To The Editor:

By CURT CLARK

Published: Oct 31, 2008 12:00 am

To The Editor:

I write today with the hopes that my message will be a bit different than what everyone has been hearing over the past few months. Especially with this year being a Presidential election year, I know that our mailboxes and voice mails have been filled with material from one candidate or the other. Sometimes, what you believe in can be clouded by such media and it often creates more confusion than clarity.

Today I am writing to tell you that you can believe in my brother-in-law, Chris Lyddy. During the past few months, as we have all joined together to support Chris on his campaign for state representative, I have been asked the same question, over and over: âWhat does Chris stand for?â My answer has been and always will be, that Chris stands for you. I believe in this answer just as I believe in Chris. Representing our townâs 106th District at the state level means that Chris will be our voice. Our voice that often isnât heard when we have concerns about issues such as education and taxes.

Chris brings an energy, he brings life and most important, he brings positive change for you. Change for your children, change for your parents. I am very fortunate to have Chris as my brother-in-law and the godfather to my oldest child, but should you elect him on November 4, you will see as well. You will have someone on your side. Someone you can trust will get your voice heard. Someone that stands for you. I reach out to you today to make a promise. A promise that if elected on November 4, Chris Lyddy will make this fine town an even better place to live, for you.

Sincerely,

Amy Lyddy

Head of Meadow Road, NewtownÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â October 27, 2008

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It’s important to clarify that while public process matters, so does the right of a property owner to reasonably develop land they legally own—especially when they follow the rules and engage with the town in good faith. The Board of Selectmen (BOS), whether one agrees with their decision or not, did not “give away” anything. The land in question was part of a road that had been unused and undeveloped for generations. There was no public access, no signage, and no infrastructure—just an overgrown path most residents never knew existed. Mr. Ackert calls the discontinuance “illegal,” but state law grants municipalities the authority to discontinue roads, subject to procedural requirements. The fact that this matter is in litigation shows that questions of law are being properly addressed in court—not in letters to the editor. If the court finds procedural flaws, they’ll be corrected. That’s how the legal system works. Real solutions are found through public process and the courts, not through social media outrage. What’s missing from this conversation is a recognition that towns need to balance many interests: history, environment, public access, private property rights, and economic development. And while the newly championed Revolutionary War heritage is important, there are also pressing modern realities: towns need housing, economic vitality, and responsible development. These things don’t happen in a vacuum—they require compromise, planning, and often, yes, change. If residents truly wish to preserve this trail as public space, the appropriate path is through purchase, conservation easement, or formal designation—not by expecting private landowners to bear the burden of public sentiment. If the writer believes so strongly in its value, perhaps they might consider investing in its preservation themselves. We can honor our history without freezing our town in time. Development and preservation aren’t mutually exclusive—but vilifying one side of the conversation only deepens division. Let’s focus on solutions that balance respect for the past with the rights and needs of those who live here now.

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Thank you both for running my letter and the excellent editor's note. I deeply appreciate the Bee and what it means to Newtown.

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Dan was a real gentleman. I had the honor of knowing him for about 10 years from high school and into early adulthood. He was always upbeat and amiable. His love of golf was boundless. I remember him droning on about the type of wedge this or that professional golfer was playing at any given time. He loved to play also. Dan made the winning putt that clinched a championship for NHS men’s golf in 1984. It was a snaking, downhill putt that few people would have had the nerve or imagination to have holed at such a critical moment. It was magic!! You are a true gem, Dan. May your eternal reward be endless days of long, straight drives and the sound of difficult putts finding the bottom of the hole.

Daniel R. Baker

Congratulations John! This is quite a feat & shows a lot of perseverance, endurance, & commitment while becoming more healthy & having fun! The ultimate achievement! Wishing u a long healthy life!

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“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The 1st Amendment does NOT say "except when there's a budget problem, or when some people wish things would quiet down." There is no way a proposed ordinance can be construed as other than singling out RockthisDemocracy, and also no way the town does not get expensively buried in court should it be foolish enough to go down this path.

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