system that seems to be on balance fairly unpopular.

BOE Narrowly Passes Weapons Detection System At High School

Mr. Leonardi should read my email again . I was referring to the LC republicans who all voted against the BOE budget.

I disagree. While I understand that many local Democrats are eager for a shift, now is not the time to hand over the town’s leadership to an untested and inexperienced candidate. Newtown faces real challenges — from infrastructure to responsible development — and those require steady, proven leadership, not someone still learning what the job entails. Experience matters. We have a seasoned First Selectman who has demonstrated the ability to manage complex projects, balance competing priorities, and keep the town moving forward with stability and accountability. The Democratic candidate’s only record of political leadership is a series of unsuccessful campaigns — in 2009, 2020, and again in 2023. That’s not experience; that’s persistence without results. Newtown deserves a leader who has already shown the ability to lead, not one who is still trying to prove they can. At a time when we need consistency and competence, let’s not gamble the town’s future on inexperience. Let’s stay the course with a First Selectman who knows the job, understands the community, and continues to put Newtown first.

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