Date: Fri 19-Dec-1997

By DOROTHY EVANS

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

snapshot-Al-Doceti

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT: AL DOCETI

Occupation: Owner, The Chat House (formerly Sharon's Coffee and Tea), 49

Church Hill Road, Newtown

How long in Newtown: I grew up in the Bronx. I am currently a Brookfield

resident, but have family living in Newtown and know the area well. Since

opening The Chat House in September, I have very much enjoyed working here.

The townspeople have been very welcoming and the location is excellent.

Biggest change: Of course, I would have to say the rapid rate of growth in

Newtown, which is probably for the best, especially since new businesses

coming in don't require as expensive services as residential homes do, yet

they contribute a lot to the tax base.

I'm comparing what has happened here to what happened to the town of Brewster,

N.Y., where I lived during the mid-1970s. Now there was an example of a good

town gone to waste, in my opinion.

In Brewster, they tried to restrict new business and they kept out the mall

when it was first proposed to go in, along with a multi-theater complex.

The result was that the residents had to bear most of the high tax burdens.

The downtown deteriorated and many local townspeople moved out or lost their

jobs. It got so that contractors could just drive through Brewster any time of

the day and count on hiring laborers right off the street corners.

Family: My wife is Rosemary and I have a son, Al, Jr, who is 15. I have two

step-daughters named Danielle, 16, and Monica, 19, so you can see I'm

surrounded by teenagers. But I like kids, so that's OK.

Pets: My Rottweiler, Roxie, was rescued from the ASPCA in Carmel, N.Y., and we

have four cats. When I was volunteering for the New York Humane Society, I

adopted two of them as tiny kittens and bottle fed them every two hours. Now

they think I am their mother.

Hobbies: I have volunteered at a shelter for battered women, doing small

repair jobs. Also, I have supported animal rights groups at Vassar College

when I was living nearby.

Other hobbies are music, remodeling and decorating. I like making a place

comfortable and attractive so people feel like relaxing.

Personal philosophy: People are typically beautiful, good, kind and honest.

I believe that what you put out is basically what you will get back in life.

Sometimes, people are shy because they might be afraid of rejection. It just

takes a little bit of confidence and effort.

‘Color Our World With Hope’ Filled Newtown With Music, Meaning, And Community Impact

Nighthawk Baseball Team Beats Conference Opponents

Late Goal By Ruddy Lifts Nighthawk Lacrosse Team To Victory, Showcases Chemistry In Midfield

Reed Intermediate Presents Sold-Out Performances Of 'Willy Wonka Jr'

Draw Dominance, Transition Game Lift Boys' Lacrosse Team To Lopsided Wins

Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 19-Dec-1997

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