Date: Fri 08-Sep-1995

By KIM HARMON

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: KIMH

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

Joanne-Johnson-New-Coach

Full Text:

B Y K IM J. H ARMON

The Newtown High School girls' swim team has been searching for an

All-American ever since the program began in the early 1970s and now it

finally has one.

Only . . . it's the coach.

Joanne Johnson, 26, is one of the newest inductees into the Newtown High

School coaching ranks - joining first-year girls' soccer coach Kim Berglund -

and brings with her an impressive resume . . . a promising sign for a team

which has had five different coaches in the last five years.

All-American

Cortland State might not have the biggest or best-known swim program on the

map, but Joanne earned herself some national recognition in her four-year

career at the Division III school in upstate New York.

She captained the team for three years amd became an All-American,

nationally-ranked swimmer in the breaststroke and freestyle (the latter as

part of Cortland State's 400 medley relay team).

But Joanne didn't just appear on the college swim scene. While attending the

St. Mary's Girls' School in Long Island, she swam for the USS swim team in

Flushing and, while fielding numerous scholarship offers, swam with the Forham

University team while she was a senior in high school.

Upon graduating Cortland State, Joanne became the health teacher at New

Milford High School before accepting a physical education/health position - as

well as the head coaching position - at Newtown High School for the 1995-96

school year.

Although this will be her first high school coaching experience, Joanne has

actually been coaching the sport of swimming since she was 16 years old,

leading country club teams as well as USS teams and coaching masters level

swimmers for the past year and a half.

High school coaching is different, but, Joanne said, "I like it. It's a little

crazy."

The girls' swim program has been struggling for the past several years - that,

in part, leading to the high turnover rate in the coaching position -and

Joanne knows she has her work cut out for her.

"I know Newtown swimming hasn't won in a long time," she said, "and I would

like to see them win. I don't care if it's 6-5 or something like that, as long

as its a winning season."

She will coach in her first high school swim meet on Friday, September 15,

when the Lady Indians travel to Plainville.

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 08-Sep-1995

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