Date: Fri 29-Sep-1995

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: TOMW

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Glorydays-September-29-1995

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Glorydays - September 29, 1995

This week in 1990

First-year football coach Bob Zito lost his Newtown High School coaching

debut, 24-13 to New Fairfield and its new coach, former NHS skipper Pete

Kohut. Zito and his Indians would go on to win their next 22 games which would

include a Class MM state title, and a 1991 WCC title.

This week in 1985

The Newtown Wolverines, of the Newtown Soccer Club's girls' C Division,

captured the championship of the Third Annual Danbury Hatters Classic as they

knocked off a team from Watertown who had won its last 22 games in a row. Jen

Lareau scored two goals for Newtown, Amy Smith and Becky Royce each added one

and Jen Reeher tallied three assists in the 4-1 victory. Other team members

included Erika Krasnickas, Kristin Prasauckas, Karen Bartlett, Holly Ryan,

Lisa Bataglia, and Christina LaRoche

This week in 1980

Joe LaCava defeated Bob Gibbons 1-up in 19 holes to earn the Newtown Country

Club's Junior Club Championship. The two friends were juniors at Newtown High

School where they were both members of the varsity golf team.

This week in 1975

Bill Lawter filled in for starting quarterback Jason Stevens and completed 20

of 37 passes for four touchdowns as Newtown defeated HH Taylor of New Milford

to claim sole possession of first place in the New Milford Adult Touch

Football League. Billy Link pulled in three TD passes, giving him six in the

team's two games. Ray Snyder also scored for Newtown.

This week in 1970

The Newtown High School football team played its first-ever game at its new

stadium (which is now Bruce Jenner Stadium) and beat the American School for

the Deaf, 34-8. Jason Stevens passed for 115 yards and three TD's, hitting

Courtenay Hough from 20 yards out for the first-ever touchdown scored at the

field. Bob Berkins ran for a TD as well, while Jay Gurtlinger and Art Conklin

each hauled in Stevens' passes for scores.

This week in 1965

Under the sponsorship of the Newtown Jaycees, the First Annual Regatta was

held at Lake Lillinonah. Conducted by the Connecticut Outboard Association and

the American Power Boat Association, the event drew over 700 spectators and

several out-of-state competitors. Branford's Steve Everett was the only

Connecticut winner at the event.

This week in 1960

James Fluharty's and James Norling's teams won the first games in the

intramural soccer league at Newtown High School. Norling's team beat Paul

Nelson's squad 1-0, as Norling himself scored the game's only goal. Fluharty

scored as well and teammate Tommy Hoffman added two goals as they beat Keith

Collins' gang, 3-0.

This week in 1955

The Newtown High School cheerleading squad was selected from a large group of

girls, to support the NHS soccer and basketball teams for the coming season.

The team included Judy Carroll, Donna Wolfe, Jean Jandreau, Betty Lou Ricco,

Judy Hancox, Jean Lorenzo, and Pat Peterson.

This week in 1950

George Smart and John Previdi shot a low-gross 63 to win the Newtown Country

Club's Member Guest Tournament. Joe Mantak and Edward Durkin and Louis Iasello

and Art Testa tied for second with a 69. Smart and Previdi also copped low-net

honors with a 57 1-3, to beat John Streeman and Robert Stones who shot 57 2-3.

This week in 1945

Newtown High School's varsity soccer team was announced and practice began for

the season which was slated to begin in mid-October with a game against

Litchfield. The NHS team would be made up of James Gies, Larry Cole, Clarence

Worth, Bruce Cole, Kenneth Pelletier, James Brown, Ralph Arbitelli, William

Carroll, and Francis Carroll . Newtown would face Litchfield twice during the

season and would search for games against other area teams.

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 29-Sep-1995

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