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By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Full Text:

Akridge; Novak)

Harriet Akridge

Harriet Akridge, 78, sister of Cathy Millard of Newtown, died May 4 at her

home at Brookside Apartments, Danbury.

Mrs Akridge was the widow of Nathaniel W. Akridge.

A lifelong area resident, she was born in Brookfield April 5, 1920, the

daughter of Charles and Mary Brill Lake.

She was a member of St Paul's Episcopal Church in Brookfield and recently

attended St James' Episcopal Church, Danbury.

She worked for more than 45 years at Risdon Corp, and retired as a product

inspector.

Besides her sister, she is survived by a son, Dennis C. Akridge of Danbury; a

daughter, Diane Saunders of Danbury; a brother, Richard E. Lake, of Danbury; a

stepbrother, Daniel Woodin, Jr, of Danbury; nine grandchildren; four

great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by her son, N. Kenneth Akridge, in 1996, and by her

step-father, Daniel Woodin.

Funeral services were May 7, at 2:30 pm at St James' Episcopal Church, 25 West

Street, Danbury with the Rev Ann S. Coburn officiating. Burial in Mountainview

Cemetery, New Fairfield.

Tomlinson Homestead, 336 Main Street, Danbury, was in charge of arrangements.

The Newtown Bee May 8, 1998

Jean S. Novak

Jean S. Novak, 85, died May 4 at Ashlar of Newtown.

Mrs Novak was the wife of Albert Novak, Jr.

She was born in the Bronx, N.Y., October 29, 1912, the daughter of Aldolph and

Jean Hunter Goldner. Before moving to Newtown in 1996, she lived in Callicoon

for 23 years and was also previously of Teaneck and Bergenfield, N.J.

She was a member of St James Episcopal Church in Callicoon and St Tammany

Chapter Order of the Eastern Star.

Besides her husband, she is survived by a son, Albert J. Novak of Pueblo,

Colo.; a daughter, Barbara J. Connerty of Southbury; a brother, Arthur G.

Goldner of Charlotte, N.C.; five grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and a

great-great-grandchild.

Contributions may be made to the charity of one's choice or St James Episcopal

Church, Callicoon.

A memorial service will be Friday, May 8, 11 am, at St James Episcopal Church,

Callicoon, N.Y. Cremation at Fresh Pond Crematory, Middle Village, N.Y. There

are no calling hours.

Honan Funeral Home of Newtown was in charge of arrangements.

The Newtown Bee May 8, 1998

Track And Field Teams Compete At Masuk

‘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'

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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