Date: Fri 05-Jan-1996

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Gellert-Column

Full Text:

Andrew Gellert Column (January 1996)

The Gellert Era Begins at NHS

Comparison, whether it be wrong or right, is and will always be an element of

sports writing.

Is Mike Tyson as good as Ali? Could the '95 Atlanta Braves have beaten the '27

Yankees? Is Marino better than Namath? LT than Butkus? Is Penny Hardaway the

next Michael Jordan?

From the professional ranks all the way down the youth leagues, people love to

compare today's stars with yesterday's - in all sports - and frankly it gets

tiresome after a while.

At Newtown High School this winter, though, there is at least one such

comparison going on.

In a scenario very much like the one in which Steve Young stepped in to

replace San Francisco 49er legend Joe Montana a few years back, Newtown's

Andrew Gellert is faced with filling the high tops of one of the school's

all-time basketball greats - an overwhelming task with, perhaps, unfair

expectations. That ex-Indian great, Greg Gallagher, has had his name appear in

every pre-season article written about the defending-champion NHS basketball

team. And the burning question keeps getting asked, " Can Andrew Gellert

replace him? "

On Thursday night, December 28, the quiet sophomore - after starting only his

fifth-ever varsity basketball game - swaggered to the center of the Stratford

High School gymnasium floor, his face void of expression, to accept the most

valuable player award for the tournament that Newtown had just won.

If there had been a monkey on this promising young star's back, it was gone

now as he snared a quick handshake, lowered the plaque to his hip like a

school book, and headed back over to the bench.

Gellert didn't sit down and stare at his new trophy in awe. No big deal. Mr

Gellert has had plaques like these given to him before. This one was nice, but

just another slab of wood to be placed on a shelf next to where armies of tiny

brass-colored figurines collect dust and where others are destined to follow.

Like the era of the Western Connecticut Conference, the Greg Gallagher NHS

basketball files can now be laminated and encased with the other unforgettable

Newtown High sports memories.

The torch has officially been passed.

For the next three years as the Indians seek to make a mark in the new South

West Conference they will do so under the direction of a new floor leader.

It's Gellert's team now.

Nighthawk Track And Field Teams Host Meet

New Heights Vacation Bible School Returning

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

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 05-Jan-1996

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