Join The Adventure

By MARY KENNEDY

Published: May 15, 2001 12:00 am

Join The Adventure

Hosting a high school exchange student in August is bringing the world to your doorstep.

We are seeking families of all types, from retired couples to single parent families. Not only two parent families have enjoyed hosting an international son or daughter.

Students arrive the first or second week of August with their own spending money for clothes, entertainment, and other expenses. They have their own medical insurance as well.

Host families agree to room and board and to include them as a family member. We have one semester as well as academic school year students. All students speak English.

For more information, please call Foundation for Intercultural Travel, Maryann, toll free at 877-439-7862.

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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.

Responds To Walczak

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.

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Mr. Leonardi should read my email again . I was referring to the LC republicans who all voted against the BOE budget.

Responds To Walczak

I disagree. While I understand that many local Democrats are eager for a shift, now is not the time to hand over the town’s leadership to an untested and inexperienced candidate. Newtown faces real challenges — from infrastructure to responsible development — and those require steady, proven leadership, not someone still learning what the job entails. Experience matters. We have a seasoned First Selectman who has demonstrated the ability to manage complex projects, balance competing priorities, and keep the town moving forward with stability and accountability. The Democratic candidate’s only record of political leadership is a series of unsuccessful campaigns — in 2009, 2020, and again in 2023. That’s not experience; that’s persistence without results. Newtown deserves a leader who has already shown the ability to lead, not one who is still trying to prove they can. At a time when we need consistency and competence, let’s not gamble the town’s future on inexperience. Let’s stay the course with a First Selectman who knows the job, understands the community, and continues to put Newtown first.

Change Begins With Local Elections

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