Date: Fri 18-Aug-1995

By KIM HARMON

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: KIMH

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Justin-Pease-Soccer-Holland

Full Text:

Justin Pease Plays Soccer In Holland

B Y K IM J. H ARMON

Justin Pease of Newtown was more than 5,000 miles away from home when he

scored one of the more memorable goals of his soccer career.

Pease, 15, who will be entering his sophomore year at Newtown High School this

fall, traveled to Holland and Germany earlier this month with the Oakwood

15-and-under Premier Soccer Club to enjoy a little soccer competition among

nations. The main attraction, the first week, was Holland's Haarlem Cup,

featuring teams from all across the globe in a World Cup-like atmosphere, in

the second week Oakwood met up with two club teams and the German national

youth championship team.

It was there, in Cologne, Germany, that Justin scored the only goal in

Oakwood's 1-0 victory over Cologne.

" That was the best game we had, " Justin said. " and we beat them on my goal,

so I was real happy about that (second half goal). "

The Haarlem Cup was played the week before, with Oakwood performing well

enough in the first stage of the tournament to advance on to second stage,

against the best competition in the Cup.

But although Oakwood finished second in the second stage, the team was not

able to advance.

" Our team played a lot like the clubs over there, " said Justin. " We play a

control game, play possession, while a lot of teams in America just kick it

downfield and go after it. "

In the wake of the Haarlem Cup, Oakwood met up with two youth teams which

operate under the guidance of professional club teams, but what the visiting

American's expected and what they got were worlds apart.

" We were thinking we were going to get, like, crushed and learn something

from them, " said Justin, " but we didn't - we won 7-0 and 9-0 in the first

two games. "

It was a pretty successful trip for Justin, meaning soccer and otherwise. He

had a chance to participate in a penalty-kick exhibition and had a chance to

take a look at Amsterdam.

" It was a little different, " Justin said of his first trip of the country. "

Everything looked like it was ten years behind America, but it was really

nice. "

Premier Player

Justin, who has been playing youth soccer for years, joined up with the

Oakwood program Ã which draws players from all across the state Ã four years

ago, with the 11-and-under team. His dad heard about the club and brought

Justin down for a tryout.

Justin made the team and has been there ever since, traveling down to the

Glastonbury area - better than one hour away - two or three times a week,

almost year round, for practices and games.

Playing with Oakwood, Justin has been to Virginia twice, to Niagara Falls and

to New Jersey, but the trip to Holland was the first major excursion he has

been involved with.

As a freshman at Newtown High School last year, Justin played with the junior

varsity team and made a brief appearance on the varsity level at the end of

the 1994 campaign.

His recent trip overseas might have given him a head start on the 1995 season

and his chance to contribute to the varsity program, but Justin has been

recovering from a ankle tendon injury he suffered over the winter.

Nevertheless, with some solid summer soccer experience and a trip to Holland

behind him, Justin Pease is ready for the next season.

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 18-Aug-1995

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