Outstanding Youth Awards

By TANJUA DAMON-MERROW

Published: May 29, 2001 12:00 am

Newtown Youth Services presented its 14th annual Outstanding Youth Awards Ceremony May 24 to recognize Newtown young people who have been committed to giving to their community and showing leadership and responsibility.

Twenty-one youths from elementary school to high school were nominated by someone in the community â a pastor, parent, teacher, or advisor â to receive an outstanding youth award. The youths are chosen based on demonstration of strong, healthy values and use their talents and abilities in a positive way.

Mary Anders was nominated by Roseanne Loring for her community service. Mary participated in the Middle School Youth Advisory Board and will be attending the high school next year.

Rebecca Caine was nominated by Father Peter Towsley for her community service. She has been a leader in the St Rose Senior Youth Group as well as a teacher in the religious education classes. Rebecca also participated in the Knights of Columbusâ âAt Your Gateâ program that helps out the elderly in the community.

Pat Carbonell was nominated by Laura Amodeo for his babysitting services. He has been a responsible person for numerous people he baby-sits for through the Youth Services Job Bank.

Erin Dennen was nominated by Father Towsley for her giving to others. Erin has been a server at mass and takes part in the Senior Youth Group.

Deirdre Dougherty was nominated by Jack Quinlan and Elaine Schwartz for her community service. She was a member of the Student Government at the high school, were she ran a successful blood drive as well as organized a dinner for senior citizens for the spring musical.

Allison Finn was nominated by Reverends Kurt Huber and Kathleen Adams-Sheperd for her giving to others. She took part in the Light & Peace program in New Haven and participated in Workcamp.

Megan Gagliardi was nominated by Father Towsley for being a friend. She is a lector at mass, participates in the youth group, and went to Rome for World Youth Day 2000, and worked at âAt Your Gate.â

Sarah Hemingway was nominated by Joe and Maribeth Hemmingway as well as Roseanne Loring for her community service. She is a Girl Scouts member, Middle School Youth Advisory Board member, co-captain of the Torpedo swim team, and participated in various political campaigns.

Brendan Krueger was nominated by Winfred Brickmeier for giving to others. He tutors students of all ages, mostly as community service.

Kyle Lyddy was nominated by Roseanne Loring for his community service. He was a member of the MSYAB, helped with Red Cross, assisted with the NYS Talent Show and Independent Living Day.

Brian McDonald was nominated by Laura Amodeo for babysitting. He is an outstanding participant in the Job Bank and was Job Bank Member of the Month.

Alyssa McIntyre was nominated by Cindy McIntyre for her community service. Alyssa organized clothing drives for the Danbury Safe House. She hopes to have future clothing drives twice a year.

Chris Miller was nominated by Revs Huber and Adams-Sheperd for giving to others. He participated in Workcamp and the Childrenâs Mission in New Haven. He has shown great leadership.

Nick Moser was nominated by Roseanne Loring for his community service. Nick was a member of the MSYAB. He began helping to get more boys involved with YAB. He helped with the annual Red Cross dinner and gave up baseball to help at Independent Living Day.

Kyle Murphy was nominated by Michele Murphy for being a productive youth in Newtown. He is a member of the middle school jazz band, math team, and literary magazine. He collected blankets for people in India after the earthquake there. Kyle is also an acolyte at Trinity Church.

Michael Rambone was nominated by Roseanne Loring for community service. He was a member of the MSYAB for three years.

Ben Roche was nominated by Roseanne Loring for his community service. He was a member of the MSYAB and has artistic talent that was often called upon.

Christopher Schmitt was nominated by Katy Berg for community service and giving to others. He is a leader, scholar, artist, and volunteer. He has been a volunteer firefighter at the Dodgingtown Fire Department, giving more than six hours each week. He also helped with AmeriCares Homefront and was a meal provider at the Dorothy Day Hospitality House.

Will Simmons was nominated by Laura Amodeo for babysitting and yard work. He is a conscientious participant in the Job Bank and received outstanding evaluations.

Caitlyn Smiley was nominated by George Stockwell for special helper. She has helped Mr Stockwell throughout the school year.

Alexandra Vetrano was nominated by George Stockwell for being a helper. She also was a great help during the school year.

Eric Bagger entertained the honorees by singing a song he wrote and be playing the guitar. Honorees were given tee shirts designed by Adam Samuels.

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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.

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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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Outstanding Youth Awards

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