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Newtown PD Will Again Participate In Statewide Gun Buyback, Gun Safe Giveaway Event

Published: October 18, 2025 8:00 am

Police departments across the state plan to participate in the Fifth Annual #KeepKidsSafe Connecticut Statewide Gun Buyback and Gun Safe Giveaway Day, returning this year on Saturday, November 1.

Rotary Club Formally Unveils Peace Pole At Fairfield Hills Campus

Published: October 18, 2025 7:30 am

Newtown Rotary Club recently installed a Peace Pole at Fairfield Hills Campus and dedicated it to Newtown as a show of peace and unity.

‘Standardize Our Fleet’: Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Acquired New Rig

By Sam Cross

Published: October 17, 2025 7:30 am

Newtown Volunteer Ambulance Corps has a new ambulance in its fleet.

Relatively ‘Smooth Sailing’ For Newtown After Nor’Easter

By Jenna Visca

Updated: October 17, 2025 8:15 am

A nor’easter anticipated to cause several inches of rain and strong winds ended up not causing significant issues when it blew through Newtown this past weekend.

Friends of the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial, Inc Announce Formation, First Community Engagement Opportunity

Published: October 17, 2025 7:00 am

Friends of the Sandy Hook Permanent Memorial, Inc, a newly formed Connecticut non-profit organization, is proud to announce its official establishment and the first opportunity for the public to assist its members.

Candidate Profiles, Part One: BOE, Board Of Finance, Board Of Selectmen, First Selectman, Police Commission, Town Clerk, Zoning Board Of Appeals, ZBA Alternates

Updated: October 17, 2025 12:25 pm

The first half of candidate profiles running in the local election on Tuesday, November 4.

Selectmen Approve Town Side Of Capital Plan

By Jim Taylor

Published: October 14, 2025 12:00 am

The Board of Selectmen approved the Capital Improvement Plan with a single change from its initial presentation.

Fire Reports | October 1-8, 2025

Published: October 13, 2025 8:00 am

Fire reports for Wednesday, October 1-Wednesday, October 8, 2025.

Police Reports | September 23-October 6, 2025.

Published: October 13, 2025 7:00 am

Police reports for September 23 through October 6, 2025.

Board Of Education Continued CIP Talk, Strategic Plan, And More

By Sam Cross

Published: October 10, 2025 7:00 am

Board of Education continued discussion on the capital improvement plan as well as the strategic plan for the next three years.

Annual Fall Fair Promises Fun Day Out For The Whole Family

Hook & Ladder Hosted Open House

A Full House For Inaugural Designer Bag Bingo

Mr. Walczak’s reply is unfortunately emblematic of the political double-speak that frustrates so many residents. Rather than engaging on the substantive issues raised — namely, the balance between quality education and fiscal responsibility — he chose to deflect and assign partisan blame. It’s easy to grandstand about “supporting education.” It’s harder to make responsible decisions that keep Newtown affordable for everyone — families, seniors, and small businesses alike. That’s the work real public servants are doing, even when it’s not politically convenient.

Responds To Walczak

*Regardless, you should know that the Board of Education has the greatest influence on the education budgets that ultimately come before Board of Finance and LC.

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.

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

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