Date: Fri 26-Apr-1996

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Glorydays-April-26-96

Full Text:

Glorydays - April 26, 1996

This week in 1991

Behind an outstanding all-around team effort, the Deli Depot Dinks upset

three-year defending champion, George's Deli, in the championship of the

Newtown Parks and Recreation Volleyball Power Division. The Dinks needed only

two games, winning by 15-13 and 15-11 margins. The new champs were paced by

the play of Cheryl Abraham, Amy and Bill Mangold, Dan Pierce, Tom Birch, Mike

Hastey, and Jamie Monsanto.

This week in 1986

The Newtown High baseball team beat Central Catholic 4-0 as senior lefty Brett

Gacek fired a one-hitter, fanning ten men. Newtown got all the runs it would

need in the bottom of the second inning on a two-run single by John Chiappetta

and an RBI single by Pat Sullivan. The following day, Chiappetta had four

RBI's in a 4-for-5 day, but Newtown lost 5-4 to Bethel. One of the NHS

senior's hits was a long 340-foot home run over the left field fence at Bethel

High.

This week in 1981

Newtown High swimmer, Mike Gay, was named to the Connecticut Interscholastic

Swim Coaches Division L All-State team having placed second in the 200 IM at

the Class L Championships in March. Gay, a junior, had also broken the NHS

record in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:05.6 and was part of the

school record breaking 400 freestyle relay team which registered a time of

3:23.8.

This week in 1976

Gary Pepe launched a tremendous three-run homer in the fifth inning and Mike

Adams added a solo poke in the sixth as the NHS baseball team rallied from a

2-0 deficit to beat Immaculate 4-2. Rich " Stretch " Scanlon went the distance

on the mound and picked up the win for the Indians who improved to 3-1 on the

season under coach Zyg Olbrys.

This week in 1971

George Matern pitched a complete-game four-hitter as the NHS baseball team

beat Abbott Tech, 11-2. Jason Stevens was 3-for-4 with a triple, while Tom

Morrisey, Courtenay Hough, and Mike Kasack all added big hits as well. In a

10-4 win over New Milford only four days later, Scott McNally fanned ten and

belted a two-run double in the NHS effort. Hough and Bob Berkins also had RBI

doubles for the Indians.

This week in 1966

Derek Gallichotte, a local fifth-grader, was a silver medal winner at the

First Connecticut State AAU Gymnastics Championships held at Southern

Connecticut State College. The youngest gymnast to score at the meet, Derek,

who was competing against high school and college athletes, placed second in

the Novice Division in the floor exercise event. Gallichotte missed winning

the gold by only one point.

This week in 1961

The Newtown Bowling League, at its annual banquet at the Yankee Drover Inn,

named Albert E Badat as its new president replacing Kenneth Adams. Frank

Thompson was named VP and Kenneth Casey took over as secretary/treasurer. The

Swans were honored for winning the 1960-61 league title, as well. The team

included William Boyce, Clinton Coddington, Edward Rutan, and Earl J Meyers.

This week in 1956

Mrs Paul McNamara resigned as the president of the Ladies' Golf Association of

the Newtown Country Club. Replacing Mrs McNamara was Mrs Henry Taylor. Miss

Norine Kennedy was named VP, Miss Margaret Graham secretary, and Mrs Josephy

Hellauer, treasurer.

This week in 1951

Despite drawing first blood in the top of the first inning, the Newtown High

baseball team dropped its season opener 6-1 to New Milford. Art Carmody drew a

walk to start the game, was moved along on an infield out by Marvin Shredders,

and scored on an RBI hit by Joe Melycher. The Indians would manage only two

more hits in the ballgame, though, those coming from the bats of Shredders and

Keneth Berglund. Chuck Botsford allowed six runs on six hits and was the

losing pitcher in the game.

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.

Log In

Date: Fri 26-Apr-1996

Leave a Reply Cancel reply