Date: Fri 15-Sep-1995

By CURT CLARK

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: CURT

Quick Words:

Mountain-Dodgingtown-Ferris

Full Text:

Mountain for 9/15/95

Just about when the trees were getting ready to chase the dogs, it rained in

Newtown. It was grey and showery on Wednesday, and the weatherman promised

more of the same through the end of the week. I didn't see any gardeners

rejoicing, however. As rain goes, this week's offering seemed pretty meager

indeed. I'm surprised the farmer's market in Stony Hill is still offering big

ripe tomatoes each Saturday morning. I though they would have switched over to

sun-dried tomatoes by now.

Also, I don't believe I've seen a frog since early July. Where did they all

go? Did they hop on down to the mid-Atlantic states, where rain has been more

plentiful?

At least one species of green creature has stuck around this summer. Scaley

green iguanas took center stage recently when Bob Jones and his class at Green

Chimney School's iguana cage won the title of Grand Champion at the Putnam

County 4H Fair. This honor entitled them to exhibit at the Great New York

State Fair in Syracuse where they received an Excellent ribbon. The cage and

its inhabitants even travelled to Duracell for a day so the school sponsor

could see one of the projects made by the class. That's one condo I wouldn't

mind hanging out in - live tropical plants surround a waterfall where the four

iguanas live.

My friend Douglas Berendsohn can't wait for November to get here. He was

chosen to be a guard in Sleepers , and was already told he'll be in a football

scene. The film aficionado is a big fan of producer/director Barry Levinson.

So it will be well worth the vacation time he is taking to be in the flick.

Happy birthday to Louise (you know who you are).

The state Department of Transportation is sponsoring a spelling quiz in

Dodgingtown. On the approaches to this Newtown hamlet on Route 302, coming

from Newtown and coming from Bethel, the state has erected two signs, each

with a different spelling of Dodgingtown.

INSERT PHOTOS HERE

Perhaps the state DOT is trying to make amends for putting up those "Newton"

signs in the past. Having deprived the town of a "w" before, it is trying to

give us an extra "e" now, just to even things out.

This really has been a good year for Shirley Ferris. We all know about her

appointment this year as Commissioner of Agriculture for Connecticut, and then

Newtown honored her by making her the Grand Marshal of the Labor Day Parade.

But maybe you don't know that Shirley is one of 60 New Englanders profiled by

Yankee Magazine in its most recent issue. The profiles are designed to honor

people "who help make New England New England." Shirley sure fits the bill.

The profiles also features a terrific picture of Shirley in denims walking in

a field carrying a bucket. She's going to need something bigger than a bucket,

though, to carry all her honors this year.

I'm going to put my bucket out and try to catch some raindrops, and I suggest

you do the same. But get back here in time to...

Read me again.

The Way We Were

Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

Top Of The Mountain

Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Saturday

Full Slate Of May Programs Planned By Flagpole Photographers

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 15-Sep-1995

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