Date: Fri 08-Sep-1995

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Boys-Soccer-Preview-1995

Full Text:

Boys' Soccer Preview 1995

Back for his 14th season as head coach of the Newtown High School boys' soccer

team, Larry Ashmore considers the upcoming season to be " a great big question

mark. "

Last season's Indians were 9-7-1, missing the WCC playoffs and advancing one

round into the state tournament. The team scored a lackluster total of 27

goals in those 17 games, getting the job done, obviously, with defense.

The 1995 team, though, will be without the services of All-WCC and All-State

sweeper Greg Gallagher (who led the team with six goals), All-Briggs

midfielders Jeff Christner and Jonas Nahoum, and All-Briggs fullback John

Memoli as well as starters Chris Murphy, Joey Youngs, John Dansdill, and

goalie Matt Miller - all of whom graduated.

Returning to lead this year's squad will be senior tri-captains Brian Wassman,

Jamal Stockton, and Mike Storms who will be Ashmore's only returning seniors.

" We're going to have a big question mark on offense, and a big question mark

on defense, " coach Ashmore said.

The defense will be young and inexperienced. Starting in the goal, where

Ashmore will more than likely alternate two sophomores. Ryan Loring and Matt

Burns will be the two-headed NHS goalie, Loring offering size and strength and

Burns possessing speed and quickness.

" I'm not sure yet, how I'm going to use those two, " Ashmore said. " They're

both dedicated and so enthusiastic, and its great to see that. "

Moving into the sweeper role will be senior tri-cap, Mike Storms. Storms

emerged as a strong defensive player at the end of last season and will

subsequently take on the duties of leading this fall's defensive unit.

Starting in the middle of the defense along with Storms will be junior

varsity-newcomer, Adam Winner. Coach Ashmore sees Storms and Winner perhaps

alternating between sweeper and stopper during the season.

Back with some defensive experience is junior Matt Schieffer who saw time last

season on both the defense and at midfield. Senior first-year player Erik

Reisterer may yet earn a starting fullback position as may senior Kevin

Fitzgerald. This season's midfield will be led by two of Newtown's

most-promising players in senior Jamal Stockton and junior David Miller. The

two, both returning starters, combined for only five goals during all of last

season but the one year of experience along with the extensive summer training

programs that both endured have shown up on the field this preseason.

Starting up front for the Indians will be senior Brian Wassman. Wassman led

the team in

scoring as a sophomore, but scored only one goal last season before

voluntarily moving back on defense.

" Wass wants to move up front again and we're going to put him there, " said

Ashmore. " He has excellent speed and a good nose for the ball. The problem

last year was that we couldn't get him the ball. This year we'll get him the

ball. "

The only other experienced goal scorer coming back this season will be

sophomore Reid Warner. Warner scored three goals as a freshman (tied for

second on the team) and Ashmore hopes that the one year of varsity play will

benefit his sophomore.

" The whole starting team I don't know yet, " Ashmore explained. " We have

some talented kids out here, but a lot of them are small. "

The coach plans on using the remainder of the preseason to scrimmage and

decide his lineup from performances there.

Some of he newcomers vying for positions are Justin Pease, Andrew Nathanson,

Steve Brookes, Mike Messemer, Brook Rypka, Rob Anders, Max Bajracharia, and

exchange student Anders Bakken.

Newtown will open its first South-West Conference season on September 13, at

home against Masuk. The Indians, who played their home games at Treadwell Park

last season will play all 1995 home games on the high school field.

Ashmore expects his team to see its primary competition coming from Masuk,

Bethel, and Pomperaug, from the old conference, and from newcomers Jonathan

Law and Kolbe. And of course Ashmore never rules out Joel Barlow and last

year's National High School Coach of the Year, Jimmy Dolan.

Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

Top Of The Mountain

Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Saturday

Full Slate Of May Programs Planned By Flagpole Photographers

Girls' Golfers Take On Notre Dame, Immaculate, And Masuk

The editorial took no position on the budget going up or down so you're reading things into the editorial that simply aren't there. The turnout is tied to the lack of passage, in that people who came out to vote last time did not this time, indicating a lack of support on their part. Perhaps it wasn't spelled out clearly enough, but that's what the editorial was driving at, people showing lack of support by not casting a vote. The editorial did address likely concerns among voters that may have led to lack of support and lack of turnout. This lower turnout also follows increasing turnout over the past four referendums in three years (meaning it is an aberration from that), and increased turnout is something that I do push for regularly in editorials. Any disappointment you might be seeing is at the break in that trend, not at whether the budget passed or not. I'd rather see more people come out and vote "no" then not vote at all.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

Clearly, property owners no longer want to bear the burden of expenses while the state does not meet it’s responsibilities. Rising costs must be addressed by actions that do not include yearly increases of property owners’ taxes. The state of CT must meet its share of the educational costs, and other costs.

Town And School Budgets Fail At Referendum

This feels like an oddly misleading headline and narrative, particularly coming from the Editorial Board. The headline "Lower Turnout Results in Two Budget Defeats" pushes a misleading narrative regarding voter turnout, and then seeks to tie the outcome of the referendum to that misleading narrative. Sure, voter turn out for this year's referendum, 18%, was lower than last year's. However, last year's turnout, 25.4%, represented the highest turnout in the most recent 10 budget referendums. If you take the time to examine turnout percentages between 2017 and 2026 (2017: 19.9, 2018: 15.7, 2019: 17, 2020: 0, 2021: 8.98, 2022: 7.7, 2023: 8.8, 2024: 15.1/17.49, 2025: 25.4, 2026: 18), this year's turnout was actually the third highest in the past 10 cycles. Perhaps the headline of this article should say "Lower Voter Turnout Than Last Year", which is more accurate, rather than creating an impression that this year's turnout is some type of aberration - a narrative that the turnout numbers, in all their binary glory, simply do not support. Further, the headline of this article appears to tie the "lower turnout" to the defeated budgets. Sure, that could be true. But, perhaps, its more likely that Newtown residents are feeling the squeeze of multiple economic influences. In Newtown, we've experienced property revaluations and increased municipal spending. Eversource continues to raise rates. The state legislature gives PURA the authority to impose Public Benefit charges that benefit a tiny percentage of the public (and subsequently burdening the rest of us). At the national level, inflation has run rampant for years and many of those costs remain high to this day. In short, the data tells a far less dramatic—and far more honest—story than the headline suggests. This wasn’t an electorate vanishing in apathy; it was a fairly typical turnout delivering an verdict that, perhaps, some at the Editorial Board didn't like. At some point, it’s worth considering that residents aren’t confused, disengaged, or misled by turnout; they’re simply doing math at their kitchen tables and concluding that “no” is the only responsible answer left.

Enjoyed the forum which only confirmed my support for Brandon Moore as the Democratic candidate to run for the state representative position. Brandon Moore did not waiver about his duty to all the people, if elected, when an issue presents itself that requires that he voice a difference of opinion for the wellbeing of Newtown residents. If Michelle Ku’s 16 years have led to her loyalty being to other elected officials, as she implied, then Newtown is going to continue to witness actions that do not protect its residents. She could not unseat republican, Mitch Bolinsky, during a Blue Wave, and once again, will not do it now. Winning that seat is critical for all. That explains why her previous campaign committee now campaigns for Brandon Moore. It explains all the endorsements he has received from local elected democratic officials. It’s why we need Brandon Moore to be the democratic candidate to run for state representative.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Appreciated the opportunity to hear from both candidates as we were present for the College Dems forum but only heard from Brandon Moore. It was an opportunity to see who can unseat the Republican incumbent and there is no doubt that Brandon Moore should be the Democratic candidate. One concerned parent posed a question about discrimination unaddressed by the school district and interestingly enough, Michelle Ku, who proudly speaks of her Board membership years, said little, while Brandon Moore passionately addressed the issue along with his experience as an Apache Helicopter Commander. This family is supporting Brandon Moore. We need change and someone who is not afraid to disagree, especially about the rising costs of living in Newtown.

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Date: Fri 08-Sep-1995

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