Date: Fri 25-Aug-1995

By KIM HARMON

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: KIMH

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Miller-Soccer-ODP

Full Text:

David Miller -- Olympic Development Soccer Program

B Y K IM J. H ARMON

It meant leaving tennis practices and tennis matches early once or twice a

week in April and May and driving about 90 minutes to Loomis-Chaffee School in

Wallingford, but sometimes sacrifices have to be made for the cause of

development. In this case, soccer development.

David Miller, 16, was a starting forward for the Newtown High School soccer

team last year as a sophomore and realized, after scoring just four goals,

that his game needed some improvement.

And when the coaches of his premier team told him about the high-skill,

high-profile Olympic Development Program, he thought he would take a shot.

It was March and teams all across the country were forming in the 17-and-under

age group. ODP, in the past, had attracted as many as 150 kids to tryouts, but

David still felt compelled to try.

" When I first heard about it, I thought, this is good, " said David. " I

thought I had a good shot at (making the team). Once I got to the tryout, I

realized the kids I was playing with, 75 percent of them were going to be

seniors, so I thought I didn't have a shot but I would go out anyway. I was

tentative about it, but I gave it my all. "

David had confidence in his skills, but he wasn't sure about his physical

stature or his strength or the fact that he wasn't in terribly good shape

after not playing through the winter.

But he knew he had work to do.

" I had a weakness in high school of turning my back on a man, " he said, "

but now when a man is right on my back I've learned a lot of moves to get

away. I've also learned how to play with more composure and play more of a

team game. "

Tryouts were in March and the team was picked in April Ã with David Miller,

right at the start of a very productive sophomore season with the Newtown High

School tennis team, among the 25 selected.

And his selection not only gave David an opportunity to learn some things from

the top coaches in the state and pit himself against some of the best

competition in the region, but also gave him a chance to show as many as 100

college coaches what he could do.

The ODP's U17 team started play in April and went through July 1, working out

and scrimmaging U19 premier teams and traveling to regional tournaments, the

biggest in New Jersey. David tried out for the forward position and began the

program by coming off the bench. He started a couple games up front, then was

moved to the center halfback position.

" I actually enjoy playing halfback, " said David. " It's not all about

scoring. At halfback, you're more involved with the game. You get to create

more and contribute more. "

Of anybody on the team, David had the least impressive credentials, but when

the coaches - among them, Dan Donigian of the University of Connecticut, Tom

D'Agostino and Dave Farrell - had to pare the team from 25 to 18 players to

take to the regional tournaments, David twice survived the cut.

" When I made the first cut I was pretty surprised, " David admitted. " But

when I made the other two cuts, I was expecting that. Once I got familiar with

the personnel and got to know everyone, I just fell into the groove. "

Maybe that's because, as David says, he has always done better on the premier

teams than he has in high school competition - for whatever reason. But that

aside, David performed well enough at ODP that he attracted the notice of a

few college coaches.

Not looking that far ahead, two years, David is more focussed on the present

and the impending high school fall season in the newly-formed South-West

Conference. He hopes that his work - and the work of most of the NHS team,

which attended a skills camp together just a few weeks ago - will be turning

the heads of the opposing teams . . . towards the goal.

" Our chemistry could be better this year, " said David. " If it holds, we

could have a real successful season. "

Success for him will come, too, if he were able to make an ODP team next

season and perform well enough to achieve his dream and earn himself a

scholarship at a Division I school.

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

Newtown Earth Day Festival Was A Success

Local Fourth Grader To Host ‘Gaming For Change’ On May 16

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 25-Aug-1995

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