A Go-To Guy

By CURT CLARK

Published: Mar 16, 2007 12:00 am

A Go-To Guy

To the Editor:

I am writing to thank your newspaper and your reporter, Nancy Crevier, for the wonderful article recognizing the recent retirement of my good friend, Dr Henry Gellert! It would be impossible to name all of the many contributions Dr Gellert has made to Newtown and the surrounding communities over the last 30 years or so. He is well known for his generous support of all activities of the youth in the community. What isnât so well known is the fact that he could always be counted on to support the many adult activities of the community as well!

Want to have a parade? He is your guy! Want to have a community fundraiser? He is your guy! Need a substantial financial contribution for a local project? He has been the âgo-to guyâ in Newtown, since he became a resident there in the middle 70s! Those of us lucky enough to have been touched by this man, know how giving he has been of his time, his talents, and his financial support. I do not recall one instance where a request for help at any level has been refused by Dr Gellert. Even the exterior of his office building has become recognized as the community billboard! The space was often utilized to announce various sporting events or other worthwhile community activities to passersby. Dr Gellertâs charitable giving of his time, his talents. and his money has been an excellent example for us all to follow!

All of the kudos offered above are well deserved and tell the reader a lot about Dr Henry Gellert! However, the reason I am writing and what I really want the community to know about this wonderful man and great friend is something that they would certainly never learn from him. Newtown is recognized as a somewhat affluent community. However, there are citizens living in Newtown who are struggling to meet the financial obligations associated with the cost living in this expensive area of Fairfield County. Dr Gellert spent his career providing his professional services to that struggling faction of the community, at little and often no cost, so that those in need of orthodonture treatment were never denied that benefit.

Enjoy your retirement Hank! You have brought the âPerfect Smileâ to more than just your patients! All of Newtown is indebted to you for having done so in such a wonderfully selfless way!

Your Friend for Life!

Jack Corbitt

133 North Pompano Beach Blvd, #1411

Pompano Beach, FL 33062 Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â March 9, 2007

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Yes, elections have consequences — Democrats lost. Now it’s time to deal with it instead of trying to turn every local race into a national political drama. Dragging “Project 2025” into a Newtown election is a stretch that borders on absurd. Our local government isn’t deciding national policy — it’s fixing roads, managing budgets, and keeping taxes reasonable. If you think Washington politics are running Town Hall, you haven’t been paying attention. Jeff Capeci and the local Republican team are focused on what actually matters here at home: fiscal responsibility, public safety, and smart development. That’s the kind of leadership Newtown needs — not scare tactics and conspiracy-laced talking points pulled from cable news.

Elections Have Consequences XVII

I’m not sure the author of that letter was actually at the debate, because she seems to have missed the portion near the end when Bruce Walczak couldn’t explain (remember?) how the town pays for its roads. That moment was uncomfortable to watch — and it underscored exactly why experience in town government matters. Jeff Capeci didn’t rely on “pat answers”; he relied on facts. His understanding of how Newtown operates — how projects are funded and how to actually get things done — comes from years of hands-on service, not theory or guesswork. And let’s be honest: it’s not a bad thing that Jeff Capeci was “practiced.” I want someone who prepares for a debate, who does their homework, and who takes the role of First Selectman seriously enough to be ready. Winging it might sound authentic, but it’s not leadership. At several points, Bruce struggled to follow along. He had to have a question repeated because he couldn’t hear, and at yet another point Jeff had to ask for clarification because no one could understand what Bruce was saying. It was clear he wasn’t answering the questions that were actually asked. It was shockingly reminiscent of a recent debate on the national stage.

After The Debate, I’m With Bruce

... he’s “not a politician.” That may sound appealing, but it’s a little disingenuous — Bruce has been trying to become one for the better part of twenty years. He’s run for local office multiple times, often under different party banners. That’s not the résumé of an outsider; that’s the record of someone who has been seeking political office for decades. Newtown voters deserve honesty. You can’t say you’re “not a politician” while campaigning for office year after year. Leadership isn’t about slogans — it’s about results, collaboration, and credibility.

It’s Time for Bold Change in Newtown

Open Letter to Dave Ackert. Mr. Ackert, you are a very angry and mean-spirited person who, in my recent memory, has never done anything but complain and has never shown anything but a one-dimensional uncompromising way of thinking. Want to change Newtown in a way you feel would be better? Then why don’t you RUN FOR OFFICE and stop hiding behind your ranting posts and letters and stop thinking that world revolves around you. Hating Trump (or Trump derangement Syndrome) HAS NOTHING to do with Newtown! Zero! I have talked with Democrats and “Never Trumpers” while out campaigning and knocking on doors that think critically and feel the same way. The Democrats have raised the taxes in Newtown to an unsustainable level and plan on making Newtown even more unaffordable in the future if they retain the majority. If you are not happy with how low (sarcastic) your taxes are? Vote for the Democrats. They will be more than happy to remedy that situation. They just passed a generational tax increase that if you read between the lines, essentially means if you don’t agree with the way they are stealing the innocence and charm out of Newtown, then leave. They have shown no regard to all the people that are struggling to pay their current taxes or rely upon the food pantry to put food on their table. At least the Republicans here in Newtown are dealing with real local issues and quite honestly have shown more common sense in the way the taxpayer’s money is spent. I think some of your arguments are valid, but I would like to see you use the intelligence God gave you in a more constructive way than just criticize. I am serious about you running for office. It would force you to see the big picture and maybe wield your influence in a more productive way.

Open Letter to Newtown’s Voting Majority

I appreciate your optimism about keeping national politics out of local government — we all want leaders who put Newtown first. But calling Paul a “centrist” just doesn’t match what we’ve seen. If you look at his comments online or watch the recent debate, Paul was the first to go negative and came across more like a national political candidate than a neighbor. That’s not the tone of someone trying to bring people together. Now, Paul is another story entirely. He’s honest, articulate, and clearly knows what he’s doing. Frankly, I think local Democrats would have been better off putting him at the top of their ticket.

I’m With Bruce And Paul

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A Go-To Guy

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