Date: Fri 15-Nov-1996

By STEVE BIGHAM

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

cemetery-accident-DEP

Full Text:

with photo : State Ponders How Best To Clean Up Contaminated Cemetery

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

Nestled into the hillside behind George's Restaurant & Pizza, the Dodgingtown

Cemetery seems an unlikely spot for an environmental disaster to occur.

But, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the

old cemetery on Cemetery Road remains contaminated more than a month after a

tanker truck crashed along Route 302, spilling a river of more than 9,000

gallons of gasoline into George's parking lot and down the hill into the

cemetery.

Last week, Bill Warzecha, the senior environmental analyst of the DEP's water

management bureau, told residents that the accident caused far-reaching

environmental damage. Monitoring is expected to continue at the site for the

next four or five years.

While workers have managed to clean up much of the polluted area affected by

the spill, the saturated cemetery remains untouched as the DEP struggles to

find a way to mop up the unwanted gas.

DEP officials say they have two methods that can be used to clean cemeteries

without disturbing grave sites. The first procedure is called horizontal

drilling which involves digging holes sideways into the ground, then

installing piping with holes to suck out the toxic fumes. Workers have also

considered reinjecting treated water into the ground around the cemetery to

flush out the pollution, but that method has never been done in the state

before, according to Mr Warzecha. In truth, the DEP official admitted, there

is no easy solution to ridding the cemetery of the contaminants.

One neighbor suggested the graves be exhumed, pointing out that a state law

allows for the removal of graves over 150 years old.

George's Restaurant owner George Hoti believes the last person buried in the

cemetery was in 1835, with most being buried there during the 1700s, but some

say there are much newer graves on the site. Bright yellow fire tape surrounds

the old cemetery, preventing anyone from getting a closer look at the tomb

stone dates.

According to the Newtown League of Women Voters' book, Newtown Past and

Present , the cemetery was once used to bury those from the Dodgingtown

neighborhood who had died.

The Dodgingtown Cemetery is maintained by Boy Scout troops of Newtown.

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 15-Nov-1996

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