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Facility And Enrollment Study Assesses Hawley Or Middle School Closing

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: June 02, 2015 12:00 am

After Superintendent of Schools Joseph V. Erardi, Jr, presented configurations during the Board of Education's meeting on Tuesday, June 2, for closing a school in the district, he said the Facility an...

June 5 Flag Retirement Ceremony Scheduled

Published: June 02, 2015 12:00 am

American flags that are no longer serviceable will be retired at a ceremony Friday, June 5, at the VFW Post 308, Freedom Defenders Way (Tinkerfield Road). The full ceremony will begin at 5:30 pm. The ...

Dog Owners: Time To Renew Dog Licenses

Published: June 02, 2015 12:00 am

Newtown Town Clerk Debbie Aurelia Halstead reminds owners of dogs six months of age and over that their pets must be licensed annually during the month of June. The new 2015 licenses are available at...

Town Police, Garner Staff To Participate in Special Olympics Torch Run

Published: June 02, 2015 12:00 am

Members of the Newtown Police Department and staff members from Garner Correctional Institution are scheduled to participate on Friday, June 5, in the Connecticut Special Olympics Torch Run segment to...

Flash Flood Warning Issued

By Shannon Hicks

Published: June 01, 2015 12:00 am

The National Weather Service in Upton, N.Y., has issued a Flash Flood Warning for northern Fairfield County and northwestern New Haven County. The warning will remain in effect until 7:45 pm. At 4:49 ...

Newtown Delegation Frustrated Over State Budget Announcement

By John Voket

Published: June 01, 2015 12:00 am

Newtown’s delegation of state lawmakers – Senator Tony Hwang, Rep Mitch Bolinsky, Rep J P Sredzinski and Rep Dan Carter – each expressed frustration, even exasperation after learning about an agreemen...

IWC Approves 74-Condo River Walk

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: May 29, 2015 12:00 am

Following a third public hearing on a proposal to construct 74 condominium units on the west side of Washington Avenue in Sandy Hook Center, the Inland Wetlands Commission (IWC) on May 27 unanimously ...

Officials Laying Ground Work For High School Auditorium Renovations

By John Voket

Published: May 29, 2015 12:00 am

In two different locations Thursday, May 28, the Board of Finance and the Public Building and Site Commission (PBSC) were scheduled to lay the groundwork for the earliest stages of a planned high scho...

Community Center Planning Resumes

By Kendra Bobowick

Published: May 29, 2015 12:00 am

The recently established Community Center Commission elected co-chairs and revised its vision statement Tuesday, May 26, at the group’s second meeting. In late April the Board of Selectmen chose membe...

Residents Sought For Commission Posts

Published: May 29, 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...

Nighthawk Track And Field Teams Host Meet

New Heights Vacation Bible School Returning

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

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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Facility And Enrollment Study Assesses Hawley Or Middle School Closing

June 5 Flag Retirement Ceremony Scheduled

Dog Owners: Time To Renew Dog Licenses

Town Police, Garner Staff To Participate in Special Olympics Torch Run

Flash Flood Warning Issued

Newtown Delegation Frustrated Over State Budget Announcement

IWC Approves 74-Condo River Walk

Officials Laying Ground Work For High School Auditorium Renovations

Community Center Planning Resumes

Residents Sought For Commission Posts