News

Remembering Former Representative Julia Wasserman

By Nancy K. Crevier

Published: August 18, 2015 12:00 am

This story has been amended to correct the date of Mrs Wasserman's death. Flags were lowered in Newtown on Tuesday, August 18, after it was learned that former state representative and longtime Newtow...

Town Meeting, Public Hearing Precede Tonight's Selectmen's Meeting

By John Voket

Published: August 17, 2015 12:00 am

Residents are being called to a special town meeting tonight — Monday, August 17 — at 7 pm in the Municipal Center Council Chambers to authorize three capital spending proposals. That gathering will b...

Commercial Design District Proposed For Exit 10

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: August 14, 2015 12:00 am

With varied economic development as a goal, an engineering firm is proposing adding flexibility to the commercial/industrial zoning regulations by creating a zoning “design district” near the Exit 10 ...

Hearing Delayed On Tractor Supply Proposal

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: August 14, 2015 12:00 am

A public hearing that was scheduled for August 6 in connection with Tractor Supply Company’s proposal to build a store at 116 South Main Street was not held because the applicant had not met all legal...

Major Mixed-Use Project Proposed For Hawleyville Property

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: August 14, 2015 12:00 am

The town has received for regulatory review applications detailing a development project for Hawleyville that proposes the construction of a large church, a major multifamily housing complex, and a di...

Police Reports, July 30-August 10, 2015

Published: August 14, 2015 12:00 am

DUI Incident Police report that they received numerous complaints regarding a motorist driving erratically on Interstate 84, who later got off I-84 at Exit 11 and was then seen driving erraticall...

Sandy Hook Fire Substation Expansion OK'd

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: August 14, 2015 12:00 am

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members have unanimously approved an expansion project for the fire substation of the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, which would more than double the ...

Former Newtown Man Sentenced On Bank Fraud Charges

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: August 14, 2015 12:00 am

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — A former Newtown man was sentenced on August 12 to spend more than eight years in federal prison on his conviction on bank fraud charges, involving a million-dollar scheme that bi...

Police Investigating Shrimp Theft From Stop & Shop

Published: August 14, 2015 12:00 am

Police are investigating an incident in which a shoplifter stole approximately $650 worth of shrimp from the Stop & Shop supermarket at Sand Hill Plaza at 228 South Main Street (Route 25). Police said...

Schools To Implement A New System For Monitoring Visitors

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: August 14, 2015 12:00 am

When the new school year begins, Newtown Public Schools will be equipped with a new visitor management system, Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, announced this week in a letter to parent...

Poet Laureate Deserves Support

Fire Reports | June 17-24, 2026

Hawley, Middle Gate Go All Out For Field Day

Confession Curated Clothing Ready For Shoppers

Commission On Aging Offered Updates, Answered Housing Questions

With the publication of installment No. 26, Trump’s Triumphs has now consumed enough broadsheet paper—approximately 3.6 miles—to stretch from the center of Newtown, past the dump, and nearly to Sand Hill Plaza. That is the amount of paper used to print these 26 installments alone. Do you think they will stop before we get to Monroe? If Trump becomes 48 in 28 then we would make the sound for sure!

Elections Have Consequences XXVI

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.

What’s Going On In The Borough?

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.

What’s Going On In The Borough?

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

What’s Going On In The Borough?

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