News

School Board Completes A Term; New Board To Convening December 1

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: November 21, 2015 12:00 am

During her last regular meeting on November 4 with the Board of Education, Vice Chair Laura Roche was highlighted by a number of members for her efforts during her tenure. With the new Board of Educat...

Residents Sought For Commission Posts

Published: November 21, 2015 12:00 am

First Selectman Pat Llodra is seeking residents to fill several opening on local appointed boards and commissions. In some cases the appointments are required to be affiliated with a specific politica...

Sandy Hook School Foundation Awards District $500,000 Grant

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: November 20, 2015 12:00 am

Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, announced at the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, November 17, that the Sandy Hook School Foundation has awarded a $500,000 grant to the school di...

Danbury Man Pleads Not Guilty In Rebong Murder Case

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: November 20, 2015 12:00 am

NEW HAVEN — A Danbury man has pleaded not guilty in federal court to three criminal charges alleging that he murdered a Newtown man in Danbury in 2000. At his November 12 arraignment before Judge Joan...

The 'Silver Bridge' Is Silver Again

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: November 20, 2015 12:00 am

Crews have been busy for the past several months in an ongoing renovation of Silver Bridge in Sandy Hook, bringing the 79-year-old structure back up to specifications, including a silvery paint job th...

School Board Puts 'Hold' On Disclosed Information Discussion

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: November 20, 2015 12:00 am

After deciding to refer two pieces of disclosed board communications to the local Board of Ethics for review and filing an appeal with the Freedom of Information Commission, the Board of Education vot...

Permanent Memorial Commission Pursuing Site In Corner Of High Meadow

By John Voket

Published: November 20, 2015 12:00 am

After working closely with Deputy Director of Planning & Land Use Rob Sibley and making a courtesy visit to share details with the Newtown Conservation Commission November 9, the Sandy Hook Permanent ...

Current Council's Final Actions Accept Charter Revision, Delay Capital Plan

By John Voket

Published: November 20, 2015 12:00 am

The current Legislative Council accepted a sweeping Charter revision during a final meeting November 18, but pushed a decision on the five-year capital spending plan off to a newly elected panel that ...

Church Gets Wetlands OK; Housing & Diner Review Continues For Hawleyville Proposal

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: November 20, 2015 12:00 am

Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) members this week approved a wetlands/watercourses protection permit for Grace Family Church, Inc, which proposes the construction of a church on Covered Bridge Road t...

Fill The Fire Trucks, November 21 & 22

By Shannon Hicks

Published: November 20, 2015 12:00 am

The annual Fill The Fire Truck Food Drive is just around the corner. Newtown firefighters will be spending time outside two of the town’s markets this weekend, accepting donations for FAITH Food Pantr...

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.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

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.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

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