News

Help Rebuild Handicapped-Accessible Walkway At VFW

Published: May 05, 2015 12:00 am

The VFW handicap ramp at the VFW Post 308 canteen, Freedom Defenders Way (formerly 18 Tinkerfield Road), is being overhauled. Donations are sought to offset the cost of the new planks. Americans with ...

School Board Committee Efforts Continuing

By Eliza Hallabeck

Published: May 05, 2015 12:00 am

Members of the Board of Education’s Curriculum and Instruction Committee and Assistant Superintendent of Schools Linda Gejda recently reflected on the work the group has accomplished and its future en...

Police Sergeant, Dispatcher Arrested On Federal Drug Charges

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: May 04, 2015 12:00 am

A Newtown Police Department sergeant and a dispatcher at the town’s emergency communications center are among eight men who have been arrested by federal officials as part of an alleged drug trafficki...

Propane-Fueled Blaze Destroys House On Aunt Park Lane

By Andrew Gorosko

Published: May 04, 2015 12:00 am

A stubborn, intense fire, which was fueled by the compressed gas within two large propane tanks, destroyed a Cape-style house at 4 Aunt Park Lane in Hattertown early on the morning of Monday, May 4, l...

Newtown Labor Day Parade: 'Celebrating The Fine Art Of Newtown'

By Nancy K. Crevier

Published: May 02, 2015 12:00 am

Thousands of people will line the streets in the center of Newtown come Monday, September 7, eagerly awaiting the first notes of the Newtown High School Marching Band that mark the start of the annual...

Police Conclude NHS Threat Investigation

By Andrew Grosko

Published: May 01, 2015 12:00 am

Following their criminal investigation into , police have concluded that that no criminal activity occurred and thus will make no arrests, Police Chief Michael Kehoe said.a reported threat of violence...

Charter Panel Examining Majority Rule, School Board Political Makeup

By John Voket

Published: May 01, 2015 12:00 am

Along with its charge of streamlining Newtown’s charter and making it more user-friendly for residents and taxpayers, the current Charter Revision Commission is deliberating a matter outside its charg...

Wingathlon Road Closure Notice

Published: May 01, 2015 12:00 am

The First Annual Newtown Wingathlon, to benefit Dylan’s Wings of Change, will take place on the morning of Saturday, May 2. Travelers can expect delays and some road closures between the hours of 8 am...

Town, School Consolidation Review Resuming Under New Committee

By John Voket

Published: May 01, 2015 12:00 am

The Boards of Education and Finance both recently began discussions about seating an ad-hoc committee that would pick up on work initiated in 2012, examining how the town and school district could con...

Municipal Buildings Panel Meets New Vendor

By John Voket

Published: May 01, 2015 12:00 am

Newtown’s Municipal Buildings Strategic Plan Advisory Committee met April 27 at the C.H. Booth Library so each panel member could hear from a consultant who will be reviewing and developing recommenda...

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.

Lower Turnout Results In Two Budget Defeats

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.

Second Newtown DTC, League Of Women Voters Candidates Event Planned

Copyright ©2026 The Newtown Bee / All rights reserved