Life in Newtown, CT

Ice Cream in Newtown, CT - Updated May 2012  So last night, we were out with friends at Peachwave in Newtown.  It's the third time we've been to Peachwave and it's always packed there.  Peachwave, if you don't know it's a place to buy frozen yogurt.  It's a "do it yourself" place:  grab your cup, add your frozen yogurt and then your toppings.  Continue down the line to the scale & then pay for the tasty concoction you've made.  There's plenty of seating, but parking is a little limited.  Where is Peachwave?  It's located on Route 25 near the new Walgreens.

So, why all this Peachwave talk in this post?  It made us think about a blog we posted early on in our blogging career (way back in June 2009):  Ice Cream in Newtown, CT.  The information in this post is outdated now as for one, Cold Stone Creamery is no longer in Newtown.  Time to update!

In Newtown, there are 4 places you can go to for ice cream:

1. Ferris Acres Creamery: Located at 144 Sugar Street (Route 302), this is located on the Ferris family's farm. Sit outside at a table or bench & watch the cows while you eat your ice cream. Ice cream is made on site and specials are available daily.
2. Ice Cream Shop: Located at 51 Church Hill Road, this is the oldest ice cream shop to town. It's located next door to the Teen Center (the Garage) and is close to town. It has a large gravel parking lot & tables to sit out at. Service is always good and the ice cream is made on the premises.
3. Ice Cream Heaven:  Located at 10 Glen Road, Sandy Hook.  Ice Cream Heaven is an ice cream parlor which offers homemade ice cream treats seven days a week, including favorites such as vanilla, strawberry and chocolate.
4. Peachwave:  Located at 48 South Main Street, Newtown.  Frozen yogurt (some non-fat & some no sugar) and of course, the toppings.  We decided to include Peachwave as it's ice cream like.

Arrive early - lines can get long. Try a different flavor every time you eat ice cream at one of these places. Say hello to everyone from town that you see.  Ice cream in Newtown, CT is fun!

Bob & Richelle Ward, Realtors, ABR
Prudential Connecticut Realty
www.connecticuthomesforsale.com
Cell - (203) 470-9818

Handmade Rooster or a Fish  As you drive around Newtown, CT, you'll see the town's symbol in many places:  On top of a church spire, on some of the town's street signs and on other signs around town.  What, you may ask, is Newtown's symbol?  It is a rooster!

We have a friend whose high school son is hand making rooster silhouettes and selling them to make money for a trip this summer after he graduates from high school.

The roosters are painted with exterior grade paint and available in 3 colors:  maroon, green and black.  If you'd like a custom color, he's open to it.  Large roosters are $30.00/each, medium sized roosters are $25.00.  He's working on a smaller size and also has fish silhouettes now available for sale.

These roosters would look great hanging on the side of a barn, shed, garage, or a large open space on the outside of your home.  A rooster would make a great gift and a nice remembrance of Newtown. 

If you'd like to purchase a handmade rooster or a fish, email us at rward@prudentialct.com

Bob & Richelle Ward, Realtors, ABR
Prudential Connecticut Realty
www.connecticuthomesforsale.com
Cell - (203) 470-9818

60 Bennetts Bridge Road, Newtown, CT was LISTED FOR SALE by BOB & RICHELLE WARD, Realtors, ABR

• List Price: $469,900
• 4 Bedrooms, 2.5 Bathroom
• 3,016 Square Feet
• 4.07 Acre

Privacy and Tranquility Cross over the bridge to both privacy and tranquility. Trout stream. 4+ acres. Hardwood floors are in the Foyer, Living Room & Dining Room. Family Room features a vaulted ceiling, fireplace, skylights & beams. Master bedroom suite has a walk in closet, whirlpool bathroom and a separate shower stall. Walk up attic and a Bonus Room over the garage. Large working kitchen. Central A/C. Central vacuum. Front porch with a swing.   Click on for more information about 160 Bennetts Bridge Road, Newtown, CT. 

Bob & Richelle Ward, Realtors, ABR
Prudential Connecticut Realty
www.connecticuthomesforsale.com
Cell - (203) 470-9818

Dogs, Horses and Fish - Oh My!  Last weekend, the weather was unseasonably warm.  Riley, the Real Estate Dog, and Richelle went for a walk here in Newtown.  One of their favorite places to go is over behind the Governor's Horse Guard which is part of the old Fairfield Hills complex.  There is a poorly paved road that goes down the hill past where the new Newtown Dog Pound is being built.  It leads to 2 large fields - one has a path around its perimeter with side bordered by Deep Brook which is a Class 1 Wild Trout Stream.  It's a very scenic walk and to be out walking there last weekend was a real treat.

Richelle took a few photos:

So, what is a Class 1 Wild Trout Stream anyway?  Class 1 means that there is abundant wild trout and that it's not stocked.  There are a few restrictions at Deep Brook - it's a catch & release only and Barbless single-hook artificial lures and flies only are the only methods allowed.

Here are a few more photos:

Dogs, Horses and Fish - Oh My!  There they all were right there in the field behind the Governor's Horse Guard in Newtown, CT!

Bob & Richelle Ward, Realtors, ABR
Prudential Connecticut Realty
www.connecticuthomesforsale.com
Cell - (203) 470-9818

Newtown, CT Beautiful Baby Photo Contest Giavanna Dentice, 8 months, was the first baby entered in this year's Beautiful Baby Photo Contest. She is held by her mom, Mary Dentice, in front of the Voting Booth with her entry photo in the #1 slot.  This contest is an annual fundraiser for Homes For Our Troops (HFOT), a non-profit that builds handicap housing for severely disabled young military personnel at no charge to the soldier.

Contestants are being soughtnow for this friendly competition, which begins at the Sandy Hook Firehouse's Lobsterfest on June 8th & 9th, and then travels to Stop & Shop, Sand Hill Plaza for 2 weeks.  The child need not live in Newtown.  The child whose photo raises the most amount of money for HFOT gets their photo published in the Newtown Bee, a Family Fun prize basket, and ride as the Beautiful Baby Winner in Newtown’s Labor Day Parade in a chauffeur driven convertible provided by Mercedes Benz of Danbury.

To enter your child's photo (newborn - 4 years old), send a non-returnable 4"x4" or wallet photo, with the child's name and contact phone # written clearly on the back, and a $10 check made payable to "Homes for Our Troops" to Beautiful Baby; C/O Lois Barber; 33 Zoar Road; Sandy Hook, CT 06482

For more information about the Beautiful Baby Photo Contest either call Lois Barber at 203 270-8017 or email.

Bob & Richelle Ward, Realtors, ABR
Prudential Connecticut Realty
www.connecticuthomesforsale.com
Cell - (203) 470-9818

Newtown, CT Tax Assessor's Office  As Realtors, we venture into the Newtown, CT Tax Asessor's Office often.    They are located in the Fairfield Hills complex at 4 Primrose Lane, Newtown, which is centrally located.

The Newtown, CT Tax Assessor's Office is a scary place to many, but not to us!  We find that Chris, Penny, Andrea and Mindy are all nice people and always ready to help us.  So, you may be asking yourself, why are the Wards at the Newtown, CT Tax Asessor's Office so often?  The following is just a few reasons:

1. We stop by to pick up a field card for properties we are going to list for sale.  We typically pick up a field card before we go to speak with a potential seller for the first time.
2. We also pick up copies of the GIS map for properties.  Although the GIS map is not exactly 100% accurate in showing property lines, it is generally a very good representation of them.
3. When we find an error on the field card versus what is actually at the house, we report it to the Newtown, CT Tax Assessor's Office so they can correct the mistake (with the owner's permission, of course).

There is a lot of useful information on their website.  There are downloadable forms, maps, field cards, motor vehicle information to name a few.

So, if you need to go to the Newtown, CT Tax Assessor's Office, don't be afraid.  They'll help you get the information you need and then you can be on your way.  And if you see us there, don't hesitate to say "Hello!" to us.

Bob & Richelle Ward, Realtors, ABR
Prudential Connecticut Realty
www.connecticuthomesforsale.com
Cell - (203) 470-9818

Kent Falls State Park, Kent, CT  We don't normally post about things outside of Newtown, but Kent Falls State Park is so special, we just couldn't resist.

Yesterday, while on the way back from looking a foreclosure property in Falls Village, we stopped at Kent Falls State Park.  It'd been awhile since we'd been there and we'd forgotten how special it is.  Kent Falls State Park is nestled in the northern end of Kent, CT, just below Cornwall on Route 7.  Kent Falls State Park is approximately 40 minutes north of Newtown.

When you arrive to the park, you see a small wooden sign at the entrance and then you pass the guard booth on the way into the parking lot.  The covered bridge over the stream brings you to the walkway that leads directly to the lower part of the falls.  There are numerous picnic tables and BBQ pits along the way and a large grassy field, too.  Alongside the falls, are stone steps that lead upward to a couple of promenades adjacent to the falls.  We understand that further up there is a trail system, but we haven't seen it.

Here are some photos for you to enjoy.

Beautiful, isn't it? If you're interested in a not so far away day trip from Newtown, give Kent Falls State Park a try.  And shop the stores or get something to eat in downtown Kent on your way home.

Bob & Richelle Ward, Realtors, ABR
Prudential Connecticut Realty
www.connecticuthomesforsale.com
Cell - (203) 470-9818

How is Buying a Home Like Running a Marathon?  Let us count the ways!  It's amazing how two such diverse activities can follow a similiar cycle of emotions.  Here's how we see it:

• When you first start your home search or your marathon, you experience a sense of excitement
• Next, you're working toward your goal (finding the right home or finishing your race) - setting your pace
• Somewhere along the way, you start to feel restless
• Then you begin to doubt that your goal is achievable
• Your mindset changes and hope begins to shine through again
• Finally, success is in sight
• Lastly, you cross the finish line - new home purchased or marathon finished.

It sounds kind of corny and perhaps, it is.  But think about it.  This cycle of emotions holds true for most goals we work towards.  They don't necessarily follow the order of emotions laid out above and some of them may repeat - like in a loop.  In the end, if you don't let the pressure or self doubt keep you from accomplishing your task, you'll cross the finish the line.

So, buying a home is like running a marathon.  Go the distance.  Stay the course.  Ready, set, go!

Feel free to email us if you are interested in purchasing a home in the Greater Danbury, CT area (Danbury, Bethel, Newtown, Brookfield, New Fairfield, New Milford, Candlewood Lake, Lake Zoar, Lake Lillinonah).

Bob & Richelle Ward, Realtors, ABR
Prudential Connecticut Realty
www.connecticuthomesforsale.com
Cell - (203) 470-9818