Date: Fri 25-Aug-1995

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: AMYD

Quick Words:

Gretsch-Catholic-cemetery

Full Text:

Part Of Gretsch Property May Be Used As A Cemetery

B Y A MY D'O RIO

The Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport is strongly considering using parts of the

136-acre, former Gretsch property for a cemetery, said Bernard Reidy, the

diocese's chief financial officer.

"It's restful and beautiful," he said, plus St. Peter's Cemetery in Danbury

opened its last section last year.

While Resurrection, a cemetery on Route 25, has plenty of space, Mr Reidy said

it is mainly used by Newtown and Monroe residents.

He said the Castle Hill Road property is near Route 6 and I-84 and could serve

Danbury, and Bethel as well as Newtown.

The property has a driveway that comes out on Johnny Cake Lane, a side street

off of Route 6.

First Selectman Robert Cascella said he has heard rumors that the cemetery

would be put on the Route 6 side of the property.

Mr Reidy said the diocese has not decided how much acreage the cemetery would

need, or where it would be put. The diocese recently hired a Buffalo, N.Y.,

company to survey the site and do soil testing to help the diocese determine

what uses the property could handle.

Rev. Chris Walsh, a diocese spokesperson, said Wednesday the diocese plans to

make an announcement about the estate next week. He would only say it would be

regarding property use.

This could be when the diocese makes an official announcement about a

cemetery.

The Diocese, which purchased the property earlier this year for $2.5 million,

has already announced plans to use the former Gretsch house as a retreat. Mr

Reidy said the diocese might instead use the home as a spiritual center, which

means it would open to more people than a retreat.

Mr Reidy, a Newtown resident, said the diocese has still not decided who the

spiritual center or retreat would serve, but the diocese has begun work on the

house and should start using it in early 1996.

Mr Reidy said there are several other diocese departments interested in using

the site, but he would not say which departments or what ideas are being

discussed. He also said he has not heard any plans to sell any portions of the

property to developers.

Mr Cascella said he has no problems with a cemetery. He always feared the

former Gretsch property would be turned into a massive housing development,

which at the very least would cause traffic congestion.

Borough Zoning Officer Jean St. Jean said the diocese would need zoning

approval for a cemetery. The diocese has not yet contacted her about this use.

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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 25-Aug-1995

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