Date: Fri 15-Mar-1996

By STEVE BIGHAM

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Larry-Ashmore-Softball

Full Text:

Larry Ashmore Not Renewed As Softball Coach

B YÂ Â TÂ Â Â W YATT & S TEVEÂ B IGHAM

The Newtown High School athletic department was thrown for a loop this week

when on Tuesday night, March 12, the Board of Education turned down the

nomination of Larry Ashmore as the girls' freshman softball coach.

Three board members approved Ashmore's appointment, and three voted him down

causing a deadlock and thus not passing the school's recommendation.

The three board members who didn't vote in his favor were chairman Herb

Rosenthal, Susan Hills, and Charles Nanavaty.

Mr Ashmore, best known at the school as the boys' varsity soccer coach,

coached the freshman girls' softball team at Newtown High school for 15 years

before taking last season off. He also coached 13 seasons of girls' freshman

basketball. " I'm surprised and disappointed in the board's decision, " said

Ashmore. " I'm very disappointed. I think that coaching 28 seasons should

stand for something. Seemingly, one woman has a complaint, although I don't

know what it is. There may be others in town who have complaints too, but

there are far more athletes and the parents of those athletes who would

support what I've done in that time period. "

Susan Hills, who's daughter Allison played softball under Ashmore as a

freshman three years ago, wouldn't say why she voted against his

reappointment. Said Mrs Hills, " It was a difficult thing for me to do, but I

felt it was necessary. "

Board chairman, Herb Rosenthal was hesitant to speak on the issue saying that

it was a personnel matter. " It was just my opinion that he would not make a

good coach for girls' softball, " he explained. Rosenthal said he was aware

that Ashmore had coached the freshmen girls' team in the past and that's what

he was basing his decision upon.

According to Rosenthal, there was no recent complaint made against Ashmore,

who also teaches science at NHS. The chairman added that he heard nothing from

his board that would indicate that Ashmore would not be approved to coach

soccer in the fall.

Charles Nanavaty admitted that he knew nothing about Ashmore's coaching

history, but simply followed the lead of the board chairman.

" The chairman obviously had some problem with the coach, " he said. " I

followed the wisdom of the chairman. "

One of the problems, according to Rosenthal, was that the spring coaches list

was brought up to the Board of Education at the last minute. He said, given

more time, the school board would have considered going into executive session

with Ashmore to discuss the matter.

Newtown High principal Bill Manfredonia, who recommended Ashmore for the

position, expressed his disappointment in the board's decision but declined

comment for the record.

As some of the early fallout from the decision, longtime NHS jayvee softball

coach, Bob McHugh, wrote his letter of resignation.

" Larry and I have spent 15 years coaching together and I've never met a more

dedicated, or more professional individual in my life, " McHugh said. " Part

of my decision to resign is because my friend is being treated so badly. "

McHugh also expressed his biggest fear about the matter.

" This is ridiculous, " he said. " It tells me that we serve at the whim of

the board. They hired Larry to be a coach last fall. There were no complaints.

Then they refuse to hire him in the spring. It doesn't make any sense. It just

seems that if the board doesn't want you, you lose the job. As much as I love

to coach, and as much as I'm going to miss it, I don't want to work under

those conditions. And I will not. "

All other spring coaches were approved by the board Tuesday night including

Dan Winsett, Al Borchetta, John Chiappetta, Bob Zito, McHugh, Jim Casagrande,

Russ Weiss, Rich Pesce, Rick Medve, Brandt Schneider, Joanne Johnson, Linae

Collopy, Val Stoiana, and Christine Sievers.

" I'm upset mostly by the fact that people in this town will get a

misinterpretation of who I am based upon the fact that the board did not

approve my nomination, " Ashmore concluded.

Ashmore's name may be resubmitted for another vote.

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 15-Mar-1996

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