Date: Fri 22-Sep-1995

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Glory-Days-September-22-1995

Full Text:

Glorydays - September 22, 1995

This week in 1990

Freshman forward Katie Ball scored the first goal of the season for the

Newtown High School girls' soccer team which defeated Immaculate 5-0 in the

season opener at Rogers Park in Danbury. Melanie Huss scored three goals in

the game as well, while Stephanie Licht added a goal as well.

This week in 1985

Dave Olecki had three hits and Karl Svensson Jr and Billy Martin each

collected two as Hurd Construction held off the upset-minded Newtown Amoco 9-8

to claim the 'B' Division title of the Newtown Men's Slo-Pitch Softball

League. Hurd finished the season with a near-perfect record of 20-1.

This week in 1980

NHS junior Pete Weaver blocked a fourth-quarter punt which led to a 2-yard

game-winning touchdown run by Jeff Miller as the Newtown High football team

rallied to defeat Bethel, 13-9 in the season opener. Junior Kevin Booker had a

60-yard punt return for Newtown's other score in the game.

This week in 1975

Matty's Restaurant won its third-consecutive Newtown Slo-Pitch Softball 'A'

Division title as it rolled up Dupont Sorvall and Botsford Chemical to finish

the season at 15-1. Ron Weems was 4-for-4 and Rainer Ertl was 3-for-4 in

Matty's 23-2 beating of Botsford Chemical, and in a 14-0 win over

Dupont/Sorvall, Joe DeCarlo and Clint Hansel each had three hits and both Tony

and Greg DeCarlo hit home runs. Rick Matern was the winning pitcher in both

games for Matty's.

This week in 1970

Newtown's Joel Zeisler, 28, won the jumping event and placed second in the

tricks competition at the Tenth Annual Connecticut State Water Ski

Championships at Highland Lake in Winsted. Zeisler also won the jumping event

at a New Jersey tournament earlier that summer. Joel's wife Jan, and children

Dan (6) and Julie (3) are also active in the sport.

This week in 1965

The Newtown Softball Team, Plastic Molding, travelled to Blake Field in New

Haven and was defeated 13-5 by United Illuminating. Lew Fagan banged a

three-run homer for Plastic Molding. Jerry Corrine was the losing pitcher and

Henrey Cease was unable to put out the fire in relief. Jeff Griffin was a

defensive standout for the locals.

This week in 1960

The Newtown High School boys' soccer team began its season with a 4-0 win over

West Haven. Jim Tenney and Ron Beardsley scored two goals apiece for the

Indians in the victory.

This week in 1955

The Newtown High School cheerleading squad was selected from a large group of

girls, to support the NHS soccer and basketball teams for the coming season.

The team included Judy Carroll, Donna Wolfe, Jean Jandreau, Betty Lou Ricco,

Judy Hancox, Jean Lorenzo, and Pat Peterson.

This week in 1950

George Smart and John Previdi shot a low-gross 63 to win the Newtown Country

Club's Member Guest Tournament. Joe Mantak and Edward Durkin and Louis Iasello

and Art Testa tied for second with a 69. Smart and Previdi also copped low-net

honors with a 57 1-3, to beat John Streeman and Robert Stones who shot 57 2-3.

The Way We Were

Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

Top Of The Mountain

Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Saturday

Full Slate Of May Programs Planned By Flagpole Photographers

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 22-Sep-1995

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