News

Opportunities For Reflection For 12/14 Remembrance

Updated: December 13, 2018 4:46 pm

An interfaith service of remembrance will be held on Friday, and local houses of worship will be open for reflection, to honor the sixth anniversary of the Sandy Hook School shootings.

Lions Donate To NYFS, Present Progressive Melvin Jones Award

Updated: December 12, 2018 8:30 am

Newtown Lions Club recently presented a donation to Newtown Youth & Family Services, and awarded a Progressive Melvin Jones Award.

Red Cross: Ten Ways To Stay Safe When Decking The Halls This Holiday Season

Updated: December 11, 2018 7:39 am

The holiday season is here, and the American Red Cross wants everyone to stay safe from home fires as they decorate their homes for the upcoming festivities. Decorations like trees, lights, and candle...

New Documents From Sandy Hook Shooting Released

Published: December 10, 2018 4:00 pm

Documents from the investigation into the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut are shedding light on the gunman’s anger.

Sandy Hook Promise Releases Newest Public Service Announcement

Published: December 10, 2018 11:00 am

In response to this alarming data and in honor of the sixth remembrance of the Sandy Hook School shooting where 20 children and six educators lost their lives to gun violence, Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) debuts its latest public service announcement (PSA), Point of View.

Multiple Road Projects In Town Create Driving Challenges

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: December 10, 2018 7:00 am

Driving through town has been more complicated than usual during recent months as a half-dozen road projects have been underway, creating challenges both for those doing the road work and for motorists traveling through the construction areas.

Proposed Skating Rink Slips Nicely Into NYA Facility

By Andy Hutchison

Published: December 07, 2018 3:50 pm

There is a new plan in place for a proposed skating rink to be added to the NYA Sports & Fitness complex at Fairfield Hills. Rink developers, as well as NYA representatives, are hopeful of groundbreaking in April and for the rink to be in operation by the end of July.

Additional Bell Ringers Sought

By Shannon Hicks

Updated: December 07, 2018 12:01 pm

A handful of bell ringing opportunities have opened up for the Newtown chapter of Salvation Army, including two for tomorrow.

BOE Approves School Building Projects, Hears Activities Report

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: December 07, 2018 7:45 am

Air conditioning projects for Hawley Elementary School’s multipurpose room and Newtown Middle School’s cafeteria were approved, along with a lightning protection system project for Sandy Hook Elementary School, by the Board of Education at its meeting on December 4.

Police Collect Donations For Holiday Food Drive

Published: December 07, 2018 7:30 am

Members of the Newtown and Redding police departments assembled in the Big Y World Class Market parking lot for their Stuff-A-Cruiser holiday food drive on December 1. The collection accepted a variet...

The Way We Were

Malcolm Andrew 'Andy' Bryant

Top Of The Mountain

Garden Club Spring Plant Sale Saturday

Full Slate Of May Programs Planned By Flagpole Photographers

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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