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12th Man Arrested In Ongoing Federal Drug Ring Probe

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: July 14, 2015 12:00 am

NEW HAVEN — A member of the Easton Police Commission has been charged in an ongoing federal steroid and prescription narcotics distribution investigation. In a statement, Deirdre M. Daly, US Attorney ...

In Lawsuit, Former Sergeant Alleges Discrimination At Police Department

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: July 14, 2015 12:00 am

In a lawsuit filed in federal court, a former Newtown police sergeant is seeking money damages, charging that she was the victim of a pervasive pattern of sexual harassment by members of the Newtown P...

40th Anniversary Annual Book Sale Continues Through Wednesday

By Austin Fimmano

Published: July 14, 2015 12:00 am

Doors opened for the Friends of the C. H. Booth Library’s 40th Anniversary Annual Book Sale on Saturday, July 11, as volunteers welcomed event goers. The book sale is running through Wednesday, July 1...

Hawleyville Retail Center Under IWC Review

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: July 12, 2015 12:00 am

The Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) is reviewing the environmental protection aspects of a proposal to construct an approximately 4,400-square-foot retail center on an undeveloped 1.12-acre site at 1...

Selectmen Consider Charging Station, OK Van For NHS Band & Guard

By John Voket

Published: July 12, 2015 12:00 am

It may be a while before electric vehicles can pull off the road in Newtown for a free “top-off” at a public charging station. But the Newtown High School Marching Band & Guard will be shuttling its e...

Residents Sought For Commission Posts

Published: July 12, 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...

Annual Newtown Rabies Vaccine Clinic

By Taylor Gallagher

Published: July 11, 2015 12:00 am

The Canine Advocates of Newtown and Mt Pleasant Hospital for Animals held the annual vaccination clinic in Edmond Town Hall on Saturday, June 20. “Today we are having our annual rabies clinic for the ...

Sandy Hook School 'Topping Off' Completed, Architects Short Listed For NHS Auditorium

By John Voket

Published: July 11, 2015 12:00 am

The design and construction team for Sandy Hook Elementary School released the next series of images from the building site to The Bee July 8, including images from the “topping off” ceremony that was...

Jury Trial Postponed In Steroids Trafficking Prosecution

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: July 10, 2015 12:00 am

HARTFORD — Jury selection, which had been slated to start on July 14 in the federal prosecution of 11 men indicted as an alleged drug trafficking ring, has been rescheduled to October 13. Among those ...

Police Arrest Man On Five Felonies In Sex Assault Case

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: July 10, 2015 12:00 am

Police said they arrested a prison inmate on July 7 on five felony charges stemming from his allegedly having had illegal sexual contact with a female under age 18 in Newtown. Police said they went to...

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.

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......

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12th Man Arrested In Ongoing Federal Drug Ring Probe

In Lawsuit, Former Sergeant Alleges Discrimination At Police Department

40th Anniversary Annual Book Sale Continues Through Wednesday

Hawleyville Retail Center Under IWC Review

Selectmen Consider Charging Station, OK Van For NHS Band & Guard

Residents Sought For Commission Posts

Annual Newtown Rabies Vaccine Clinic

Sandy Hook School 'Topping Off' Completed, Architects Short Listed For NHS Auditorium

Jury Trial Postponed In Steroids Trafficking Prosecution

Police Arrest Man On Five Felonies In Sex Assault Case