Date: Fri 18-Apr-1997

By Previous Employees

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

Lions-Club-Lose-the-Litter

Full Text:

WITH PHOTO: Lions Club Takes On Lose-The-Litter Duties

Littering in Newtown is a problem that hasn't waned, even with continued

emphasis on preserving the natural areas in town. Once again, Newtown

residents who care about their environment are asked to help clean up the

roadsides during the Seventh Annual Lose The Litter Day, April 27, from 9 am

to 1 pm (rain date May 4).

For many years, the event was sponsored by the Newtown Environmental Action

Team. This year, the clean-up is sponsored by the Newtown Lions Club members,

who will be assisted by former Lose The Litter chairman Judy Holmes.

Participants pick up bags, gloves, and directions at the Newtown Middle School

on Queen Street during the specified hours; the actual roadside clean-up can

be done anytime that day.

"I think this is a very worthwhile project - one of the best the Lions Club

has done in recent years," said Keith Dupree, Lions Club president. "I know

the town will get behind the project so I am looking forward to a very good

day!"

Jim and Shirley Berliner are looking forward to participating in Lose The

Litter Day because they believe this is an opportunity for their three

children and them to work together on a civic project that will benefit

everyone in town. The couple, who has lived in Newtown 15 years, have always

been active volunteers; their children seem to share their enthusiasm for

bettering the community.

"I want to make our streets cleaner so we don't have to see garbage

everywhere, and we could see pretty flowers," said Rachel.

Her sister, Katie, added, "We can show people how hard we work so they won't

pollute any more."

The youngest child, David, said he wanted to participate in Lose The Litter

Day, "so the world won't become a dirty place."

Volunteers are asked to sign up ahead of time; whatever road they want to

clean up will be reserved for them. But those who are spontaneous are still

welcome to join the project on April 27. To register or for more information,

contact chairman Gordon Williams at 426-6443.

The Way We Were

Silver Alert For Blue McGrath Ended

Top Of The Mountain

Cargo Van Driver Taken To Hospital Following Collision With Gas Tanker

Knotweed Initiative Program Planned

Well that is some spin. The Democrats have a super majority on the LC and passed the Education Budget without serious consideration of if the voters could afford the multi million dollar increase. "Was the request justified?" rather than "is this needed?" and "can the voters shoulder yet another large increase?" The voters rightly sent it back. Then for some reason all the discussion around reductions to the increase seemed to be coming from the classroom, rather than administration and overhead costs. Is this a coercive tactic to manipulate parents into supporting the budget like tacit threat of cutting freshman sports was two years ago? Who believes the Democrats did not caucus privately before the meeting and came in with a number already worked out? This is the Dems budget, they own it.

Education Cuts: Who Voted For What

I think it is important that we do not villainize every black box seen around a home, business, farm, or municipal property. A black exterior station does not always mean rat poison is being used. These stations can hold a number of different products, including monitoring blocks, snap traps, non-toxic bait, anti-tick bait stations, organic salt- or cornmeal-based control products, and newer fertility-control approaches intended to reduce rodent populations without traditional poisons. The better conversation, in my opinion, is not simply “black boxes are bad,” but rather: what is inside them, who is maintaining them, and whether the rodent issue is being managed responsibly. Exclusion, sanitation, trapping, habitat reduction, and careful monitoring should all be part of a responsible IPM strategy. To be fair, on my own property I do use rodenticides, including Bromethalin and Bromadiolone, in secured bait stations. But that is a choice I make for my property, based on my circumstances and the risk I am trying to manage. I also believe property owners should understand the tradeoffs and be encouraged to use the least harmful effective method whenever possible. I support protecting Newtown’s wildlife. I also support giving residents accurate information and not assuming that every black box represents reckless or unsafe pest control. The goal should be responsible rodent management, not fear of the box itself.

Discusses Policy Against Rodenticides

Debora, thank you! I accidentally doubled the project prices by adding the bond to the appropriation. Thank you so much for catching that and pointing it out. With the corrected numbers, the voters approved a combined $1.32 million for a salt shed ($600k) and library pavement ($720k), while rejecting the $1.12 million replacement turf. Regarding the 80s, I truly respect the hurdle of 14% mortgage rates. My point is simply that the math has shifted: in 1980, while the rates were higher, the price of a home relative to earnings was significantly lower. We are facing a different, but equally crushing, financial wall. Ultimately, it is disheartening that voters who recognized safe sidewalks and parking lots as essential, dismissed a playing field in the exact same condition. The turf has passed its life cycle and is just as much of a liability as the library’s pavement, the only difference is that this safety concern affects thousands of children who, coincidentally, cannot vote. These are apples-to-apples needs. I was hopeful our community would agree that all Newtown residents deserve safe conditions, regardless of which facility they utilize. Again, I would be remiss not to mention that when 82% of residents don’t show up, we have to deal with the interests of those who did. Hopefully, the next referendum will have a bigger turnout.

The ‘Me’ Generation

Thanks for the reply. I meant the numbers you presented in your letter. I found one place where other numbers were listed: https://www.newtownbee.com/04232026/get-out-and-vote-on-the-2026-27-proposed-municipal-and-school-budgets/?q=\\\%22advisory%20questions\\\%22. In that article, the numbers were cited as: Treadwell field: $1,125,000 Library: $720,000 Salt Storage: $600,000 As one who started out in the early 80's when inflation was double digits, my 1985 mortgage rate was 14%, and child care costs were comparable (in present value), I shared your grief but never considered the voters ironic or shameful. PS. I agree college tuition is ridiculous. Thankfully, universities are offering (or considering) waiving all or most tuition for middle class families (upwards of $200,000 incomes). Hopefully, they'll also reconsider their need for those funds in the first place.

Sure! Child care costs: https://www.ffyf.org/2022/10/13/data-child-care-prices-continue-to-rise-ahead-of-midterm-elections-outpacing-inflation/ (also from 2021-2025 we had 2 children in a local daycare in Newtown and it cost us $3200 a month, so that's a number I am very familiar with) Home price / median price vs income source: https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/home-price-income-ratios Tuition increase vs inflation: https://feed.georgetown.edu/access-affordability/noting-a-decline-in-middle-class-students-colleges-provide-more-aid/ Hope this helps :)

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Date: Fri 18-Apr-1997

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