News

Bids Sought For Hawleyville Sewer Project

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: December 17, 2015 12:00 am

The town next week is scheduled to advertise for competitive construction bids for the Hawleyville sanitary sewer system expansion project, according to Fred Hurley, town public works director. Biddin...

School Board Reviews NHS Auditorium Renovation Project

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: December 17, 2015 12:00 am

Newtown’s Director of Music and Newtown High School Music Department Chair Michelle Hiscavich presented updates for the high school’s auditorium renovation project to the Board of Education at its mee...

School Board Reviews NHS Auditorium Renovation Project

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: December 17, 2015 12:00 am

Police Reports, December 3-15, 2015

Published: December 17, 2015 12:00 am

Dump Truck & Power Lines Police report that truck driver James Layden, 48, of Danbury, who was driving a 2007 Volvo VHD dump truck about 10:30 am on December 12, had just delivered a load of tops...

Council Reduces Community Center Bonding, Senior Center Design Spending Postponed

By John Voket

Published: December 17, 2015 12:00 am

This report was updated at 9:10 am December 21 to correct the name of Councilwoman Judit DeStefano. The Legislative Council on December 16, passed a proposed five-year Capital Improvement Plan (C...

ID Theft Assistance Available To Military Personnel, Veterans & First Responders

Published: December 15, 2015 12:00 am

The Newtown-based nonprofit Partners International Foundation (PIF) is working to protect veterans from identity theft. Through its Helping the Heroes program, the foundation is launching an effort to...

Fellow Officers Rally To Support Resident Fighting Cancer

Published: December 15, 2015 12:00 am

“Now more than ever Andy Wall will need the support of his community,” states a letter of explanation on a fundraising page to support the Sandy Hook resident. Earlier this fall Ofc Wall underwent sur...

Malloy Orders Flags Lowered For Second Time This Week

By Shannon Hicks

Published: December 15, 2015 12:00 am

HARTFORD — Governor Dannel P. Malloy has directed State of Connecticut flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of State Representative Terry Backer (D-Stratford), who reportedly died during the ove...

Tractor-Trailer Truck Rolls Over Onto Exit 11 Median

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: December 15, 2015 12:00 am

A tractor-trailer truck, which was hauling a load of tires on the Exit 11 off-ramp of Interstate 84 mid-day on Tuesday, December 15, flipped over and landed on its left side near the end of that ramp ...

Commission To Appeal To Council:
Keep Community Center Funds In CIP

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: December 14, 2015 12:00 am

Throwing a wrench into already complicated community center planning is a possible reduction in town capital funding that could supplement a GE Foundation gift of $10 million for construction and $1 m...

Musicals At Richter To Kick Off 42nd Season Under The Stars With America’s Broadway Musical

‘Art Is Fun,’ Promises Carboni Ahead Of Planned Workshop

Three-Sport Competitors McLean And Gerace Are Newtown Bee NHS Athletes Of The Year

Lacrosse Champ Enjoys Triumph While Acclimating To Collegiate Game

The Way We Were

Dave, you are right that only those in the Borough signed onto the law suits, as it was made clear during the Borough meetings that signers had to be residents of the Borough. However, as you know, there was a concerted effort by the Newtown Conservation Coalition to organize people (throughout town) and to orchestrate actions intended to foil the overall development. If one searches the Bee for “Newtown Conservation Coalition” one will find many articles and editorials that cite the coalition. More that 18 of those articles and editorials, from March 2024 through February 2025, are about the Castle Hill Development and include direct quotes from the NCC head/founder including, e.g.,: 1) Newtown Conservation Coalition founder Dave Ackert has sagely urged his fellow NCC members to “stick to the relevant regulations issues and concerns in your testimony,” as “general opinions and concerns will not be considered when making their decision." [https://www.newtownbee.com/08292024/borough-zoning-to-begin-20-60-castle-hill-public-hearing." [https://www.newtownbee.com/08292024/borough-zoning-to-begin-20-60-castle-hill-public-hearing] 2) “We’re being sold a lot of things,” said Ackert. “The developer said he is going above and beyond in preserving open space, but the only part [of the plan] that doesn’t have houses are the steep slopes. He’s not avoiding buildable land, he’s using every buildable inch.” [https://www.newtownbee.com/09272024/borough-zoning-hears-perspectives-on-castle-hill-development] In addition to the articles and editorials, you (Dave) also wrote over 8 letters related to the development, in essence speaking for the residents, e.g., saying “On behalf of hundreds of concerned residents living within 500 feet who signed protest petitions, and residents downstream who’s property and finances could also be negatively impacted, I ask the BOS to rescind the discontinuance decision now.” [https://www.newtownbee.com/07102025/discusses-rochambeau-trail-and-6-commerce-road] The main tools for the Newtown Conservation Coalition are FOI complaints and legal action. These actions have increased the amount both the Town and the Borough have had to pay for legal counsel over the last few years. The cost is shared by all households and businesses for Town actions. Unfortunately, it is shared by very few, relatively speaking, for Borough actions. This year’s Borough costs are $58,000 to date. There were FOIA/legal actions in 2024 and 2025 too. Eventually, we will all see if that was money well spent. My sense is that the answer is no.

What’s Going On In The Borough?

my concern is not limited to this single FOIA request or this one case. It is the broader pattern of obstructionism, fear-mongering, and personal nastiness reflected in your Facebook page and other public commentary. You routinely call people to action by presenting only one side of complicated issues, assigning the worst possible motives to those who disagree with you, and giving little consideration to the legitimate concerns or perspectives on the other side. That may generate outrage and attention, but it does not make you a constructive participant in Newtown’s civic affairs. You are entitled to question public officials and pursue whatever legal remedies are available to you. But you should not pretend that your own conduct, rhetoric, and repeated escalation of disputes have played no role in the hostility and expense surrounding these matters. Newtown would be a nicer and more productive community with less of this kind of divisive behavior.

My "actions" were a single request for audio recordings of public meetings. It would have cost the Borough ZERO dollars to turn those over, as required by law. Instead, the Chair of the Borough Zoning commission decided, unilaterally, without informing the rest of his commission, to fight that Freedom of Information request. Mr. Johnson attempt to deflect blame falls flat on its face here. Facts matter.

Can you name a single person involved in one of the lawsuits who does not reside in the Borough? I'll wait......

You do realize President Trump was born on June 14, the same date the US Army was founded. The parade was to honor the 250th anniversary of the United States Army. My uncle was a sergeant in the Army and was KIA 3 months before the war in Europe ended fighting the Germans. I'm happy there was an acknowledgement by the President for the brave men and women who are veterans of that branch. Too bad others don't honor them by insisting it was a "birthday parade". What an insult to our veterans! I'm not into cage fighting, but as far as being tacky or disgraceful, I would the UFC fight at the White House pales in comparison to Bill Clinton and an intern named Monica did during working hours.

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Bids Sought For Hawleyville Sewer Project

School Board Reviews NHS Auditorium Renovation Project

School Board Reviews NHS Auditorium Renovation Project

Police Reports, December 3-15, 2015

Council Reduces Community Center Bonding, Senior Center Design Spending Postponed

ID Theft Assistance Available To Military Personnel, Veterans & First Responders

Fellow Officers Rally To Support Resident Fighting Cancer

Malloy Orders Flags Lowered For Second Time This Week

Tractor-Trailer Truck Rolls Over Onto Exit 11 Median

Commission To Appeal To Council: Keep Community Center Funds In CIP

Commission To Appeal To Council:
Keep Community Center Funds In CIP