Date: Fri 18-Aug-1995

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Glory-Days-August-18-95

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Glory Days, August 18, 1995

This week in 1990

At the age of 54, Don Skalandunas captured the Men's Club Championship at

Newtown Country Club, 20 years after having won it for the first time. Skal

defeated Bob Gleason Sr 5-and-4 to take the crown. During his best round of

the tournament, Skal fired a 64 to beat Scooch Dunleavy.

This week in 1985

Newtown 12-year-old, Michael Gallo, became the Junior World Champion at the

48th All American Soap Box Derby Championships in Akron, Ohio. Competing

against a field of 85 racers, Gallo won all four of his heats in times of

28.24, 28.22, 28.16, and 28.18. His car, sponsored by T&C Excavating, was then

put into the Soap Box Derby Hall of Fame.

This week in 1980

The First Annual Don Leavitt Tennis Classic was held at Dickinson Park for

Newtown tennis players over the age of 40. Charlie Guck claimed the first

men's title when he defeated Peter Hoyt, 7-6, 2-6, 7-6 in the men's singles

final. Don Leavitt and Fritz Freeman teammed to beat Fred Millener and Fred

Steiner in the men's doubles while the tandem of Eppe Exconde and Bobbi Bowles

beat Judy Craven and Marion Kreider in the women's doubles finals.

This week in 1975

The Newtown Robins rallied from a 12-1 deficit to defeat the Thomaston Tigers

17-16 in the B Division championship game of the Danbury Women's Industrial

Softball League. Julie Keane banged a big home run during the comeback while

Sharon Farrell and Jayne Whitney turned in game-saving defensive plays. Other

Robins' team members included Nancy Polches, Marchelle Merrill, Cindy Merrill,

Myriam Grandal, Widget McLaughlin, Eva Perley, Linda Polcyn, Caol Hensel, Sue

Morgan, Martha Shpunt, Gale Gollenberg, Laura Liggins, Sheri Shankman, and

Donna Short.

This week in 1970

Carl Burdick used his six-iron to record a hole-in-one on the par-3 eighth

hole at Newtown Country Club. Burdick, a 36-year member of NCC was playing

that morning with John Sweeney, Joe Leo, and Ted Jones.

This week in 1965

The Newtown Parks and Recreation swim team competed in a big meet at Danbury

Town Park. Newtown swim team members were Linda Litch, Doug Reinheimer, Nancy

McJennett, Sue Aiken, Cliff Holbrook, Jaquie Leitch, Betty Boucher, Andy

Treffs, Sarah Freeman, Ralph Araita, Gail Freeman, Matt McQuail, Gretchen

Housh, Bill Wadleigh, Jim Kelly, Betsy Freeman, Spike McQuail, Scott Leitch,

Darcy Mceneaney, Bruce Aiken, Debbie Kelly, and Gary Adams.

This week in 1960

Freddy Terrill and Ed Presnell banged back-to-back triples but the Sandy Hook

Athletic Club's Senior team lost 13-2 to the league-leading Bethel

Barnumtowers in the last game of the season.

This week in 1955

Guy Cullen fired a one-hitter to lead the SAC Ponies to a 2-0 win over the

Roxbury Babe Ruth team. SAC scored its two runs in the second inning on a

double by Jensen, a single by Story, and a two-run double by Al Schalzer.

This week in 1950

The Newtown Bees improved their last-place record to 3-10 as they pulled off a

10-5 upset of Shelton. Burr Morgan was the star of the game as he pitched a

complete game for the victory and banged a three-run homer in the seventh

inning. Hunnicut, Kearns, and Sperling all had three hits in the game for the

Bees.

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 18-Aug-1995

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