Scholarships Available

By ELIZA HALLABECK

Published: Oct 17, 2008 12:00 am

The Newtown High School Career Center publicizes all scholarships of which it is notified.

A few of the scholarships, typically national ones, request that money be enclosed with the application. The Career Center believes that students should not have to pay to apply for scholarships. If a student chooses to apply for a scholarship that charges a fee, however, the Career Center strongly advises parents and students to check its authenticity through the FTC Consumer Response Center, www.ftc.gov or 877-FTC-HELP; the National Fraud Information Center, www.fraud.org or 800-876-7060; or the Better Business Bureau, www.bbg.org or 703-276-0100.

Full details on all scholarships are available at the high school Career Center.

BrainDance Awards â The BrainDance Awards allow students to gain knowledge about psychiatric diseases and develop a more tolerant and realistic perspective toward people with mental illness. The best overall submission of an art or academic project will receive $1,000. Two $500 prizes will be given to first place submissions and ten runner-up prizes of $100 will be awarded. BrainDance applicants must register online at www.nrc-iol.org. Projects must be submitted by February 1.

Ted Martocchio Scholarship (Building and Trades Union) â One award of up to $2,000 for a high school senior from Connecticut who has been accepted to attend full-time at any of the four Connecticut State Universities (CCSU, ECSU, SCSU, or WCSU) in the fall 2009. Eligible students must have a minimum GPA of 2.75, demonstrate leadership (or examples of volunteer work are encouraged but not required) and demonstrate financial need. The student must be a child of a Connecticut Building and Trades Union member. The name of the union member and union chapter is required on the application form. Applications are available from the www.csusystemfoundation.org or the Career Center. The application deadline is April 30.

Pratt and Whitney Science and Technology Scholarship â One $1,000 nonrenewable scholarship to Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) will be awarded to a high school senior. The student must be accepted to Southern Connecticut State University full-time study in the fall of 2009. Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (A = 4.0) and demonstrate an interest in science or technology. The applicant must also demonstrate financial need. Examples of leadership or volunteer commitment are encouraged but not required. All materials are due by April 30. Applications are available from www.csusystemfoundation.org or the Career Center.

T. Clark Hull Public Service Scholarship â One $500 scholarship to Western Connecticut State University (WCSU) will be awarded to a high school senior from the state. Applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (out of 4.0), demonstrate examples of leadership or volunteer commitment to school or community and be accepted to WCSU for fall 2009. Financial need must be demonstrated. The application materials are due on April 30. Applications are available from www.csusystemfoundation.org or the Career Center.

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The Way We Were

The Editor suggest a meeting between the "Rock This Democracy " and the Police Commission. As a former Police Commissioner the Chief should have followed the chain of command and discussed this with the Police Commission. The Chief reports to the Elected Police Commission not our Republican First Selection. Can't help but feel this is Republican politics again making an issue out of a non issue.

Assembly Ordinance?

I support Chief Kullgren’s request to explore permitting, and cost-sharing for large gatherings. The right to protest is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I fully support the constitutional right to free speech and assembly. However, where and how often these protests occur matters. Main Street is not just a symbol — it’s a vital artery for daily life in town. When events are held there monthly, and at increasing scale, they cause disruption to residents, businesses, and traffic. While the Rock This Democracy group may describe these protests as unique or urgent, the frequency — roughly once every two weeks this spring — suggests more of a recurring series than a singular, spontaneous moment of civic expression. This isn’t about silencing anyone. It’s about fairness, public safety, and fiscal responsibility. Every time a protest happens, our police department is forced to assign resources, often on overtime. That expense adds up quickly. If any group wants to use public space regularly, particularly in a way that impacts traffic and requires police presence, then it’s reasonable for the town to consider permitting and cost-sharing — just as we do for other organized events like races, festivals, or parades. Let’s protect everyone’s rights — including the right of the community to function smoothly and the right of taxpayers not to bear undue cost for repeated events. I trust the Council to consider a reasonable path forward that balances speech with responsibility.

David, your passion for transparency would carry more weight if it weren’t routinely wielded like a cudgel. Let's set the record straight: no one is against easier access to documents or better online availability—we all want an informed public. But there's a difference between constructive advocacy and the kind of grandstanding that costs this town time, morale, and taxpayer money. You cite Ridgefield’s practices—great. Let's talk about that like adults. But instead, what we see is a steady stream of accusatory posts, legal challenges, and FOIA blitzes aimed less at solving problems and more at creating headlines. It’s not “slander” to point out that your approach often does more to divide and exhaust than to help. I’ve been at the very meetings you claim are inaccessible or opaque. I’ve seen your group turn logistical hiccups into conspiracy theories. I’ve watched as staff—who already work overtime—are dragged into another fishing expedition while real civic needs are left hanging. You’re not just pushing for access; you’re using the tools of open government to grind its gears to a halt. That’s not progress. That’s obstruction dressed up as advocacy. And the people paying for it—literally—are your neighbors. Let’s stop pretending it’s just about uploading PDFs. The issue here is how we engage. We can have real conversations about modernization without constant accusations, FOIA skirmishes, and Facebook pile-ons. Until then, I’ll continue to call out tactics that undermine, not uplift, our town.

Calls For Policies To Create Greater Transparency

The bottom line is this: costs are up, and no group—including teachers—is exempt. Ignoring Anthem’s recommended 22% increase last year may have directly caused the $2 million shortfall. Everyone has to share in the fix. That might mean higher premiums and leaner benefits. Complaints alone won’t solve the problem—realistic solutions will. I urge all Newtown Teachers to email their Union leaders and express their support for higher premiums.

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Its really easy to make assertions and cast doubts from behind a keyboard....a little too easy aparently. You might try conducting the actual research BEFORE doing it next time. If you do, you too will find that there's no need to imagine such a policy to improve public transparency and participation. Take a look at Ridgefield's P&Z meeting agendas on their website for starters. They are just one town that provide links to electronic copies of applications and other public documents, so that their commissioners and residents can easily access them and be well-informed, before meetings and public hearings occur and without making them drive to town hall (during business hours) to ask their land use staff to pull the files and make copies of them, saving everyone time (time is money), and gasoline, and missed work. Most applicants alrleady submit electronic copies, and for those who don't, it's a lot easier for a staffer to scan them once, than to have to make copies every time someone asks for them. And please don't misrepresent or slander those who advocate for smart, low impact & sustainable development policies and practices as 'anti-development'.

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