News

Board Awards Former Policeman Long-Term Disability Pay

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: May 21, 2015 12:00 am

The State Board of Mediation and Arbitration has awarded long-term disability pay to a former Newtown police officer, who left his job after the December 2012 shooting incident at Sandy Hook Elementar...

Emergency Dispatch Bill Could Force Local Centers To Regionalize Or Pay

By John Voket

Published: May 21, 2015 12:00 am

It appears while a Connecticut State Police pilot program attempting to regionalize related dispatching operations is being scrapped (see related story, “State Police Call-Taking/Dispatching To Return...

Town's Net Liability In Police Officer Settlement Will Be About $31K

By John Voket

Published: May 21, 2015 12:00 am

The award of approximately $380,000 reached in settlement between former Newtown Police Officer Thomas Bean and the Town following a State Board of Mediation and Arbitration ruling will be reduced sub...

12/14 Aftermath: Former Police Officer Wins Arbitration Award On Disability Pay

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: May 21, 2015 12:00 am

This story has been updated from the original version posted at 1:43 pm to include additional details from the arbitration document, and comments from Newtown Police Union President Scott Ruszczyk...

Borough Zoners Reviewing Pumphouse Proposed For Firehouse Site

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: May 21, 2015 12:00 am

The Borough Zoning Commission (BZC) is continuing its review of Aquarion Water Company’s proposal to build an above-ground water pumping station at 12 Church Hill Road, the address where the Newtown H...

Residents Sought For Commission Posts

Published: May 21, 2015 12:00 am

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

State Police Call-Taking/Dispatching To Return To Southbury

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: May 20, 2015 12:00 am

The state police plan to revert to their former call-taking/dispatching scheme, returning all call-taking functions and emergency dispatching operations to their individual barracks in the western and...

Newtown's Dancing Traffic Agent Will 'Bop And Weave' Again

By John Voket

Published: May 19, 2015 12:00 am

After social networks posts exploded with concerns, unhappy fans and those comparing Newtown to the fictional community in the movie Footloose, where dancing is illegal, a Newtown Police Supervisor to...

Newtown Delegation Collecting Tattered US Flags

Published: May 19, 2015 12:00 am

In anticipation of Flag Day, State Reps. Mitch Bolinsky (R-106), Dan Carter (R-2), J.P. Sredzinski (R-112) and state Senator Tony Hwang (R-28) are helping Newtown residents dispose of their worn Ameri...

Gov Malloy: State Will Utilize $7 Million Federal Award To Improve Access To Drug And Alcohol Treatment

Published: May 19, 2015 12:00 am

HARTFORD — Governor Dannel P. Malloy on May 18 announced that the State of Connecticut has been awarded a $7 million federal grant to improve access to care for people seeking drug and alcohol treatme...

Charter Revision Commission Begins Planning For Upcoming Work

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'

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.

Log In

Board Awards Former Policeman Long-Term Disability Pay

Emergency Dispatch Bill Could Force Local Centers To Regionalize Or Pay

Town's Net Liability In Police Officer Settlement Will Be About $31K

12/14 Aftermath: Former Police Officer Wins Arbitration Award On Disability Pay

Borough Zoners Reviewing Pumphouse Proposed For Firehouse Site

Residents Sought For Commission Posts

State Police Call-Taking/Dispatching To Return To Southbury

Newtown's Dancing Traffic Agent Will 'Bop And Weave' Again

Newtown Delegation Collecting Tattered US Flags

Gov Malloy: State Will Utilize $7 Million Federal Award To Improve Access To Drug And Alcohol Treatment