Date: Fri 19-Apr-1996

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Glorydays-April-19-1996

Full Text:

Glorydays - April 19, 1996

This week in 1991

Newtown High sophomores Amy Beer and Maureen McGovern each collected a pair of

first places and joined forces to win the mile relay as the NHS girls' track

team beat Weston 75-53 in its season opener. Beer opened some eyes around the

WCC when she ran the high hurdles in 16.25 (breaking the school record in the

event) and then turned in a time of 1:07.01 in the 400 meters. McGovern won

both the 800 and 1600 meters for the Lady Indians. Other NHS girls to win

events were Kim Haggerty (3,000 meters) and Becky Young (javelin and shot

put).

This week in 1986

The Newtown High softball team staged an unbelievable comeback as it spotted

Masuk an 11-0 lead and rallied to win 13-12 after a five-run seventh inning.

Chris Weatherup, who allowed seven runs in the first inning pitching for

Newtown, collected seven RBI with a single, double, and triple to lead the

offense in the comeback. Joy Liggins pitched the final six innings to pocket

the victory.

This week in 1981

NHS junior Billy Nicholson ripped a home run and drove in five runs as the

baseball team pasted Masuk, 17-6, for its first win of the young season. Greg

Schultz banged a three-run double in the game for the Indians as well, while

Gino Estores, Rich Dexter, and Ed Kayfus all collected three hits. Pete Weaver

was the winning pitcher in the game.

This week in 1976

The Newtown Parks and Recreation Volleyball championship took an impressive

third-game rally to decide. Willis' Wingers defeated Shpunt's Spikers 15-5 in

the first game but lost the second, 16-14. Trailing 10-4 in the deciding game,

the Wingers - who were 16-3 on the season - mounted a brilliant comeback to

win the final contest 15-13. The champs included Tom Judge, Bob Weisel, Chuck

Warren, Jack Beardsworth, Bill Wiggins, Bill Willis, Ron Goodridge, Scott

Cross, and Dave Dorrow.

This week in 1971

The Newtown High boys' tennis team zipped Masuk and Weston by 5-0 ledgers as

singles players Charlie Jacobi, Gary Leavitt, and Paul Miles swept their

respective matches as did the NHS doubles tandems of Larry Dieringer and Steve

Gleason and Rich Schoen and Carl Berquist. The victories helped the team to a

4-0 start.

This week in 1966

A list was posted on the NHS gymnasium wall listing the names of the girls who

had been selected for next fall's varsity cheerleading team. Competition was

keen for the limited slots with Debbie Wheeler, Kathy Hopkins, Ellen Hoffer,

Paula Sedor, Barb Messner, Gail Monroe, Leslie Stillsen, Wendy Hazen, Gail

Peeler, and Joan Andrasko winning out.

This week in 1961

Newtown High's school newspaper, The Queen Street Journal, took top honors in

the First Annual High School Journalism Workshop, conducted by The Waterbury

Republican American and the University of Bridgeport Department of Journalism.

A two-volume set of Encyclopedia Britannica was sent to the NHS library as

first prize. Adviser, Dolores Campbell said that the paper received the

highest ratings in all six categories judged. The editorial staff included

editor in chief, Cynthia Andrews, Brenda Somogie, Dianne Siren, Helen Chimel,

Myron Clark, Vivi Correa, Terry Madsen, and Peter Dees.

This week in 1956

Four members of the Newtown High School senior class - Ruth Bevins, Joan

Rumble, Patricia Matzelli, and Edgar Beers - were accepted for admission at

the Teachers College of New Britain. Other NHS acceptances included Fred Seman

(UConn), Carol Jansen (University of Miami), Sam Newman (University of

Alabama), Dave Carmody (Providence College), and Bob Ryan (Valpariso Technical

Institute).

This week in 1951

The boys' SAC of Sandy Hook will be showing moving pictures of the Oklahoma/

Kentucky Sugar Bowl Game, played on New Year's Day, courtesy of the New

Orleans Mid-Winter Sports Association. The unusual pictures will be shown at

the Edmond Town Hall gymnasium, free of charge, as Walter Los has generously

offered to run the moving picture machine.

Nighthawk Track And Field Teams Host Meet

New Heights Vacation Bible School Returning

Next HRRA Household Hazardous Waste Drop-Off Event Scheduled In Newtown

Genealogy Club's Next Program To Dig Into 'Dissecting A Civil War Pension Record'

Choral Society Planning ‘Voices Of America’ Performance

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.

<< May 2026 >>
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
26	27	28	29	30	1	2
3	4	5	6	7	8	9
10	11	12	13	14	15	16
17	18	19	20	21	22	23
24	25	26	27	28	29	30
31	1	2	3	4	5	6

Log In

Date: Fri 19-Apr-1996

Leave a Reply Cancel reply