Newtown Bee

Versatility can be key in sports, and Megan Goyda, head coach of the Newtown High School field hockey team, is confident her lineup has the right mix and match — to go along with its talent and experience — to make this a successful campaign both in the South-West Conference and in state competition. "We have a lot of strong athletes this year. We have a handful [of] returners and several newcomers; however, our newcomers have had ample experience on the varsity field.

Newtown High School's football team kicks off the season with the goal to be competitive each week and find success through a mix of returning talent on defense and some returnees and newcomers at other positions, along with having its three pillars in alignment. Attitude, communication, and physicality are essential for the team's success, Coach Dan Farina said.

First responders often put their lives on the line to help people on what is most likely “the worst day of their lives.” Here in Newtown, a lot of these first responders are volunteers. Dr Joanna Rosen, PsyD, is one of the Fairfield County Trauma Response Team (FCTRT) members and a Newtown resident. Rosen is a licensed clinical psychologist with a specialization in trauma and owns a “two-fold” practice in town.

Teams often have challenges to overcome, sometimes from the start with newcomers stepping into starting roles, for example. Newtown High School's girls' volleyball team faces not only the loss of four starters to graduation but significant voids left by more regular players as injuries have sidelined, among others, starter Cassie Pickering (torn ACL, out for the season).

HARTFORD — The Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH) announced the first human case of West Nile Virus (WNV)-associated illness identified in a Connecticut resident this season on Thursday, August 27. The case is a male resident of Middlesex County and is between 30-39 years of age. He became ill during the first week of August with WNV infection, was hospitalized, and has since recovered. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of antibodies to WNV.

On Saturday, September 19, from 10:15 am-3:30 pm (with a short lunch break), The Society of Creative Arts of Newtown will host “Still Life Painting,” a workshop with Sarena Johnson. The program will be at Art & Frame, 77 Main Street. Cost is $100 per person ($75 SCAN members), and registration is required.

Newtown's longstanding end-of-summer celebration, the Labor Day Parade, will return on Monday, September 7. Leading the celebration this year will be Grand Marshal and longtime Newtown resident Bill Glass.

Protect Our Pollinators (POP), a local nonprofit organization devoted to the conservation of pollinators and their habitats, will host a native plant sale on Saturday, September 12, 9 am to noon, rain or shine, on the front lawn of C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street. Available will be a large variety of native plants that were primarily planted and tended by POP members using the winter sowing method and local sourcing. Native plants play a key role in ecosystems.

ETH Drive-In: "How to Train Your Dragon" September 04, 2026 at 08:00 pm Start Time: 8:00 pm || End Time: 11:00 PM Edmond Town Hall, 45 Main Street. $20 per carload Edmond Town Hall drive-in season continues with screening of 2025 adventure/fantasy How to Train Your Dragon starring Mason Thames, Nico Parker, and Gerard Butler, et al, rated PG, official start times will be posted to social media; 203-270-4285, edmondtownhall.org. Category

To The Editor: It is my pleasure to endorse Mitch Bolinsky for re-election to the CT State Legislative District 106 from Newtown. As a long-time resident of Newtown, I have taken note of Mitch’s contributions to Newtown as our state representative. He has affordability at top of mind, never raising taxes, imposing tolls, or relinquishing control of Newtown’s zoning laws and public education.