Date: Fri 14-Nov-1997

By DOROTHY EVANS

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

snapshot-Michael-Sorrentino

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT FOR 11/14/97: MICHAEL SORRENTINO

Occupation: Owner, Newtown Hardware Store. I bought the store in 1977, so this

year is our 20th anniversary in business.

Before that, I was corporate controller for the US Tobacco Company.

I always wanted to own my own business, but our first day at Newtown Hardware

was a little scary. We came home with $27 and I asked myself, "What am I

doing?" The next day we made $35 and I knew we were headed in the right

direction."

How long in area: I have been a Ridgefield resident for 25 years. I was born

and raised in Mount Vernon, N.Y.

Family: My wife, Valerie, and I have been married 36 years and we have four

children. Jeanne is 35, Michael is 33, Laura is 32 and Daniel is 29.

My two nephews, Tony Summo and Joe Summo, are the managers of Newtown

Hardware. It's a real family business.

Pets: No. We like to travel, especially to Florida.

Hobbies: I collect model airplanes. Someday I'd like to restore an antique

automobile or a Muscle Car from the 1970s. We had one before the gas crisis in

1974. Mainly, I just like to putter around the house, here and in Orlando.

Biggest change: If you're talking about Newtown Hardware, we've seen a lot of

change.

First we were in the telephone store on Queen Street. Then in 1981, we moved

into the old IGA supermarket building in the middle of the Queen Street

Shopping Center. In 1995, we moved over here to Church Hill Road. This

building is my pride and joy.

Talking about the business in general, I'd have to say that the first year,

the opening of Home Depot did affect us. But we've come back even stronger

since then. Most of the small hardware stores are doing well because people

can't get convenience and service from the big discount stores.

Talking about change in Newtown, I definitely think this area is becoming more

quality oriented. There are a lot of nice, young families moving in who take

pride in their homes and are active in the community. I like being around

young people, so I think it's a good thing.

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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 14-Nov-1997

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