Date: Fri 10-Nov-1995

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: SHANNO

Illustration: C

Location: A-10

Quick Words:

Small-Wisdom-wine-spirits

Full Text:

Sips & Swallows From Around The Wine World

STD HEAD: WINE WISDOM

By Steve Small

Ultra-premium wines and spirits are becoming more and more prevalent behind

the bar and on store shelves. New bourbons, scotches and tequilas are being

found in large quantities at equally large prices. If you are prepared to pay

$30 and up for these high-end spirits, you can expect more complex flavors.

Anyone who recalls drinking shots of bourbon or tequila in their younger days

will be surprised at the high quality of these spirits.

If you fancy wine over spirits, you have a new avenue for splurging on wines.

Due to a change in New York law, wine auctions are now legal and ongoing. If

you are a Baby Boomer looking for wine from your birth year, these auctions

are a good way to find it. Do not expect to get it cheaply, however. Most of

the wines being auctioned are the world's best and there are no secrets. If

you are willing to pay for the best, you now have another avenue for acquiring

it.

Fruit-flavored beers seem to be the latest rage in the microbrew world. Taking

their inspiration from Belgian fruit beers, we now have Black Dog Honey

Raspberry, Sam Adams Cranberry Lambic, Oregon Raspberry Wheat, and Rogue n'

Berry. Each beer is different. Some remind me of black cherry soda, while

others are hearty beers with just a hint of fruit flavors.

In addition to fruit beers, microbreweries are also making a large number of

seasonal beers. These beers are available for short periods of time in the

tradition of German Oktoberfest beers. They give the breweries a chance to

stray from their usual styles and are a lot of fun to try.

I have recently had the opportunity to taste some very expensive wines and

champagnes. A few wines stood out in spite of the fact that many of their

counterparts sell for much more. Jordan "J" is a sparkling wine from

California that sells for about $25 to $30 a bottle. It is rich, flavorful and

to me, about as good as it gets.

Guigal's 1990 Chateauneuf du Pape also sells for about $25. It is rich,

complex and a prime example of great winemaking in a great vintage.

Finally, Rosemount's 1992 Balmoral Syrah is like drinking liquid velvet. It is

so smooth, it just leaves you wanting more and more.

Steve Small is the proprietor of Steve's Liquor Store, in Ricky's Shopping

Center on Route 25/Main Street South in Newtown.

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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 10-Nov-1995

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