Date: Fri 17-Oct-1997

By DOROTHY EVANS

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

snapshot-Andrew-Lapati

Full Text:

SNAPSHOT for 10/17/97: ANDREW LAPATI

Occupation: I was a test engineer with Sikorsky Aircraft for nearly 39 years

before retiring in January 1994.

How long in Newtown: Since May of 1959. We have lived in our Sturges Road

house since 1964.

Biggest change in Newtown: The population growth and its effects are most

obvious. When I moved here the population was between 8,000 and 9,000 versus

the 22,000-plus that we now have. As the population increased, we needed more

schools and town services that resulted in higher taxes.

But Newtown is still a great place to live.

Family: My wife is Rita, a retired Newtown Middle School English teacher who

is now an art student at WestConn. We have two grown children, Susan and

Richard. Sue married Dave Williams, another Newtown native, and they live less

than 30 minutes away, which allows us to see our three beautiful

granddaughters often. Our son Richard is also nearby in Sandy Hook.

Pets: Our son's nine-year-old Siberian husky, Bud, lives with us and we have a

12-year-old cat, Trouble.

Hobbies: My big passion is skiing. I have been a very active member of the

Newtown Winterset Ski Club since the mid 1970s. It is a non-profit family and

singles-oriented club for downhill skiers, snowboarders and cross-country

skiers and we primarily take day-bus trips to ski areas in Vermont and

Massachusetts.

We have weekend and weeklong trips, too, with the first coming up in December

to Sugar Loaf. Watch for our posters around town.

During the "off-ski" season, Rita and I spend time at our Maine home on Frye

Island on Sebago Lake. We go bicycling both in Maine and Connecticut.

We have also been on Elderhostel bicycle trips in the Loire Valley in France,

along the Danube in Austria, and East Anglia in England.

At home, I enjoy working outdoors. I also spend time working on my computer

and use it for everything from banking and financial record keeping to paying

bills, not to mention income tax filing, e-mailing to friends, Ski Club

activities, even trading securities.

Personal philosophy: I haven't really thought about this before but I guess I

try to treat people with respect and wish to be treated the same way.

I believe in taking a positive attitude in anything I tackle. I don't mean to

be a Pollyanna because as I get older I am more aware of my limitations, but I

will never forget my Junior High School class motto: "It can be done!"

My training and career as an engineer have reinforced that belief.

‘Color Our World With Hope’ Filled Newtown With Music, Meaning, And Community Impact

Nighthawk Baseball Team Beats Conference Opponents

Late Goal By Ruddy Lifts Nighthawk Lacrosse Team To Victory, Showcases Chemistry In Midfield

Reed Intermediate Presents Sold-Out Performances Of 'Willy Wonka Jr'

Draw Dominance, Transition Game Lift Boys' Lacrosse Team To Lopsided Wins

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 17-Oct-1997

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