Local News
4| Friday, July 10, 2015
NEWINGTON TOWN CRIER
Extravaganza week kicks off July 13 By ERICA SCHMITT STAFF WRITER
NEWINGTON — Newington Parks and Recreation has a week of fun summer activities planned, culminating with the 34th Annual Extravaganza next Saturday, July 18. It all begins Monday, July 13, with Family Pool Float Night at Mill Pond Park Pool from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. This free event is for town residents only, who are invited to bring their own pool floats. On Wednesday, Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt will be at the pavilion in Mill Pond Park, providing free frozen treats at a Family TieDye Party. People can bring their own clothing items to tie-dye, and “I <3 Newington Extravaganza” T-shirts will be sold for $6 each. The Summer Carnival will kick off Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m., then continue Friday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The park will be trans-
Carnival rides at the Newington Extravaganza.
formed with carnival games, rides and food. Individual ride tickets can be purchased, and wristbands for unlimited rides will also be available.
Friday night will feature a local craft beer tasting and concert in the park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Two Roads Brewery, Half Full Brewery and Harpoon will be
on-site, and New England rock band In Deep will be playing classic rock music. Tickets are $25 at the door or $20 in advance at the Parks and Recreation office in
Town Hall, 131 Cedar St. The Extravaganza begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, with rides, games, food, arts and crafts and entertainment. Admission and parking are free. It all ends with the fireworks show at 9:30 p.m. over Mill Pond. The town’s new Parks and Recreation Director Bill DeMaio started the first Newington Extravaganza 34 years ago as a young supervisor with the department. He called it, “Life.BEInIt Extravaganza.” DeMaio went on to work for the New Britain Parks and Recreation Department several years later, where he served for 30 years. Last month, he was hired to lead Newington’s department. As a lifelong resident, DeMaio called his recent hire “coming full circle” and said he is excited for this year’s Extravaganza. “I’ll be fortunate enough to attend it again and be able to supervise it this year,” he said.
Local officials react to death of controversial transit bill
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included neighborhoods around CTfastrak stations at Newington Junction and Cedar Street. The original bill undermined local zoning authority, giving the state power to seize property within a half mile of stations by eminent domain. The town could be forced to build high-density housing there, argued opponents, who assembled on social media and made written statements to legislators. The Town Plan & Zoning Commission (TPZ) was informed of the bill by Vice Chair Carol Anest in March. On May 13, members voted to make legislators aware of their conflicting stance by mail. “The state shouldn’t drive us to develop what they think should be developed; it needs to be market-driven,” Anest said. On June 10, the TPZ passed a moratorium banning high-density housing around the two stations for one year, giving the town time to explore their development options. A plan-
ning consultant will be hired its zoning control. in the near future, and pub“Development, be it commerlic opinion will also be sought, cial or otherwise, should be an according to Anest. asset to the town in terms of “We don’t want to be rushed providing more tax revenue,” to make the right decisions,” she said Nagel, who was “relieved” said, adding that many residents the bill did not come up in favor mixed development in special session, which ended last both neighborhoods, including Wednesday. restaurants, shops and possibly a biomedical facility. As one of seven towns abutting Har tford, Newington already has the assistance of the Capital Region Development Authority, a body similar to the one proposed. Just TERRY BORJESON last year, the CRDA helped Newington town councilor the town acquire a $2 million grant to demolish the former National Welding propState Rep. Gary Byron, erty adjacent to the Cedar Street R-Newington, worked with felStation. Their assistance may low representatives to draft 12 also be used in future projects. amendments that would have Town Council Minority added hours of deliberations in Leader Dave Nagel said future a session that had already gone development should be “in into overtime. It was because the best interest of the town.” of this, Byron said, the bill was Fellow Republicans agreed that never called. H.B. 6851 stripped the town of “This is an example of democ-
racy truly working,” Byron said. “I’m proud to work for the entire 27th legislative district, and you clearly communicated your opposition to me about this bill. We put our noses to the grindstone and were successful.” Byron added that the bill could resurface during budget deliberations next year. “If that happens, I’ll do my best to stop it again,” he said. Proponents argued that while the legislation wasn’t likely to have any impact in Newington, it could have helped other towns who didn’t have their own development authorities. Town Councilor Terry Borjeson, a Democrat, spoke in its favor early in the year, drawing heavy criticism from residents. The controversy ultimately caused him to step down as majority leader. “I think the bill was very misunderstood and/or misrepresented by a lot of people,” Borjeson said this week. “It’s too
“I think the bill was very misunderstood and/or misrepresented by a lot of people. It’s too bad.”
bad. It’s a missed opportunity for a lot of towns to work collaboratively with the state.” The bill was also the reason why Councilor Clarke Castelle announced he wouldn’t be running for re-election this year. When Town Planner Craig Minor gave TPZ a presentation on the amended version, Castelle said, members voted to oppose it without any further discussion. This, along with the fact the General Assembly also failed to bring it up, disappointed him. “I think it’s unfortunate,” Castelle said. “A proper debate would’ve prompted its sponsors, or at least the lawyer at the Legislative Commissioners’ Office who wrote the drafts, to explain what they were trying to accomplish. Whether it passed or not, that debate would have given us all better information to base our opinions on.” Erica Schmitt can be reached at (860) 801-5097, or eschmitt@ newbritainherald.com.