Date: Fri 27-Oct-1995

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Glorydays-October-27-95

Full Text:

Glorydays October 27, 1995

This week in 1990

The Newtown High School boys' cross country team captured its

fifth-consecutive WCC Championship title in dramatic fashion. NHS star, Eric

Zolner, the top-ranked runner in the conference, collapsed down the final

stretch and didn't finish the race. Newtown teammates Dan Shea (fourth place),

Kevin Bunt (sixth), Todd Blake (ninth), Jason Zimmerman (11th), and John

Andrews (15th), filled in the necessary points for the NHS victory. Bob Snyder

placed first in the jayvee race.

This week in 1985

The Newtown High volleyball team lost 3-1 in a match with Brookfield to decide

first place in the Briggs Division. Newtown, though, rallied to beat up on

Bethel and New Fairfield to improve to 13-2 overall. Starring for the Lady

Indians in the three matches were Liz Kenyon, Fran Jackson, Michelle Roberts,

Jackie James, Nancy Birdsell, and Kim Pelletreau.

This week in 1980

The Newtown High 400 freestyle relay team of Sue Emslie, Wendy Woolf, Diane

King, and Dori DeMeo placed first in the meet's final event as NHS beat rival

Weston, 93-79 to remain in first place in the WCC. DeMeo won two events

individually, while Mary McQuail, King, and Sue Judge all won one. With the

win, Newtown improved to 6-3 overall and 5-0 in the WCC.

This week in 1975

Frank D'Angelis scored three goals to lead the Newtown High boys' soccer team

to a 6-1 win over Trumbull. Jeff Engelburger, Peter Ertl, and Jeff Leitner all

added goals as well as first-place Newtown improved to 9-1 in the WCC.

This week in 1970

The final golf tournament of the year was played at Newtown Country Club and

Sven Tilly and Ray Michel teammed to shoot a low-net 55 and win the Snowball

Member-Member. Dick McLeod and Lynn Esten took second place over Frank Pinto

and Len Fitzgerald on a match of cards, while the team of Bill Esposito and

Bill Lindstrom placed fourth and the twosome of Jack Boogaard and Charles

Holleran took fifth.

This week in 1965

Jim Glover booted home the winning goal in the final 30 seconds of regulation

to lead the Newtown High soccer team to a 2-1 win over Watertown.

This week in 1960

As reported in the SAC (Sandy Hook Athletic Club) Notes: Danny Lawler Jr, pro

at Rock Ridge Country Club, hosted his son Dan, Fred Terrill, and Trudge

Oberstadt at last Sunday's World Series thriller at Yankee Stadium between the

Yankees and Pirates. The group got to witness a catch by Pirate outfielder

Billy Virdon which was called by sports casters, the best defensive play of

the series.

This week in 1955

The Cardinals were victorious in Newtown Bowling League action and improved

their first-place record to 21-3 and taking a four-game lead over the

second-place Bluebirds. Ernie Ehle bowled the outstanding high game of the

year when he rolled a 149, while Frank Thompson turned in the individual high

three games of the season with a 353.

This week in 1950

According to a news story printed on the front page of the October 27, 1950

Newtown Bee: " Hundreds of nimrods took to the field last Saturday morning as

Connecticut's season for pheasant, grouse, squirrel, and raccoon got underway.

" Limits for each animal were also listed including a limit of five-a-day for

squirrel, and daily bags of three-a-day for coons, rabbits, or skunk.

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 27-Oct-1995

Leave a Reply Cancel reply