Date: Fri 17-Jan-1997

By STEVE BIGHAM

Published: Aug 11, 1999 12:00 am

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Sleepers-film-FHH-town-hall

Full Text:

with photo... `Sleepers' Homecoming Not A Big Draw

B Y S TEVE B IGHAM

In the fall of 1995, cameras were rolling in town during the filming of

Sleepers . This week, the film reels are rolling again - in the theater at

Edmond Town Hall.

Film crews from Warners Brothers spent several weeks in town that autumn

shooting scenes at Fairfield Hills, which was temporarily transformed into The

Wilkinson School for Boys.

The motion picture made its first appearance in Newtown last Friday. The

turnout at Edmond Town Hall this time was far less impressive than the one 16

months ago when hundreds of would-be actors mobbed town hall for an open

casting call.

According to Edie Tschorn, town hall office manager, only 355 movie goers

showed up for Friday's two evening showings of Sleepers , which was released

nationwide back in October. About 500 people showed up for Saturday's two

evening showings.

The movie, which stars actors Robert DeNiro, Kevin Bacon, Dustin Hoffmann,

Brad Pitt and Jason Patric, is based on a controversial book that claims to be

a true story of four boys from Hell's Kitchen in New York City, who suffer

brutal attacks from sadistic reform school guards. Later in life, they reunite

and seek revenge for the pain and horror inflicted upon them.

About 60 people attended Tuesday's matinee showing of Sleepers , including

Marge Chasse and Beverly Boucher, both of Newtown and both former Fairfield

Hills Hospital employees.

The two women admitted getting a kick out of watching how the moviemakers used

scenes from the former state mental hospital to make it appear to be a reform

school.

"I was surprised they showed as much of the hospital as they did," Mrs Boucher

said.

The two women said Sleepers effectively used the hospital's underground

tunnels, which were used by guards in the movie as secluded spots to abuse the

four Hell's Kitchen boys.

Admittedly shocked at the horrible acts that went on at the Wilkinson Home for

Boys, movie goer Richard Chasse joked that he now knew why the hospital was

closed down.

Last summer, Bert Brown of the state's film office had considered suggesting

to Warner Brothers that a pre-release screening of Sleepers be held at Edmond

Town Hall, believed to be one of the nation's first town halls to have its own

movie theater. However, the screening was held in Stamford with several

Newtown residents receiving invitations.

‘Color Our World With Hope’ Filled Newtown With Music, Meaning, And Community Impact

Nighthawk Baseball Team Beats Conference Opponents

Late Goal By Ruddy Lifts Nighthawk Lacrosse Team To Victory, Showcases Chemistry In Midfield

Reed Intermediate Presents Sold-Out Performances Of 'Willy Wonka Jr'

Draw Dominance, Transition Game Lift Boys' Lacrosse Team To Lopsided Wins

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 17-Jan-1997

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