Date: Fri 08-May-1998

By KAAREN VALENTA

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

American-Dream-George-Hoti

Full Text:

George Hoti Honored Posthumously For His American Dream

(with photo)

BY KAAREN VALENTA

George Hoti was honored on May 1 as the epitome of the American Dream.

The Newtown restaurateur, who died of cancer in December 1997, barely escaped

from Communist Albania in the uprisings in 1961. He lived in a refuge camp in

Italy for two years before he could immigrate to the United States. When he

first came to America, unable to speak English, he worked as a dishwasher in a

White Tower restaurant, working his way up to manager.

Soon he moved on to management positions at Brooks Steak House in Stamford,

the Red Lobster, Victoria Station and the Nathan Hale restaurants. Then, in

1986, he opened his own restaurant, George's Pizza and Restaurant, on Route

302 in the Dodgingtown section of Newtown.

Last Friday his wife, Cely, accepted the American Dream Award on his behalf at

the Law Day ceremonies held by the Danbury Bar Association at the courthouse

in Danbury.

"George would be so proud -- he was a very proud man," Mrs Hoti said

afterward. "If he was still here, he'd put the award on the wall at the

restaurant and point it out to everyone who came in."

In conjunction with the theme if this year's Law Day, "Celebrate Your

Freedom," the bar association sought to honor an individual in the greater

Danbury area who had immigrated to the United States, became a naturalized US

citizen, and made a significant contribution to the community. Mr Hoti was an

active member of St Rose Church and was involved in local charities, including

adopting a family at Christmas. After a traffic accident killed a truck driver

on Route 302 near his restaurant in October 1996, Mr Hoti arranged for

additional public street lighting to be installed there and paid the ongoing

monthly electric bill out of his own pocket.

"George Hoti lived his life as the epitome of the American dream," said

immigration lawyer Cynthia R. Exner, who presented the award.

The plaque dedicated to George "Gjok" Hoti was presented to his wife along

with a proclamation from Gene Eriquez, the mayor of Danbury.

Another award given at the Law Day ceremonies was the Pro Bono award, which is

given to a lawyer who takes on work without charging a fee. Heidi G. Winslow,

a Newtown resident who practices in Danbury, received the award.

Attorney Dale Susan Galbo of Newtown was the Law Day chairman

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Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 08-May-1998

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